Weighty Choices at Hand

praying before battle

By Charlie Johnston

The establishment media has a very big decision to make in the next day or two. The most under-reported current story in America is that, nationwide, Republicans are swamping Democrats in early voting.  For over a year, the constant narrative in the establishment media and among Democrats is about unprecedented Democrat enthusiasm which will produce a “blue wave.” Turns out Republicans are a LOT more enthused and motivated.

This site, Target Early, provides constantly updated statistics on the number of Republican vs. Democrat ballots that have been cast in early voting so far in each state. To see what is happening in your state, go to the second column from the right, entitled, “Early and Absentee Votes Cast,” then click on the “Explore” button. As has been pretty consistent the last five years, when real data comes in, it is very different from all the projections and media fantasies.

So what is the decision the media must make in the next few days? Either to keep suppressing the story of just how enormously Republican voters are swamping Democrat voters and hope for the best or let the Democrat rank-and-file know how badly they are being skunked in hopes of ginning up their turn-out. The latter is their best chance of containing the developing red tide – but requires them to admit they have been dead wrong for the last year – again. I suspect they will just let things go, figuring they can always blame Russia for their election night tears.

*******

I am in Dallas right now. It kind of spooked me when, on Saturday night, following my GPS directions to return from an event, I found myself driving down Elm Street through Dealy Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated. I drove it again after an event on Monday, this time intending to go that route. On the road, the city has embedded two X’es in the two spots where Kennedy was hit. I get a little shiver every time I drive over those X’es.

The first time I was ever in Dallas was during my pilgrimage, walking through almost exactly seven years ago. The thing that first struck me about Dealy Plaza was how much smaller it is than it had been in my mind’s eye. While first exploring it, I was bemused at all the “conspiracy-theory” talk about what hard shots those would have been for Oswald. I have two highly-ranked professional marksmen in my family – and these were clearly easy shots, complicated only by the presence of trees. I was equally bemused at all the talk about the “grassy knoll.” To “hide” in those completely open, small spots would have been to guarantee capture.

I think for anyone who, like me, has the Kennedy assassination in their living memory, that place is haunted to them. The old Texas School Book Depository always looms up like some dread, primordial monster in hiding to me.

Dealy Plaza w Old Red Courthouse
Looking east from Dealy Plaza. The Old Red Courthouse is at far right.

The Old Red Courthouse, dominating Houston Street just north of the plaza, always looks like a church to me, reddened with the blood of that day. When I was walking, after I was done exploring the site, I walked west under the Triple Underpass and found a park just a little beyond it on the north side. I decided to make camp there in the trees on the embankment up to the railroad tracks. It was perhaps the creepiest night of my whole pilgrimage. The famous giant ball on a column of the Dallas skyline (formally called Reunion Tower) was just south of me, brightly lit, and disturbed my sleep throughout the night.

Reunion Tower in Dallas
Reunion Tower

The park was crawling with other homeless, who kept shifting around throughout the night. I was nervous to begin with because the embankment was quite steep – and I was worried if one of the straps holding my hammock up broke in the night, I was going to have one rough tumble. I was glad to move on the next day. Got going early and found a more hospitable, less haunted spot to make camp.

I have since come to love the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and the many friends I have made there. (Pro tip: if you are ever speaking publicly in this area, make sure to call it the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Folks in Ft. Worth are touchy about that, as my first host when I was traveling and speaking here made clear to me early on. I started calling it the Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington area, but my host drily informed me that was overkill. I guess folks in Arlington aren’t so touchy. But why would they be? They are home to both the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers.) The Dallas-Ft. Worth area has a vibrant Catholic community, a vibrant Evangelical community…and thrums with the energy of people working and producing things. The University of Dallas (or UD) is to the Catholic community of the southwest what Steubenville is to the same community in the Midwest – only more so. UD alumni are as enthused about their Catholicism as alumni of the University of Alabama are about their football team.

After my first trip here, I felt queasily that all of Dallas was haunted. But after several trips and many friends made here, the haunted section of Dallas has been reduced for me to that little triangle contained by Houston, Elm, and Commerce Streets, called Dealy Plaza. I suspect that for all people who have the Kennedy assassination in their living memory, that triangle will remain haunted for them to their death. And somehow the two X’es embedded in Elm Street make me want to cry and cringe whenever I pass over them.

*******

Twenty years ago I was friends with a woman who had left the Catholic Church. It troubled me. Eventually, she told me what had happened. She is an American Indian and was orphaned while very young. She was raised in a Catholic orphanage in the southwest that was mainly for American Indian orphans. The woman had not a mean bone in her body, but I could literally feel the anguish in her as she finally spoke to me of how they were all treated like dirt, many physically abused, and all repeatedly reminded how worthless they were. It was an uglier story than I am going to tell here.

It caused me some sorrowful contemplation, though. I thought of how officials who use their authority to abuse little ones betray the faith…and I wondered who would be held responsible on the last day for such things. Luke 17:2 – “It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

Along with her story, the woman told me that my friendship had helped her see that Catholics can be good, kind people – and that it was not the religion, itself, which had driven her away, but the ugly people who lorded over her while professing a faith they did not live. I was grateful for that…and pray that I will live witness of my faith by how I live and treat people, facilitating ultimate reconciliation for all of good will, including those who have been wounded by betrayers.

A few days ago I wrote about a man I met who had left the Catholic Church for the Orthodox because of the assault on Scripture and the Magisterium from within the ranks of the hierarchy and because of the defiant covering for and actual promotion of rank abusers. Though I firmly stated my Catholic faith and my resolve, I said I did not condemn anyone who chose such a course in these terrible times. Several people twisted my words to have me saying it was perfectly acceptable and okay to leave the faith.

In the next week, I will write about the heroic course that we are all called to – the authentic apostolate of the laity. We are called to be heroes, like St. Francis, to be builders renewing the edifice of our beloved Church, founded by Christ. But the same Christ who loves us will gently receive back into His graces those of good will who were wounded and driven away by people they should have been able to trust. As for those abusers, their enablers in the hierarchy, and those in the laity who justify any abuse so long as it comes from a cleric, it is they who will be held to account. It is they who I condemn. Even now, they are measuring themselves for their millstones.

*******

I sent a stark note to my team about a week ago, then out to the network of leaders and regional coordinators around the country a few days later. The links I add to the text have appeared in the news since I wrote this. I present a very slightly truncated version of it now to you:

“I wanted you to know that I will publish “The Apostolate of the Laity,” the third piece in The Ballad of the Ordinary Man before the election. I am in Dallas right now…doing the little I can of ordinary work to hold back the darkness.

As I have said publicly, I think the Republicans are going to shock the pundit and political classes once again. I could be wrong…I have been before, though I am right on such counter-intuitive claims a lot more often than I am wrong. The key here is that both poles in America are fully aroused. That means this election will tell us, more than anything, where we stand, who we have become. Even though I expect Republicans to win quite handily, that does not mean I think things are settled. Now what follows is temporal analysis, and not to be treated as prophecy (though it is well to remember that my analytical speculations are informed by all my experiences, including my visitations). The fundamental thing is that I am sure I will get some of the details wrong – as I often do – but the overall sweep will be dead-on.

The problem is that in America we no longer have competing groups who prefer different means to fundamentally accomplish similar ends. This is a truly existential division. The aspirations of normal people and the right are utterly incompatible with the aspirations of the left. One must win and the other must lose – and I am not just speaking about elections. The whole founding of this country was about establishing a haven where, more than anything else, the right of people to be left alone by their government except for truly necessary things would be acknowledged and respected. Contests in the rest of the world, even in Europe (with some mild mitigation in England) were a battle over who would impose their will on the people of their nation. America was designed to prevent anyone from imposing their will as sovereign. This was why process recognition of fundamental rights – that even the greatest majority could not impose upon – were so very important. In America, the winning party could govern, but was prevented from ruling. Implementation of that was always a bit ragged, but that was the ideal, the lode star which America sought to be guided by.

Abraham Lincoln did, indeed, free the slaves – but that was never his priority in the Civil War. He thought America unique in the history of the world – a nation (that) had the organic ability to heal its own ills and offenses and continually grow into a better and nobler version of itself. He was convinced, from the early 1840’s, that slavery was on the course of ultimate extinction – and that America was the only nation in the history of the world which could organically rid itself of this great evil. Thus, his top priority was the preservation of the Union. Its loss, he believed, might forever deprive the world of a system capable of healing and improving itself from great evils. To accept the possibility of division was to concede that parts of the nation could dissolve themselves, ultimately leading to a balkanization of America and snuffing out the hopes of unified self-government forever. At the time, neither the north nor the south thought in such terms. Both were committed to liberty and self-government as they understood it. Neither believed that a negotiated settlement leaving two independent nations would lead to balkanization. But for decades after his break with the Catholic Church, Martin Luther did not imagine there would ever be any Christian Churches other than the Catholic and the Lutheran. In fact, most observers for almost the first century after the break thought that ultimately one would prevail, Catholic or Lutheran, and that Christianity would be one again after the dispute was finished. No one imagined the balkanization of Christianity in that first century…though their confidence fell as more and more broke away from each other. Once Luther established the principle that Christianity could divide from itself in times of dispute, the principle was adopted by every sect that disagreed. And Christians were no longer one. It was a significant blind spot in Luther’s – and almost every contemporary’s – mind over the ultimate consequences of such division. Fortunately, it was not a blind spot in Lincoln’s mind – so we preserved liberty in unity for another century and a half.

Over the last century, that commitment to self-government under liberty and law, leaving the sovereign people alone, to their own devices, except for absolutely necessary things has gotten increasingly tattered and frayed. Just a century ago, a liberal was defined as one who believed in radically de-centralized government that emphasized individual rights. Re-defining liberalism to the old model of heavy centralization with citizens subject to state power was one of the greatest semantic coups in history.

Now we are confronted with, at least, a substantial minority that is NOT committed to liberty, self-government, and objective standards of law. It is why we “normals” are at a disadvantage. We largely just want to be left alone, to live our lives as we wish so long as we don’t impugn on the same right of any of our fellows. But the left is determined to impose its will on everyone, determined that all must bend the knee before its power and will. It is not sufficient that they can live as they choose; they demand they must be able to force their neighbors to live the same way. This is how all totalitarian movements advance. Since the French Revolution, they almost never declare their aims candidly. Rather, they purport to advance their aims defensively – mentally creating through propaganda, and then oppressing – some “enemy of the people.” For the French, it was the aristocrats (a more honest time…the French aristocrats actually DID oppress the people, though not as brutally and murderously as the ‘friends of the people’ who took over did.) For Lenin, it was to defend the workers by establishing a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” Russia got a dictatorship – and the proletariat learned what truly brutal, murderous oppression was. In Germany, Hitler maintained that the Germans were being oppressed, the life being sucked out of them, by the Jews and foreigners. China was the mirror image of Russia – only Mao mobilized rural troops instead of the urban troops Lenin relied upon. In all cases, the point was the same – that one group had the absolute right to impose its will on everyone in society and that dissenters were to be punished, imprisoned, or executed as enemies of the people. That is what the substantial minority I mentioned is about in America now – imposing its own will on everyone, who must behave as subjects. They do not accept American norms, they do not believe in freedom. All totalitarian movements are messianic; messianic without a Messiah, the one true God. Ironically, the one, true Messiah rejected the idea of coercing subjection, even if many of His followers often failed to live up to His command on the subject.

The atheist left has abandoned the mask – and has decided to accomplish its will by any means necessary. While I do think Republicans will win surprising gains, I worry that many complacently believe that will settle the matter. All of the totalitarian movements I mentioned above, with the possible exception of the French Revolution, were decidedly minority movements. But they were minority movements determined to accomplish their goals by any means necessary. When they did not prevail, they engaged in sabotage, assassination and terrorism until a weary people submitted. As people wearied, leaders who knew better started deluding themselves that submission would not be so bad. In France (I kid you not) the King thought he could weather the storm with better communication and public relations – even after the storming of the Bastille. In Russia, other leftists thought they could control Lenin through the Duma – a representative assembly. That didn’t last a year…and Lenin executed many of his more moderate fellow travelers on the way to his dictatorship, the proletariat be damned. Both conservative politicians and establishment industrialists thought they could control and manipulate Hitler as chancellor. Again, many of them were ultimately executed for their hubris. People weary of strife are the most vulnerable because they are most prone to self-deluding wishful thinking, almost incapable of imagining the ruthlessness of messianic totalitarians.

The left in America is there. After they lose, I expect them to double down on their “resistance,” to include increasing episodes of domestic violence, rioting, sabotage, and assassination while their rhetoric will insist they must do this to ensure “equality.” The temptation will be overwhelming to come to some compromise with them, to delude ourselves that we can negotiate with madmen drunk on dreams of supreme power.  Every concession will be met with the demand for “more.” Like an alcoholic, for those drunk on power, one more is never enough. The question is whether normals can summon the will to act decisively without adopting the brutal, capricious methods of the atheist neo-fascists. I have been thinking a lot this year that we are probably going to need to establish places of “exile”  for the radical political criminals who won’t accept defeat – either a remote part of Alaska or some large islands. Sounds tough…but not nearly as tough as brutal civil war. And the left, like jihadists, will NOT stop until it believes it cannot win, by any means.

I know some pray that economic health will calm everything down. It was irrelevant in France, Russia, and China – and while a triggering factor in Germany, a return to economic health advanced the revolution rather than containing it. The economic health issue presumes that, at bottom, in America, we all seek the same ends. That is no longer true. When imposing their will on all becomes the lodestar of a substantial minority of the population, economic illness can trigger a revolt, but economic health cannot contain revolutionary pressure.

The events that are unfolding are designed to reveal to all who everyone is, who we are at our core. We do get to choose, but it is a hard, rocky path we must navigate. If we give in to hate, we lose. If we give into sentimentalism that enables the aggressors, we lose. If, after seeming to have lost, we give in to despair or make common cause with our tormentors, we lose. In every public act of brutality, there are four types of people involved: Oppressors, the oppressed, bystanders, and defenders. We must be defenders, whatever the odds seem at any time. Complicating matters is that our institutions have failed. The Church is true, but the hierarchy has failed when it has not outright abdicated loyalty to Christ. I am thankful for Donald Trump. I very much doubt he will be able to keep from being overwhelmed by what must come, but he has bought us time and focused our attention. That is why I called this, from the start of this year, “The Ballad of the Ordinary Man.” This time, it is ordinary people, doing little things with great love and fortitude, who will renew both the Church and the world. Salvation will not come from any government. Salvation will not come from the hierarchy. Salvation will come through ordinary people living their ordinary work with great love and fidelity – and, as always, it comes only from Christ. Governments can help, the hierarchy can help, but it will avail little. Victory in the elections will not win the battle, but it will fortify us for the war ahead. It is a growing firm resolve on our part to become a holy people again that will empower noble leaders, in both the state and the Church, to exercise effective leadership once more.

Being holy does not mean, in this world, being sinless. Something I almost never speak of, except once with my Priests, was that early in this century, Our Lord appeared to me and told me He had made me holy. It terrified me, for I was a sinful man, given to the sins of weakness. I tearfully disputed it for several years. It was right around the Feast Day of Our Lady of Tepeyac in 2002 when Our Lord appeared to me and tartly rebuked me. “I have made you holy for my purposes, not yours,” He said, “and you are NOT to gainsay it again.” To be holy is to be entirely the servant of the Lord and His will, despite your continuing faults and sins, to do the most right thing you can think of, acknowledging God, at every step. It is why I candidly admit my faults as soon as I know them. I am an unworthy, fumbling servant as are each of you…but each of us can press on to do the most right thing we can think of under God, despite those faults. We cannot do it if we do not acknowledge those faults. All of you, too, are called to be holy. Know what it means and live it with growing refinement and wisdom – and do NOT let the satan pull you from your way because of your faults, which are always before you. Despair is just a variant of vanity.

As I said, I probably have some details wrong, but the next year will almost certainly be bloody and frightening, unless the atheist left finds and submits to God again. Pray for them, make sacrifices and do penance for them as you do for yourself. We are all going to be transformed – but the seed of who we will be is being formed by who we are right now. Strive to do the right without despairing of your many failures. When you fall, as you sometimes do in even ordinary times, get up with the firm resolve to begin again…every time, even if it is seventy times seven times a day.

God DOES have a plan. But a part of that plan involves proving each and every one of us through a fiery trial. In the long term, almost all of us will live to see a world transformed – and then to look back in amazement at how our sins helped enable the horror that came upon us. In the long term, we have the certainty of the joy of the apostles on the occasion of the Ascension – realizing that what we thought was the end is actually the beginning. How much joy we feel then is dependent on the fidelity we live while we think it is the end. In the short term, the road ahead is rocky and full of poisonous snakes.”




 

285 thoughts on “Weighty Choices at Hand

  1. We are here.

    Civil War Lyrics Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe

    (Julia Ward Howe wrote the lyrics to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” in 1861 after visiting a Union army camp. Utilizing the already popular abolitionist tune, “John Brown’s Body,” the Battle Hymn quickly became a rallying cry and the most popular song of the war in the North.)

    Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
    He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
    He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
    His truth is marching on.

    Glory, glory, hallelujah!
    Glory, glory, hallelujah!
    Glory, glory, hallelujah!
    His truth is marching on.

    I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
    They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
    I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
    His day is marching on.

    I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
    “As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
    Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
    Since God is marching on.”

    He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
    He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
    Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
    Our God is marching on.

    In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
    With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
    As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
    While God is marching on.

    Liked by 21 people

        1. The visionaries of Medjugorje told us, through a cousin who spoke English, after singing this song in different languages on the mountain, after an apparition, that this song is Our Lady of Medjugorje”s favorite song.

          Liked by 2 people

    1. Love the dissonance with the trumpets at the beginning. What sound for such a small ensemble.

      “Christ was born across the sea
      with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me…”

      Beautiful.

      Liked by 6 people

    2. Wow Charlie and Beckita…. Charlie, amazing letter you sent out and I can’t wait for your third installment of The Ballad of the Ordinary Man!!! I shared this letter with who I could as it is so important for all of us ordinary (wo)men to not give in…. thank you!

      Beckita! Wow, I sang the whole song out loud at work!!! The words are so powerful! Thank you for sharing and reminding us we have a battle hymn!!!

      Liked by 6 people

  2. Nice piece Charlie. One comment “…going to need to establish places of “exile” for the radical political criminals who won’t accept defeat – either a remote part of Alaska or some large islands…”

    I recommend Manhattan, For most, they can keep their telephone area 212.

    Liked by 16 people

    1. As an Alaskan resident can we all please just stick to Manhattan?! Us folks up here would rather not have these people imported into our state whole sale…

      Liked by 8 people

  3. I truly hope you are right Charlie about the election, but (unless I’m misreading the chart you linked to) California is not with the GOP absentee trend. Of course, the absentee votes by state don’t tell you much – the important information is what is happening in congressional districts. A few GOP house seats flipping to DEM in several states that are otherwise solid red can make all the difference. DCCC is spending like never before in my neck of the woods, and it’s going to be a nail biter Tuesday night. Personally, I just don’t see the conservatives here — whether they are GOP or NPP will vote for some of the lefty candidates on the ballot, but I wouldn’t stake my life on it. I was flabbergasted when Hillary won in my county. No DEM since Roosevelt carried this area. Dems here are giddy with excitement. REP’s are doing what I think is foolish – hunkering down with their base and refusing to engage the DEMS, and failing to articulate a clear, positive vision of the future. Trump’s midwestern appeal falls flat as the prairie on the left coast. Meanwhile, CBC just posted this https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/midterms-orange-county-democrats-republicans-1.4885004 . I thought nuns were supposed to be nonpolitical.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Oh yes, there are certainly states bucking the trend – like California and Illinois among others. Here is an interesting fact, though. Democrats are usually more enthusiastic about early voting than Republicans. Normally, if Democrat early turnout is only five points ahead at this stage, the race is only a toss-up. I suspect that won’t hold true this time…but it is something to be aware of. Further, these models are based on past partisan affiliation and past partisan performance among independents. So if even a small number of people who have been traditionally aligned with Democrats are voting Republican this time (and I think that 5-15 percent, in fact, are), then the numbers are even better.

      Now, of course, you are correct that this summary only shows the whole state, not discrete areas of the state. But to get a good idea of what is happening in your area, click on the “Maps” menu at the top of the page, then click to see what is happening in California. It will not break it down precisely, but it has shades of red and blue that show how people are voting in particular areas. I already used this to determine particular Democratic hot spots in Texas, in order to counter them. You can get a good idea of how things are going where you live by using this feature.

      So you know, I have sources in California – and some of them pros – who are telling me that the Republican Congressional districts, for the most part, are looking stronger Republican than usual. San Francisco, LA, Sacramento and parts of San Diego are going heavily blue – but the same minority in the state seems to be going more heavily red than normal.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. From what I’ve heard, CA needs just 5% more voters to support the Red Wave and we can take our state back. I have prayed and worked for this to become true. Lord hear our prayer.

        Liked by 13 people

        1. With tears in my eyes, I pray it would happen, SanSan. When I came here for college (decades ago) and became a “native” of CA from then on, it was a wonderful state, so many conservatives. Even SoCal is now inundated with the “godless left”, as Charlie calls them. In a state with so many saints’ names, may they be praying for us!!

          Liked by 2 people

    2. I understand your concern. In our parish we will start Tues. Adoration at 7; 00 am (when polls open in the east) and go till 10:00 p.m. Central ( when polls close in the west). We need Gods help on this one- as we did two years ago!!!
      One of my six brothers attended a Trump rally in ILL. recently. He was SO TAKEN by the size of the crowd and by how polite, caring considerate the people all were. He said he felt safer with them then in His own neighborhood. Trump’s supporters are people who RESPECT LIFE in ALL STAGES !!! I feel that specks volumes !!!! {‘ve heard that people attending prolife rallies leave the area much neater then other gatherings do.
      Praying for GODS BLESSING TUESDAY , that GOOD WINS over evil !!

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Charlie–Ah Ha. I was intrigued to read your posts by Judith, a long time reader. In my short time as a reader, I have had to wonder about the breadth of your knowledge, insights, and wonderful expression.
    Thus, this comment of yours provides the explanation:

    ” Something I almost never speak of, except once with my Priests, was that early in this century, Our Lord appeared to me and told me He had made me holy. It terrified me, for I was a sinful man, given to the sins of weakness. I tearfully disputed it for several years. It was right around the Feast Day of Our Lady of Tepeyac in 2002 when Our Lord appeared to me and tartly rebuked me. “I have made you holy for my purposes, not yours,” He said, “and you are NOT to gainsay it again.” ”
    While I do not think that God has tangibly ever appeared to Trump, I believe that He is acting thru him too.

    While the sad state of our domestic politics is distressing, and appears to get worse, and worse, I have to trust that God’s will continue to moderate the struggle of right over wrong. However, I do not expect that life on Earth will ever approximate the blissful existence in Heaven, else Earth life would no longer serve its purpose of education, testing, and spiritual development.

    Liked by 10 people

    1. I read that statement about God making him holy. I had a similar moment on apparition hill in Medjugorje. God was speaking to me about someone, but also about myself, and I lamented some of my sins. God said, “wait until you see what I can do with that.” I AM power made perfect in weakness. When we hand our sins to Him in all humility he uses it for HIS GOOD. I cannot speak about the President, but I will say God works all things for the good of those who love Him.

      Liked by 12 people

    2. The Our Lady of Tepeyac prayer was sent to President and Mrs.Trump. The prayer cards were acknowledged by the White House. So sure hoping he carries it in his pocket and is saying it.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. On this all hallow’s eve, let us remember a great Martyr of our Catholic Faith: Blessed Miguel Pro. He was executed November 23rd 1917 during the height of Mexico’s Marxist tyranny and persecution of the Church.

    Viva Christo Rey!

    Liked by 16 people

  6. The latest message from Luz de Maria, yesterday in California.
    https://www.revelacionesmarianas.com/english.htm

    MESSAGE FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
    TO HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER LUZ DE MARIA
    DURING THE MANIFESTATION OF A CRUCIFIX
    CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 30, 2018

    My Beloved People:

    Here is My Blood… Here is the Oil of My Love that is shed for Humanity, before so much offense, before so much sin with which man continually scourges Me, wounds Me and crucifies Me.

    I MANIFEST MYSELF TO MY CHILDREN WITH MY LOVE SO THAT MY MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD COVERS ALL THOSE HUMAN BEINGS WHO, IN THE CELEBRATION OFFERED TO THE DEVIL ON HALLOWEEN, THINK TO CONSECRATE THEMSELVES TO THE DARKNESS AND PARTICIPATE WITH THE LEGIONS OF EVIL.

    I MANIFEST MYSELF SO YOU DESIST FROM SURRENDERING YOURSELVES TO EVIL.

    May My Most Precious Blood be the Shield that strengthens My People so that no soul is lost…

    May My Oil be in each one the defense so you do not succumb for a day of festivity and from then on continue to give yourselves more and more to the debauchery the devil has planted in Humanity.

    MY PEOPLE MUST MAKE REPARATION, THEY MUST OFFER ME THEIR LOVE AND MUST PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER SO THAT NONE OF YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD IS LOST.

    Pray so that My Most Precious Blood defends those human beings from falling into the hands of those children of Mine who have surrendered to the devil.

    MY PEOPLE, HERE I AM, I LOVE YOU AND BLESS YOU.

    Your Jesus.

    Liked by 11 people

    1. More on the Most Precious Blood Sean.

      Fr Roger J Landry asks the question “Jesus Response to the Scandals?”

      http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/jesus-response-to-the-scandals

      The whole article is worth a read. Fr Landry cites the response found in a beautiful book, especially for priests, previously mentioned here I think In Sinu Iesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart — The Journal of a Priest at Prayer in which Jesus gives to an anonymous priest His Chaplet of Reparation, which I repeat here:

      “Offering of the Precious Blood for Priests”

      Like the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, it is prayed on ordinary rosary beads. On the Our Father beads, we say,

      “Eternal Father, I offer you the Precious Blood of your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb without blemish or spot, in reparation for my sins and for the sins of all your priests”;

      On the 10 Hail Mary beads, pray:

      “By your Precious Blood, O Jesus, purify and sanctify your priests”;

      And at the end of each decade, the prayer is:

      “O Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named, have mercy on all your priests and wash them in the Blood of the Lamb.”

      What a beautiful prayer to say for the renewal of the clergy!

      Liked by 9 people

      1. If I did that correctly, it should link directly to the Chaplet audio, it is a local Priest and his family on the recording. Charlie, you may have met Father when you visited. I hope someone out there in this online family likes to pray along with the audio and finds this helpful!

        Sandy

        Liked by 3 people

      2. I have sat in front of our Lord praying the “Offering of the Precious Blood for Priests” and the Litany for Priests, since Fr. Landry’s post. May our efforts bring great fruit.

        Liked by 3 people

    1. Shoot, Alaska has twice as many Republican early votes as Democrat early votes. I love Alaska! And not to worry…we’ll put exile camps in remote parts of Alaska where the sun don’t shine much!

      Liked by 11 people

          1. Whoa, easy now, we already have way too many here!
            I agree we all have to make sacrifices in the year to come but there are limits.
            How about we do like a hockey trade …like we’ll give you Trudeau for 2 rookie leftists?

            Liked by 8 people

            1. Hahaha, Andy! That was hysterical! 🙂

              Incidentally, I have visited your fair country twice: I went to Windsor once for a track meet, and I went to Montreal once for a hockey game. I wish I’d known to visit St. Joseph’s Oratory while I was there, but I wasn’t Catholic then.

              Liked by 5 people

              1. Saint Joseph’s Oratory here in Montreal is a beautiful place, and visited by people of many different faiths suprisingly, not just Catholics and Christians. I have gone there often. Three times I made a special visit to pray to St.Joseph the Worker, once when I was unemployed, the other time when family members were unemployed. All 3 times, employment followed in less than 3 weeks. It also has a beautiful garden with life-size Stations of the Cross.

                Liked by 3 people

                1. Andy, that’s cool that you live in Montreal (beautiful city!), and that you have often visited St. Joseph’s Oratory. I do hope to visit there someday. The other Canadian holy place that I hope to visit is Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.

                  Liked by 5 people

                  1. Thanks Mick. Here is a short video of St. Anne de Beaupré:

                    I’m getting my snows on next week so perhaps I should go for a day trip. Oh, at the end of the video, it displays all the crutches affixed to the pillars. They were left after the owners had no more need of them…

                    Liked by 3 people

                    1. Thanks for the video… Sean? Andy? It says that Sean wrote this comment; but a “day trip” seems to indicate that the writer lives somewhere close to Quebec (Sean, aren’t you in New York or something?).

                      Anyhow, the video was amazing. My little girl watched it with me; and about 30 seconds in, she whispered and awestruck “Wow!” She had me replay the video several times.

                      Liked by 2 people

                  2. Mick, St. Anne’s is truly awesome in the true sense of the word. Even as a child, I felt a powerful spiritual experience kneeling at the altar rail, seeing all the crutches, etc. on the walls. My family went to the area for part of a summer, during a military exchange program for my Dad (I don’t live there). I will never forget the experience.

                    Liked by 2 people

      1. I vote for Clearwater National Forest in Idaho and in Montana as well for camps…. only God could make country that beautiful, and talk about secluded…. wow! Never been to Alaska Judith, but if needed, I’ll gladly hike that way from Michigan to an exile camp!

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Oh, Bill. The camps to which Charlie referred would be for the problematic folks who have been destroying our country via crimes, as in this quote: “…going to need to establish places of “exile” for the radical political criminals who won’t accept defeat – either a remote part of Alaska or some large islands…” I say we save God’s country in the Clearwater National Forest for a return trip for you and your kin. We could have an ASOH meeting there… that is, after our major meeting at Mount Meeker after the Triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart!

          Liked by 6 people

        2. I would have to vote to ship them to Nevada with a really big fence around them.
          I think it is the most desolate area I’ve ever seen. We drove from San Fransisco to Montana. I’m sorry Nevadans, it’s just my opinion.

          Liked by 2 people

      2. Remote part of Alaska, Charlie? Maybe underground. I was thinking 6 ft. :-)) Wait! That’s not charitable. and I definitely would not want to unload them on our good Canadian neighbors.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Hey, Judith, I was leaning towards a nice camp in Nevada-the stretch of desert….but, now, I am thinking since they want to turn the US into a socialist country well there ya’ go. Give them a choice of which one and off they go! Free Shipping even. Last free thing they get.

          Liked by 2 people

      3. Charlie thank you so much for another great post to guide us on our way. So grateful for this site and all here ❤️
        Just for clarification were you talking about the whole world when you said something like you expected next year would be ‘bloody and frightening’ or were you talking more specifically of America? Though I know the storm will encircle us all eventually if it hasn’t already 😑Thanks .

        Liked by 2 people

  7. Rev 7:14 – “…these are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

    This is the verse I have contemplated for 25 years now, believing somehow, I would experience this foretold time of great distress. How I have prayed that the Lord would wash the garment of my soul with His Precious Blood. How many times have I failed Him?

    I’m glad you said that, Charlie; that despair is a form of vanity. Being part of this community has helped me let go of that vanity – work still in progress – just a little at a time. The Giver of All Good Things knows what He is doing and through whom He is going to accomplish His holy will. He reminds me that His grace is sufficient for this and I just have to trust Him, as a child trusts a loving and careful Father.

    I’m all in. The rocks and serpents do not scare me. Semper Fi and Totus Tuus.

    Liked by 11 people

  8. A constant thank you, Charlie. There is a pattern to your writings – your last piece is fuller than the previous. I do not think you overstate nor soften the realities now or those in the making. These are ugly times and I tend go get down but spending time in front of the Blessed Sacrament every day if possible has been fruitful. During some of the time I read ” In Sinu Jesu”. It is locutions Our Lord gave to a priest, as late as 2016. He waits and waits for us to come in front of Him.

    Liked by 11 people

  9. Excellent piece, and so well stated! Filled with observations and hope. We are in Texas, and somehow in our tiny community we see “Beto” signs everywhere. People who I have know for years, and I am blown over. I keep thinking, what was the turning point, and why would good people think this man who is pro abortion worthy of their vote, when Ted Cruz is obviously pro life and a good man. Too many sucked down that tube; and I have God to thank for the scales being removed from our eyes. Just pray we remain alert and watching, “for like a thief in the night…”Thank you, Charlie.

    Liked by 7 people

  10. My gut tells me that if the Republicans win (and all indications are that the Democrats are going to get paddled), doesn’t matter if it is big or not, it’s going to get bad real fast in the city’s with riot’s and civil unrest.

    I also think that if the liberals can, they will try to ruin the economy, Fed maybe? If they have nothing left to lose, they will ruin it for everyone. I think they will lose there sanity completely.
    John

    Liked by 12 people

    1. Tep, I believe they will throw everything they have at us! When people have nothing else to loose, they give it their all. Let us pray for their minds. And their souls. The issues just keep coming, and getting larger. However, our Lord sees our problems and will send his angels to assist St. Michael. No one can deny this is not of the supernatural. We must do as Charlie suggest, take it moment and make it the right direction.

      Liked by 9 people

    2. Maybe, hopefully, they’ll follow Barbra Streisand’s lead and move to beautiful Canada!

      If libs lose, I’m certain they will just burn it all down. 🔥 It’s what they’ve gotta do. It’s who they are.🔥

      Here’s a list of people who don’t put their money where their mouths are:

      https://townhall.com/tipsheet/catherinedunn/2016/09/08/these-10-celebrities-say-theyll-leave-the-country-if-trump-is-elected-n2215391

      Ruth Bader Ginsburg….if only!

      Liked by 11 people

          1. If you are insistant on sending them to Canada, it should be Newfoundland. If the Newfoundlanders can’t teach them to be decent people, nobody will be able.

            Liked by 5 people

            1. Hey, I spent some quality time in Newfoundland when I was 19 (also Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I). Poor Newfoundlanders are the Rodney Dangerfield of Canada – they get no respect. Tell you what, why don’t we agree that if they go to Canada, it is in the Yukon. (But you still keep Justin Trudeau).

              Liked by 7 people

              1. A friend in Grad school married a Newfie. Boy! She (Toronto) was relentless about Newfie characteristics.

                Quick story. I was on Patrol on a Times Square Detail, I approached a couple of Tourists inquiring where they were from? Newfoundland came the answer…my instant reply… a Newfie? At last I finally met one… needless to say they were a bit taken back and pleased at the same time.

                Though, sending Liberals up to Canada via Newfie land, those Libs would probably start swimming back to Europe to get away from the good natured, loving folk. Though, they’d probably send one of their Newfoundland’s out to rescue them.

                Hymmm, that could be a new olympic game. Though the Newfies would want in and spare the Libs a spell.

                Liked by 6 people

              2. Are you sure you don’t want Justin Trudeau? He’s great at apologizing for just about anything. He does it every other week.
                https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/trudeau-apologizes-to-tsilhqot-in-community-members-for-1864-hanging-of-chiefs-1.4890486
                We could take Babera Streisand, apparently all the stress of election is making her consume pancakes. I suppose it makes sense to move here since we have great maple syrup!
                https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/melanie-arter/barbra-streisand-thinking-about-moving-canada-if-dems-dont-win-control-house

                Liked by 3 people

                  1. A quick glance of this thread had me thinking the category was “crazy leftist celebrities.” Who is Alec Baldwin, Alex. Oh, wait… I see we’re talking about banishing people up north. Let’s assign DeNiro and Baldwin as bunk mates.

                    Liked by 4 people

                    1. The Fight Club returns!

                      Baldwin: I’m crazy, man! You don’t want to mess with me.

                      DeNiro: Are you talkin’ to me? Are YOU talkin’ to ME?

                      (As I started to write the rest of this dialogue, it just did not comport with language requirements here).

                      Liked by 4 people

                    2. Hee-hee. Maybe we should add the scene set-up:

                      A frigid winter’s day in the Yukon. Two cars simultaneously pull up to parking space #237 at the banishment compound. In an obvious standoff, DeNiro and Baldwin realize that not only are they bunk mates, but they also have been assigned the same parking space.

                      A third vehicle pulls up and Jack Nicholson jumps into the fray, brandishing a golf club.

                      Nicholson: Here’s Johnny!

                      We chuckle, but the joke is probably not too far from the truth. The left will come to their senses, or turn on themselves with a vengeance.

                      Liked by 4 people

                    3. Ok,maybe we should keep Justin Trudeau, he could get between the two of them and apologize profusely for any past wrongs… then one of them might actually knock some sense in to him.

                      Liked by 2 people

                    4. You haven’t seen our price yet! Trying to turn a bunch of whiney, nasel-gazing, tantrum prone leftists into decent hardworking people isn’t going to come cheap. (Although if they are all happy with pancakes, there is some economizing possible) Just the skates and hockey gear are a fortune these days.

                      Liked by 2 people

                1. Hmmm, I don’t know if you want her. I just heard a story about Babs. This week, a nurse I worked with on the Rez said in conversation, “I hate Barbara Streisand.” Apparently, a few years ago this nurse was on a hop to Rapid City flying coach and a gentleman from NYC was sitting next to her on the flight. He was the owner of a chain of top-end jewelry stores and was visiting South Dakota to hunt pheasant.

                  The nurse said he was a most delightful man, sweet as pie, and they had a wonderful conversation. His store offers very expensive jewelry in the tens of thousands of dollars range that he “rents” to rich Hollywood types for galas and red carpet affairs. He said Barbra Streisand is among his customers, but he said he is frustrated by her because she never returns the jewelry she rents — she steals it. And this nice fellow has to go to a lot of trouble to get the pieces back from her.

                  The nurse said that this man was so kind-hearted and so now she can’t stand Old Babs.

                  Liked by 3 people

      1. Speaking of FIRE 🔥, here’s an excerpt from Tammy Bruce. She’s a favorite of mine every since I saw her man-handle and demolish leftist rhetorician Alan Colmes on FoxNews. It’s rare that he doesn’t have something to say, but Tammy manged repeatedly to shut him down on live TV.

        GO FOR IT, TAMMY:

        “…This frenzy to cast fellow Americans as dangerous terrorists because you disagree with them politically is beyond any normal or acceptable political discourse. It’s one thing to target the direct political opponent with rhetoric that is unseemly. But here we have the failing establishment, both Democrats and in some cases Republicans, choosing to malign the actual voters in the week leading up to an election.

        “Hillary Clinton’s declaration that the president’s supporters were “deplorable” and “not American” was the moment the losers in 2016 decided a 🔥 scorched earth campaign 🔥 punishing those who did not comply would be their new strategy.

        “It is now apparent Rep. Maxine Waters of California was not a rogue congresswoman calling for the harassment of Republicans; she was simply carrying forward the 🔥 official Democratic torch. 🔥

        “Their latest accusations, attitude and lack of any coherent position on policy for this country, proves not just the chaotic incompetence now destroying that side of the aisle, but makes clear their actual malevolence toward the citizen. After all, we are the ones who 🔥fired🔥 them, and we are the ones they are determined to punish.

        “When the midterm comes along the Democrats are going to find that we are not ISIS, or Nazis, or racists, or terrorists. We are Americans. 🇺🇸 We are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and best friends. We are voters and families who look to the future and want it to be the best it can be. Next week, we must trust and urge the American people to not reward those who condemn people for rejecting the status quo, and deciding to stand for freedom, fairness and a renewed American future.”

        https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tammy-bruce-the-democrats-never-ending-meltdown

        Liked by 5 people

    1. Karen, I’ve been praying for Asia and her beautiful family for years. I have such high regard for the ACLJ.org team. Pastor Andrew Brunson is another Christian who was recently freed from his oppressors. Thanks be to God!! ❤

      Liked by 11 people

    2. This is amazing news for sure. We have been praying for this “special” servant since 2009. I hope that she and her family can escape Pakistan and find peace. Blessed be God!!

      Liked by 7 people

  11. FYI: I haven’t finished reading your post yet, but I wanted to tell you that the photo heading your post was heavily edited to look “creepy”. I don’t know if you realized that when you sent it. The photo above is the original. Notice the differences on yours: the eye completely blackened; the guy in the background looks much angrier; the mud streaks on the nose and rain droplets have been erased. All this gives the whole photo a very different, creepy feel. I just wanted you to be aware and help you stay vigilant. Thanks. Mary Kay

    >

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Ah, there was a version I much preferred, but it was not downloadable. This one was, though I didn’t like it as much. I appreciate you noting the photoshops that have been done to it.

      Liked by 5 people

  12. Just read the following prayer on another forum. It was written by an anonymous poster so I can’t take the credit for it, but it sure seems to fit here at ASOH.

    Lord Jesus Christ, we ask for Your blessings
    Your guidance and Your protection
    For we sense happenings
    But we do not know what they are
    May all engaged in the struggle against evil
    Come safely through the storm
    Amen

    Liked by 16 people

  13. I’m thinking if the left takes a hit, election result will be held up for months pending re-counts, court challenges claiming voter suppression, ‘investigations’ into foreign interference, and on and on. This nonsense could extend well beyond the swearing in date for the new congress and very possibly into the 2020 cycle.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Christopher, I might be wrong, but I actually think that the results will be so overwhelming that the democrats won’t have any legal basis to challenge. I ignore polls, but the changes in registration and the absentee and early voting balloting is pretty much a GOP tsunami. I am reading that ALL over alternative news sources. I think what Charlie is describing is spot on, not because he said it but because that’s been my observation for the last couple of months.

      Liked by 2 people

  14. I agree with Charlie. I think we will hold the house and senate ( I think that is what he meant, sorry if wrong). I don’t think there will be any blood tho. As long as these guys have their phones, social media, sneakers, and weed, they are fine. They might throw some punches, take a selfie, gram it but thats it. Just cross the street if you see that stuff and you’re fine. Buchanan had a great article comparing these times with ’68 and we aren’t even close…yet.

    Really tho, who cares? The real prob is in the Church. This is what keeps me up at night. Not the stupid limp wristed left. How many people have to suffer before, Our Lord intervenes? I’m talking about eternal suffering , not temporal. How many souls are we losing because of the crap that is going on? Watching those Cardinals and Bishops “get down” with young peoples on the disco, come on. How can I say, “hey, man check it out, be a Catholic. See how hip it is”, to my friends? WE ARE DYING FOR AUTHENTIC CATHOLICISM. Please help us. Charlie please beg your Angel to ask God to help us (if it be His will). Good night.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Teddy, I am convinced God will not move decisively until WE work with all our might to clean up these messes. We have had many decades when any who had eyes to see and ears to hear could see that we were moving away from Him – and we chose to just hope for the best rather than make waves. It would have been much easier then…and is MUCH harder now. Now we must show our love and fidelity by taking up the mantle He laid out for us long ago and we refused because it was too uncomfortable. The bad news is it may be too much for us. The good news is that if we truly devote ourselves to becoming holy, He will cover what we lack. God will help all of us…but His help this time comes in fortifying us for the things we should have done 50 years ago. Nothing else comes until we take up our mantle with steely resolve. There is Rescue – but NOT a cheap, easy rescue just because we are really scared.

      Liked by 17 people

      1. I need clarity…..I am a person that lives in reality. Clarity is everything to me. I feel what you say is clear Charlie, but I still don’t understand my marching orders. Maybe its because I see what’s uncomfortable and don’t know how to approach?

        Liked by 5 people

        1. My post was reactionary to this line……

          “Now we must show our love and fidelity by taking up the mantle He laid out for us long ago and we refused because it was too uncomfortable. The bad news is it may be too much for us. The good news is that if we truly devote ourselves to becoming holy, He will cover what we lack. God will help all of us…but His help this time comes in fortifying us for the things we should have done 50 years ago.”

          “uncomfortable” meaning family and friends who are so “in the world” and away from God. I pray for them constantly, try to be the best “witness” I can……but I just can’t talk to them, or have meaningful dialogue about what’s really important (I have tried). That train left the station a long time ago…..its so very hard. I will continue to work at becoming holy for my salvation and the salvation of my loved ones. God can work with crooked lines after all.

          Blessed be God forever!

          Liked by 10 people

          1. One way that I pray for friends and family is this, “Please Jesus, I know you want the salvation of *N. but I also worry they will resist if I am the one to lead them to You. So I ask that You send them someone else to make the first crack in their hearts and I will pour in my prayers to soften them for your grace. Grant me perseverance in this resolution so that I continue to pray and await your mercy for *N.Grant me to know when to speak and when to pray in silence. Amen.

            This has been an effective prayer for me. God lays the groundwork. I will pray for your family and the families of all here. Pray for me and mine.

            Liked by 5 people

            1. Thanks, Marisa! I could have done a so much better job instilling the faith in my family. I keep thinking I will be judged harshly for it even as I pray for their reconciliation. In any case, a lovely prayer which I have printed for future use.

              Liked by 2 people

        2. Another thought, San San, you might simply ask the Holy Spirit to show you, enlighten you, as to how He wishes to use you as a tool in friend and family settings where it is difficult to enter into evangelizing conversations. In my work with Encounter Ministries, there is much discussion of how sinners know their sins. Deep down, they do. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict them. Our work is to love them in the midst of their sinfulness, not condoning, simply loving in myriad ways.

          Liked by 8 people

          1. “there is much discussion of how sinners know their sins”
            and here is an incredibly fascinating article continuing the discussion: by Peter Kwasniewski
            https://abyssum.org/2018/10/25/what-are-the-abusive-priests-thinking-what-do-they-think-of-themselves-and-of-their-victims-how-can-they-live-with-themselves-do-they-believe-anything-of-the-catholic-faith-the-same-question-might/

            …”I recall my many years of teaching Aristotle’s Ethics to undergraduates. Aristotle notes that the worse someone becomes morally, the less he is capable of seeing his own wickedness. The “limit case” is the state of vice, a habitual frame of reference and settled inclinations that make the vicious man incapable of seeing the world except viciously. He is bent on desiring what is bad and is no longer aware of an alternative.”….
            …”At one period in our lives, we are comfortable with sinning, perhaps even unaware that we are sinning. Over a period of time, we become uncomfortable, we hate ourselves for what we are doing, and we want to change. There is always the hidden or open working of God’s grace, without which we cannot turn to Him and cannot be saved from the evil of our fallen nature.”…
            …”The general consensus of Catholic theologians is that God never fails to give us “actual graces” – that is, momentary promptings and opportunities for conversion, which do not yet amount to “sanctifying grace” or the life of God in the soul. These promptings are rather in the nature of someone outside us shouting, “Hey! Look here! Come over and join me.” If we take advantage of the actual grace, our conversion is under way. But if we ignore, dismiss, or hold in contempt these actual graces when they come (and they don’t come wrapped and labeled for easy recognition), we are pushing conversion ever farther away.”

            Liked by 5 people

            1. Sure is classic Catholic moral teaching, sorrowful passion. I set these thoughts in the context that so many who were victims in childhood become victimizers unless they seek and/or are led to Christ’s healing. Also, pressed to my heart are the words of Our Lady from Fatima that too many poor souls go to hell because they need our prayers. This keeps me praying with hope for the seemingly hopeless.

              Liked by 5 people

              1. Yep Beckita. What frightens me when I add at the end of my prayers “For Those in Most Need of Thy Mercy,” my face pops up. Yikes! 😉

                Liked by 4 people

            2. In Romans 18-22 Paul relates, by Divine revelation, that which Aristotle could only understand and articulate dimly. Scripture mentions the ‘fruits” of our lives and through these, how we are to judge them.
              Jesus told His followers to listen to the Scribes and Pharisees but not to imitate them, noting the authority they held but also the fruits of their personal lives as wicked men not to be emulated.
              So God can use even evil men for His own purpose, as noted in the scriptures here, but the vessels may still end up in th fire pit.

              Liked by 4 people

            3. Along somewhat similar lines, a priest I am very familiar with has made it clear that he is not interested in details (ignoring completely the axiom that the devil is in the details). This allows him to be more concerned that it be a good story than that it be true to details. He has St. Paul and his ministry completely wrong, saying such things as he did not begin to preach until his second visit to the apostles at Jerusalem 14 years after his conversion and that St. Barnabas was sent to accompany him and be his teacher (even in the context of the reading from the epistle to the Galatians wherein St. Paul clearly says, “No man taught me but Christ Himself.” It is this fact that allows St. Paul to claim to be an apostle. The Acts of the Apostles clearly states that St. Paul began to preach in the synagogues right after his eyesight was restored. It has occurred to me that his blindness was most effective in St Paul’s conversion by causing him to be so interspective. This priest would be amazed at how much he reveals himself to a any discerning observer. His self delusions are amazing. I can only wonder at his priestly formation some forty some years ago. I could go on and on but perhaps I’ve said too much already. I purpose is to offer insight.
              May the Holy Spirit guide us and protect us, lead us to all holiness and truth as we approach the momentous elections next Tuesday>

              Liked by 3 people

    2. Our parish in Norwalk Ohio is so beautiful. .it’s normal stuff…but we have mass daily, perpetual adoration, confession & we even say the St Michael prayer after every Mass..probably not as beautiful as the traditional Mass, but we have Jesus whenever we want & can adore Him whenever we want & confess weekly if we want & I’m very very happy…new young priests are sincerely in love with Christ & it radiates…

      Liked by 5 people

    1. Why, thank you Frank! I am SO TOTALLY gonna vote for Democrats after watching this ad! 😉

      A friend sent me this video yesterday. I laughed so hard! Republicans all over the country should be running this “ad.”

      Liked by 15 people

    2. This skit is so clever. While everything Allie says about the *Dems* is contrary to all reason, she has twinkling eyes and a big and beautiful smile on her face while the hypnotizing music plays in the background. I love this!! ❤

      Liked by 8 people

    3. Thanks! Just posted it on Facebook and Twitter…. gonna get a whole lot of comments from my mostly conservative friends, and maybe even a few death threats from my liberal ones… 😉

      Liked by 8 people

  15. My husband will be out of town on Election Day so he went to vote early. I went with him but had some concerns. Your ballot is put into a privacy envelope to keep it ‘secret’. That is then placed into another envelope with your name, address and other identifying
    information. I worry that ballots could easily be sorted and shall we say, misplaced. I don’t much trust the process. You didn’t drop your ballot into a secured box, you handed it to a person. Is the push for early voting good or bad?

    Liked by 6 people

  16. Thank you, Charlie!!

    Not sure if this fits in somewhere or this was just a meaninginless dream but I dreamed the other day that I was working on improving the soil in a potted rose plant. It hadn’t started flowering yet but the soil looked great, loamy and full of worms. Unfortunately some of the worms grew and then turned into snakes (one was small, blue and had a large fang. ) It escaped out of the pot and slithered under what looked like a pink tablet-type computer . It was using this every day object that moved with it to slither under the door and go unnoticed. Anyhow, whether this means anything or not it just seems that things are not as they seem, and to expect the unexpected. This seems to definitely be paralleling life lately.

    Thanks again!

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Thankful, one thing that jumped out at me is the BLUE snake hiding under a PINK computer. Blue and pink… male and female. Man reducing woman to an everyday object to be used to get what he wants. Using this method, man can move around, his true agenda hidden. Womanhood is a beautiful rose but feminism has allowed the soil of womanhood to produce snakes that destroy instead of worms that nourish the soil.
      This is what came to me…
      Your thoughts?

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Wow, Kris, that certainly could be the meaning of the pink and blue colors, and the meaning of the soil, rose plant, and snakes too. And it makes sense. Something tells me there are multiple meanings in this odd dream, but I’m not gifted at prophesy at all. So thank you.

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Thankful,

      I think it could be a warning for you actually. Something you are tending is not blooming as it should because of a spirit of depression trying to enter through either the internet (literally) or an immature manner in which data is being processed (if figurative)

      Liked by 2 people

        1. Hmmmm. If my interpretation doesn’t resonate with you, it’s probably not the right one. 😆 Just disregard in that case. Other clues could be setting. Your house? Someone else’s? But basic feel is that something that appears to be good soil/fertile ground is actually not (rose not blooming) and worm transforming into small hidden deception that can cause harm (fang). See if that could speak to any circumstances around you.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. Thanks, Irish7,

            I think it is the latter thing definitely – it is another circumstance rather than a house and that does seem to resonate in many ways. It is something I have been thinking for a long time and I hadn’t related it to the dream until you mentioned that it could be another thing. It appears and may be great soil for others (maybe other people = flowers that could grow better in this soil ) but I have been thinking for a long time that this is not the right soil for us. There are many things that could allow our little rose to be transplanted and we pray for it to be transplanted into the right place. Thank you for your gifts that you share here!

            Liked by 2 people

          2. Oh and forgot and wrote too soon, but perhaps it does involve the house too as if we are supposed to transplant our rose that would involve changing houses too. So yes to the other thing completely! And thank you for your gift of prophesy. Thanks again!!

            Liked by 1 person

  17. On this feast of all saints, may their intercession, and our imitation of their virtues, help us to TNRStep and be ASOHope to those all around us.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Love this rendition of the Litany, Marie. How blessed are we that the Saints, Angels and Holy Souls await our requests to them for assistance. We just say but the word.

      Liked by 6 people

  18. Happy All Saints Day 😉
    A Good Day for us to recall the trials and troubles that all the Saints dealt with on their Life’s Journey and ask them to assist us with ours.

    HeartLight Daily Verse – 1 Nov

    Ephesians 1:18
    I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

    Thoughts on today’s verse:
    Heaven is something we see with our heart. When we are discouraged, doubtful, and depressed, we need to have the eyes of our hearts “enlightened.” The dawn needs to rise in our darkness, and then we will see the dawn of hope and the riches of our inheritance. But when things look bad, the only way to remember these things is to sing them, pray them, and read God’s promises of them.

    Prayer:
    O God, you are my Hope. I trust in you and your promises. But I admit that at times, like even right now, I struggle with the confidence that you will act in response to my prayers and do what I’ve trusted you with my life to do. Please fill me with your Spirit, comfort my doubts, and kindle my passion so that I may serve you with boldness and share your grace with others. Through my Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
    Church Triumphant Pray for us!
    Visit heartlight.org for more

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 10 people

  19. Some other News “Out-There:

    MILINET: Articles for Christians=================
    Pittsburgh shooting: Anger at Pence rally ‘Jesus prayer’
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46029972

    Asia Bibi: Pakistan acquits Christian woman on death row
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46040515

    Bone fragments found at Vatican could solve 35-year-old mystery
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/10/31/Bone-fragments-found-at-Vatican-could-solve-35-year-old-mystery/6401540980807/?sl=18

    Priest arrested, accused of impregnating teenage altar girl
    https://www.foxnews.com/us/priest-arrested-accused-of-impregnating-teenage-altar-girl

    Traitors or Russian agents? Clergy caught in Ukraine church row
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-church/traitors-or-russian-agents-clergy-caught-in-ukraine-church-row-idUSKCN1N640J

    Mexico’s Supreme Court legalizes cannabis for recreational use
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2018/10/31/Mexicos-Supreme-Court-legalizes-cannabis-for-recreational-use/9621541024238/?sl=9

    and Other Stuff ……….

    Rise Up 18: Bishop Harry Jackson Calls for Prayer Before the Midterm Elections
    https://stream.org/rise-up-18-bishop-harry-jackson-calls-for-prayer-before-the-midterm-elections/

    A Coming Mobocracy?
    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2018/a-coming-mobocracy

    CNN refuses to comment on Don Lemon calling white men ‘biggest terror threat’ in US
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/11/01/cnn-don-lemon-comment-white-men/1843131002/

    One Statue Worthy of Destruction
    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2018/one-statue-worthy-of-destruction

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 6 people

  20. Speaking of weighty choices… George Weigel has shared some news that draws us further into prayer and contemplation on the possibilities of becoming one flock under one shepherd with new developments concerning growing unity between Catholic Eastern Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy. The Holy Spirit is fruitfully at work, even in the darkness.
    https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2018/10/shifting-tectonic-plates-in-eastern-christianity

    Liked by 5 people

  21. The Vatican refuses a French court summons, claiming immunity. I expected such as this with Pope Francis and key Curia prelates grasping their wilting, splitting fig leaves in a stance of refusing to be transparent and undertake a thorough investigation. It’s another scenario to file under “these things must come.” Until the entire Church, from the greatest to the least, comes clean, we’ll surely see more of this. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/10/30/vatican-cites-immunity-in-refusal-to-send-french-court-summons-to-cdf-prefect/

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Yes Beckita, much more to come. As Charlie has announced many times, there will be a “doubling down” on the side of evil. All the more that we will increase our prayerful witness.

      Liked by 3 people

  22. Charlie,
    Your ” It is why I candidly admit my faults as soon as I know them. I am an unworthy, fumbling servant as are each of you…but each of us can press on to do the most right thing we can think of under God, despite those faults.”
    That has got me to do the right thing and clarify my “true” identity on ASOH. A few months ago I lost my email service and obtained another. But when I read your new post I logged on with my new email address and full name, rather than Joseph77. I thought nothing of it until recently. My lame excuse? Stupidity and Senility.
    As for admitting my sins and faults, I would have to write a VERY large book to list them all. But I will say this, my sins have caused a great part of the Storm we are now suffering. God had to exercise His extraordinary mercy to stop me from falling all the way into the pit of hell. All glory, honor and praise and thanksgiving to God our Father and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ! Amen! Amen!

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Ah! I have been wondering who the new Joseph was. But you’re not a “new” Joseph; you’re an “old” Joseph! Glad we got that all cleared up. 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

        1. Dear Joseph Fazio, I remember you. And you’re two years senior to Fr. Wang, the priest with whom I both collaborate and assist in ministry and for whom I’m blessed to provide care as he ages. I’ll just bet you two would strike up a fantastic conversation!

          Liked by 6 people

          1. Dear Beckita, You are amazing! Thank you for the wonderful, uplifting surprise when I read your comment on our communication of long ago. I remember your Africa Peace Core tour and Beckita naming and recall how fortunate for Fr. Wang, that you supported and cared for him. Wow! Fantastic indeed! How blessed and honored I would be to have conversations with Father and you on our life experiences through the years. Were it not for my present situation I would turn it into reality. I thank God for you Beckita, your wisdom, knowledge, love and joy are a blessing to all TNRS-ASOHers.

            Liked by 4 people

            1. God bless you, Dear Joseph. WOW! You’ve got a wonderful memory… er maybe I’m just plain old redundant at times. Thanks for your warm affirmation. Aren’t we an incredible collection of humans who have found a home in this place? Charlie uses the analogy of a potluck when he writes and speaks of the uniting of us all in one faith as a fruit of the Rescue. I think we’ve got a lot of tasty meat and treats, even now, in the conversations which happen in the comments. If it’s not on this side of the veil when we meet, then surely when we’re all in our heavenly home, we’ll have so much to talk about for eternity.

              Lord whose Word began creation
              We will worship You
              Sovereign King of every nation
              We will worship You
              Until the end of endless time
              Live to fulfill Your true design

              Chorus:
              For Eternity
              We will worship You
              Lord of life and love we seek Your face
              And we stand here only by Your grace
              Lest the rocks cry out
              We will sing Your praise
              We will shout the Name that set us free
              For Eternity

              Cornerstone of our foundation
              We will worship You
              Giver of the one salvation
              We will worship You
              Until the end of endless days
              Declare the glory of Your ways

              Liked by 4 people

        2. Seriously, you’re 92? I thought maybe the 77 was because you graduated from high school or college in 1977.

          How cool that we have a nonagenarian TNRS-ASOH’er! 🙂

          Liked by 9 people

          1. Mick, Thanks for the “cool.” I am undeserving, blessed and fortunate to have found TNRS-ASOH. It is an oasis where I drink the cool, crystal-clear waters of God’s faith, hope and love by the comments of the many holy men and woman here. I added “77” to “Joseph” after another “Joseph” commented on the same thread. I didn’t want any confusion as to who said what.

            Liked by 4 people

      1. THANKFUL4MERCY,
        Love your name! Mercy! I tell you true, I cannot begin to adequately express my thanks to GOD for His incomprehensible and extraordinary Mercy on me, even if I have all eternity to glorify Him. I confess, I gave the Hound of Heaven a very hard time, tracking me down through the years of my betrayals. Enough of me!
        Mercy is an attribute of GOD WHO IS MERCY which is bestowed on all His creation. For me, Shakespeare’s Portia’s very beautiful appeal for Mercy says it all:

        The quality of mercy is not strained.
        It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
        Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
        It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
        ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
        The thronèd monarch better than his crown.
        His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
        The attribute to awe and majesty
        Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
        But mercy is above this sceptered sway.
        It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings;
        It is an attribute to God Himself;
        And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
        When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
        Though justice be thy plea, consider this:
        That in the course of justice none of us
        Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,
        And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
        The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
        To mitigate the justice of thy plea,
        Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
        Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant
        there.
        — Portia, in William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1.[1]

        Liked by 4 people

        1. Thank you, Joseph for sharing! This is beautiful.

          Yes mercy – so needed and appreciated. Everyone, even the one most bent on justice wants mercy applied to them when they wrong someone. Such a beautiful attribute of God to have mercy for us when we merit justice.

          Utterly dependent on mercy here and praying that I learn to be more like Jesus and His Mother to live their mercy.

          Thank you again and prayers for all of your intentions, Joseph!

          Liked by 3 people

        2. Joseph, that is my favorite scene from The Merchant of Venice. I’ve forgotten almost all of the Shakespeare that I learned in high school; but I will never forget the first four lines of Portia’s speech above. Thanks for sharing it.

          Liked by 3 people

          1. Ha, Mick, me too! Except that I always say only the first 2 lines, forgot the next two 🙂 We had to memorize all of “Portia’s plea”. As a matter of fact, it reminds me of a miracle of mercy in our family years ago (mercy droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven). We came home one day and the front of the house, sidewalk, etc. was wet as though there had been rain, but everything around us was bone dry. We went inside to find a miracle of answered prayer in the mail! I’ll never forget Portia’s plea and I had NO doubt it was the Lord’s mercy having dropped as rain!

            Liked by 2 people

  23. Hey everyone.. I just got a happy reminder from Dawn Walker in Month of November… 10 souls are released from purgatory per one Hail Mary!!!!!!!!! Get your HM on!!! 😉

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Dear Linda and All, I know every prayer from the heart has great value. At the same time, many of these kinds of promises that so many souls will be released from purgatory if a certain prayer is said in a certain way are problematic. Almost magical and push buttonish in attitude, even as I’m sure people mean very well. Fr. Richard Heilman has a piece about this topic here. He addresses the legend that saying the St. Gertrude prayer releases 1,000 souls from purgatory and then applies his thoughts, rooted in Church teaching, to additional prayers presented with similar promises.

      In solidarity with the Church as we remember the Holy Souls in special ways of praying at this time of year.

      Liked by 7 people

      1. From the above (Fr. Heilman) website:
        “Eternal Father,
        I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus,
        in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
        for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
        for sinners everywhere,
        for sinners in the universal Church,
        for those in my own home,
        and in my family. Amen.”

        This prayer, is my go-to prayer for conversion of sinners and of course the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Even if the vast amount of souls are not released, praying this multiple times shall have an affect on sinners and the souls in purgatory.

        Liked by 9 people

      2. Any favorite ways of doing this? Masses said- Gregorian Masses for the dead, or abstinence from certain foods, extra prayer, etc. If one has some health struggles that make it difficult to fast (without becoming incredibly ornery and therefor sinning by being irritable with family), what are some things you might suggest?

        Liked by 4 people

          1. My husband and I are heading out tomorrow to pray in cemeteries in our area. We do this every early November and sprinkle some holy water as we walk around praying. Won’t be long and the snow will be here so now is the time! A blessed November to you all.

            Liked by 6 people

      3. Beckita, What are your thoughts on the Flame of Love Devotion, where it was said that reciting 10 Hail Mary’s, as such:
        Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee,
        blessed are Thou among women,
        and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus.
        Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
        spread the effect of grace of Thy Flame of Love over all of humanity,
        now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
        would release 10 souls from Purgatory in November.

        I respect your insight. God Bless, Denise

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Hi Denise. I do love the Flame of Love devotion with its prayers given by Our Lord and Our Lady and that it enjoys full Church approval. If this suggestion from Our Lady concerning a way to release more souls from purgatory enlivens one’s fervor and motivates more prayers for the Holy Souls to be offered, I would pray those ten Hail Marys, continuously, and simply release the results to Our Lord and Our Lady. Blessedly, the Church has a rich history in ways to pray for the deceased. God bless you too, Denise.

          Liked by 3 people

  24. I don’t know if it is ok to share with you all on TNRS; but all the horrors surfacing about the mortal, deadly misconduct perpetrated by Consecrated men of God in our Roman Catholic Church has left me bottomed out spiritually since the end of August. I do think we have a swamp in the Vatican, filled with crocodiles, snakes and only God know what other vermin. Of course there are good men too. But how long Lord before You come to our rescue.

    Would you believe, my hope is that Donald Trump will hold a majority in the House and the Senate at the mid terms; because I pray he will be part of God’s plan to drain the swamp in the Church as well as in American politics.

    Liked by 9 people

    1. It’s so sad that the Church is not ahead of the civil authorities in draining the Catholic Church swamp here, Julia. If only the legitimate authorities in the Vatican would step up to own their role in engaging with this mess in forthright ways which reflect they are assuming their duties and responsibilities as warranted. The Department of Justice here is on the move and I think it won’t be pretty as it plays out.

      Praying for you, Julia, and for us all to be refreshed in Christ’s Peace and Hope as we navigate these current churning, swirling waters of the Storm. Among the many encouraging ways Charlie has prepared us for these days, my favorite line of truth is: God has a Plan.

      Liked by 6 people

    2. I look at the more or less great Church of Rome and barely recognize her… from my very limited viewpoint of the last half century. That said, one need only immerse in the Gospel for comfort. How unsettling for so many of those, many dyed-in-the-wool Faithful among them, and yet God was indeed attentive, moving and acting in One great motion.. always fresh and new… an unprecedented Grace… that Word from the height of the Cross, and indeed a triumphant procession from the Tomb to the highest height of Heaven. Imagine… this same Lord Who Meets Us… Comes to Us, Reassures Us, and Heals Us in the Blessed Sacrament. It’s simply mind boggling, but how our hearts should find comfort beyond reckoning… resting there for now. In His very arms later.

      Look at the Bride for what She should be, and consider how much more glorious is God’s vision. Yes, the very difficult work is at hand. It’s always this way to one degree or another. Sure, I clearly feel that I need a bigger boot for my part. A bigger heart.

      Do not despair at the daunting work. God has equipped you for your part, put you in the proper place, and will provide all the Grace necessary… and then some.

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Re: The reference to “work”

        I’m sitting here watching an ole’ granddad and four year old. There’s a mess of toys and such sprawled all over the floor. The youngin’ noticed me watching, looked up and said, “we’re playing.” Just in case I was confused, I suppose. A moment later the ole’ fella looked over and quipped, “well, he’s playing, I’m working.”

        And there you have it.

        Liked by 6 people

      2. Thank you MP. Beautiful words of encouragement never go astray. Another form of comfort I ‘indulge’ in is remembering that we are all in it together, shouldering the burden. I could fall into despair because I see that I am going it alone, not only in my immediate family but extended as well. By the grace of God and the care He provides in giving me the Sacraments, His Mother (and all heaven), a faith-community (esp. ASOH), and the knowledge that it is Jesus who actually bears the whole burden – I am saved from that despair and am in need only of a simple daily ‘carrot’! If I did not have these I would be cast adrift!

        Moving day is rapidly approaching (Nov 16 – impatient hubby has succeeded in bringing it forward a week) and there is much work and a few heart-wrenching farewells to endure. Placing it all in the safety of His Holy and Divine Will for the glory of God and for all souls.

        Liked by 3 people

        1. I’m keeping you in prayer for your move and all it encompasses, Karen. I just read a wise quote in one of my daily emails, that I share here:

          The founder of gratefulness.org is Brother David Steindl-Rast. I stumbled upon him online a decade or so ago. He is Benedictine Monk and befriended and worked with Thomas Merton for a time. Oddly enough he was interviewed by Oprah too. The video is available on his website. In his contemplative like fashion, he speaks to how we can live with joy amidst the chaos and love each other in the process. His wisdom and guidance were impeccable, imho. Although I have never been a fan of Oprah either, I can say of the guests I’ve seen on her show, Brother David Seindl-Rast was the only one I have ever witnessed that Oprah interviewed in which she was unsuccessful in being able to censor with her own narrative.

          Liked by 5 people

          1. Thank you JLB. Some people are born to lead. Some come across that one person who positively impacts their life forever. None of us can go wrong if we praise and thank God daily.

            Liked by 3 people

            1. Thanks Diane. I found myself in an odd situation last week – in a good way. A fellow-parishioner had died, a lovely gentleman and untiring volunteer in the parish. He is a father of a local priest and so there were 7 priests concelebrating his funeral Mass along with my current parish priest and his assistant. One of those priests who had travelled over from the country was my soon-to-be parish priest!

              Liked by 3 people

          1. Thanks Mick – in 3 weeks time I will be celebrating with my new parishioners, my old parishioners and Christians all around the world (and in Heaven and Purgatory) the Feast day of our Universal King – thus my location – and all it’s dramas – will take the back-seat!

            Liked by 3 people

    3. I hear you Julia. It seems like there are things that people are suffering that they didn’t before and everything seems so poignant. Like an agony of sorts leading to Calvary. It seems like there is a pressing of the grapes so to speak, so that under immense pressure the Lord can product fine wine. But right now it just feels like a real purification in so many lives.

      Liked by 3 people

    4. Julia, your comments remind me that an important part of the continuing process of the ongoing Rescue is the unveiling of the evils in the hierarchy and the political establishment that we are prompted to take serious and to do our individual part whether it be just praying and fasting in order to aid in bringing about God’s plan.

      Liked by 4 people

  25. I think this case could easily be made for the USA, Canada & Old Christendom. Be it the military, civic/veterans/volunteer groups or church organizations, the younger generations do not seem all too interested in “Steppin’-Up”. When the current over 60 crowd passes on it’s looking like lights-out for many of the above. There is certainly a “Can’t the Government do that?” attitude goin’ on around here ….. perhaps older generations have always had this notion of the young? …. but These-Days! …. ;-(

    Young People Understand Rights But Not Responsibilities or ‘Notion of Service’, Says British General

    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/11/01/young-people-understand-rights-but-not-responsibilities-or-notion-of-service-says-british-general/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 5 people

  26. You can’t point to ANY form of Human Endeavor that does not have a dark side with some bad actors involved therein! Churchill said in 1947: “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”.
    One could make a similar and better case for Capitalism. We don’t live in a perfect World and won’t till the 2nd Coming. Capitalism has brought more Humans up from poverty than any other system you can name. What we are hearing from the Pope is Boiler Plate South American Socialist BS and the Limousine Liberal Hollywood/Media Types are eating it up and using the Pope’s words/actions to undermine The Faithful ;-(
    ….. and if you think the USA/EU are operating under some form of pure Capitalism, you must have slept through Modern History and Econ 101. Over the past 100 years, Government Regulation, Tax Policies and the Idiocy of The Usual Suspects have strangled Capitalism to the point that an economist from 1912 would probably think the USA/EU had descended into some form of Idiotic Socialism!. Countless MILLIONS, these past 75 years, can thank the USA, its Blood/Treasure/Capitalism, for their Freedom, Safety and Improved Standard of Living ……… Alien Invasion is just one of the dangers that is killing that Golden Goose that provided ALL of that largesse!

    Pope Told Michael Moore That Capitalism Is a Sin?

    https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/susan-jones/pope-told-michael-moore-capitalism-sin

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I hope that link is not true and that Moore is making it up. Sadly, though, this Pope has pretended to a political authority he does not have while neglecting the spiritual authority he does have, so it does have a certain credibility to it.

      Liked by 9 people

  27. Our Mama, in Medjugorje today, continues to urge us onward in LOVE.

    No wonder we need the Storm, this purification:
    “I am sad as I am saying to my Son that many of my children no longer have faith, that they do not know Him—my Son.”

    Then, Our Lady gives us counsel for every opportunity we have to take this next right step:
    “That is why I call you, apostles of my love: you strive to look to the very depth in human hearts and there you are certain to find the little hidden treasure. To look in this way is mercy from the Heavenly Father. To seek the good even where there is the greatest evil—to strive to comprehend each other and not to judge—that is what my Son is asking of you. And I, as a mother, am calling you to listen to Him.”

    She knows what we are going through. She does. So, she closes with this heartfelt plea:
    “Anew I am calling you, my children: pray for your shepherds, pray that the love of my Son may lead them.”

    Full message given today:

    Nov2-to Mirjana in Medjugorje

    Dear children,

    My motherly heart suffers as I am looking at my children who do not love the truth, those who are hiding it—as I look at my children who do not pray with their feelings and actions. I am sad as I am saying to my Son that many of my children no longer have faith, that they do not know Him—my Son. That is why I call you, apostles of my love: you strive to look to the very depth in human hearts and there you are certain to find the little hidden treasure. To look in this way is mercy from the Heavenly Father. To seek the good even where there is the greatest evil—to strive to comprehend each other and not to judge—that is what my Son is asking of you. And I, as a mother, am calling you to listen to Him.

    My children, the spirit is mightier than the flesh, and, carried by love and actions, it overcomes all obstacles. Do not forget: my Son has loved you and loves you. His love is with you and in you when you are one with Him. He is the light of the world and no one and nothing will be able to stop Him in the final glory.

    Therefore, apostles of my love, do not be afraid to witness the truth. Witness it with enthusiasm, with works, with love, with your sacrifice, and, above all, in humility. Witness the truth to all those who have not come to know my Son. I will be alongside you. I will encourage you. Witness the love which never ends because it comes from the Heavenly Father who is eternal and who offers eternity to all of my children. The spirit of my Son will be alongside you.

    Anew I am calling you, my children: pray for your shepherds, pray that the love of my Son may lead them. Thank you.

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Ah, Beckita you beat me to posting…

      A quote caught my eye as I ponder this being probably the most in discussion here:

      “…you strive to look to the very depth in human hearts and there you are certain to find the little hidden treasure. To look in this way is mercy from the Heavenly Father. To seek the good even where there is the greatest evil-to strive to comprehend each other and not to judge-that is what my Son is asking of you. And I, as a mother, am calling you to listen to Him.”

      => “To seek the good even where there is the greatest evil- to strive to comprehend each other and not to judge…”

      Bingo!

      Liked by 8 people

    2. Thank you for this! Something is telling me that suffering needs our love added to it. Love is so needed- so many hurting people who may be told the truth but they can’t receive it because their hearts are aching for love, the love that our Mama wants to give us to give to them. Please Mama Mary give us your love so we can love like you.

      Liked by 6 people

  28. Today is a rare day in the liturgical year, for a priest may offer three Masses. (Of course, when needed, priests offer three Masses in parishes on weekends but only due to priest shortages.) In his three Masses of this All Souls’ Day, the primary intentions are prescribed: 1. For the Pope’s intentions 2. For the priest’s private intentions 3. For ALL the souls in purgatory.

    Already, this morning, Father has offered Masses for the first two intentions and we’re about to head to the parish for the third. Just want you to know, he offered the second Mass, especially, for all our deceased family and friends from ASOH along with those of our wee chapel family. Your deceased dear ones were/will be remembered in the other two Masses as well.

    Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

    Liked by 13 people

    1. Thank you, Beckita! God bless you, God bless our dear priests, and God bless the Holy Souls who take such good care of us even in the midst of their sufferings.

      Liked by 4 people

    2. Thank you for the Masses and prayers! Much needed and much appreciated.
      Visited our deceased loved ones today after a beautiful Requim Mass. Took a picture of cleaned up gravesites and sent out to family with “Visting and praying for all our loved ones today for All Souls Day”. Always witnessing whenever the opportunities arise.

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Beckita, Please pass along my appreciation to Fr. Wang. Since we aren’t privy to his sermons, just curious if he has any unusual musings about the state of the culture, church, and its remedies etc. that he wouldn’t mind you sharing. No doubt that a faithful, elderly MOG is infused with wisdom. I realize
      that it would most likely echo some of your personal posts, but sometimes pious priests are known for an original pithy quote or words of wisdom that nourishes the soul….

      Liked by 4 people

      1. I have passed along to Father your thanks, Marie, and all the expressions of gratitude here. He is such a learned, holy, wise one and, in his humility, he knows God is at work in each of us as we strive to live out each of our callings using the gifts He has granted each one. This is why I always say I assist and collaborate with him, for we welcome many a person in this home – or meet them on the road – to listen, counsel and pray with, and over, individuals and families. And in extending our care, we offer the complementary gifts in response to those who have asked for help. In his humility, he exerts his priestly authority and powers in ways that I, obviously, cannot and which cause me to swell with awe and gratitude at God at work in him. And, in deference to him and his priestly authority and dignity, I am always grateful that he leads. At the same time, he will toss the lead to me when he discerns it fitting in particular settings. Seventeen years ago, while on pilgrimage to Avila, we dedicated our friendship and co-ministering to St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. I, often, think such as this will be in the New Beginning, a time when the clergy and the laity cooperate for the glory of God, for love for His people and for the building of His Kingdom on earth.

        To answer your request, Marie, I will share that for years we have ended the praying of the breviary in the evenings with discussions about these times, the messages from heaven as we discover and discern them and, then, there’s usually some dreaming aloud of possibilities in the New Beginning. The constant theme we discuss through all that is unfolding and what is to come is a key to remaining at peace and staying focused, a theme we constantly come back to at TNRS-ASOH: TRUST in the Lord. Last year, when we were in a town close to the Canadian border where Father was subbing on the weekend, I filmed a homily he gave on the topic of TRUST. (You’ll readily see the amateur quality – mea culpa.) He gives three concrete reasons why God can be trusted and I especially love his reminder that trusting doesn’t mean we get off the hook with exerting our own part in God’s work. True to form, Father speaks for three minutes on another topic as an intro because he never prepares by writing his homilies. He’s always listening to the Holy Spirit, says he, about what to say. So, here you go, Marie:

        Liked by 7 people

        1. Thank you for your in-depth reply, Beckita! Looking fwd to watching Fr.’s homily,later, (after company exits the premises). So much to ponder; appreciate that your and Fr.’s attitude is encouraging even amidst the valleys.

          Liked by 3 people

    4. My Ma (and I) thank you and Fr. Wang for the prayers and offering of the Mass. She has just returned from our hometown, where she was finally able to lay my dad’s ashes to rest in the family plot at Notre Dame. Whew! Long wait for him… nearly a year. To me, he was a giant of a man, and I have no doubt that the Fighting Irish beyond the veil welcomed one of their own home. Too bad the Irish are on the road at Northwestern today, but my Ma assures me that there’s a great view of the Golden Dome from his resting place and Our Mother has our hopes well in hand.

      Liked by 3 people

    1. I’ve been binging on Fr. Ripperger the last few nights. Once he mentioned he was in Denver. I looked at his website ( http://sensustraditionis.org/ ) and saw his mailing address as Keenesburg, CO. I see that Keenesburg isn’t far at all from Denver. Does anyone here know if Charlie has ever met him? I don’t recall any mention of that but I could have easily missed it.

      Liked by 3 people

  29. ASOH community member, JTBrannigan, is in the hospital with what the doctors think is pnuemonia. The medical staff is concerned about his oxygen levels so they are keeping him in the hospital until they determine what is going on. Please pray that JT is able to sleep and that the Lord gives him a quick recovery. JT also happens to be my son’s Godfather.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Thanks for alerting us to this need to pray for JT, Frank. JT, when you’re feeling well enough to maybe pick up a phone and have a peek at the site, may you be heartened into wellness with the prayers of your ASOH Family. Keeping you in prayer in these days and asking Our Lady to wrap you in Her Mantle of Healing. (edited a major clean up of this comment)

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Thanks to Frank for posting for me. What I thought was just another bout with bronchitis is apparently more serious. I am not in pain and am not critical. I will be here a bit as they try to figure out what is going on.
        When the ambulance came, I chose to go to a local hospital founded many years ago by Jewish philanthropists. The emergency department was mobbed. As I had been stabilized by the EMTs, I lay on a stretcher for five hours watching the amazing activity around me. The staff was peaceful, calm, caring. Even for those of us in waiting in a hallway, aides came by multiple times to see to our needs. I have five children. I have been in many emergency rooms. The atmosphere here was different from most other city hospitals.

        Being brought to my room, I noticed that many of the rooms (including mine) had Mezuzahs hung on the door frames. A mezuzah is a small cylindrical container that many Jewish families hang on their homes. Inside there are verses from scripture. One of them is from Deuteronomy, Chapter 6.
        “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Teach them to your children and talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a symbol on your hand and let them be a sign upon your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your homes and on your gates.”

        Needless to say, I feel very blessed to be in a place that still honors God even in this little symbol. I really think this is the reason I have noticed such peace, calm and dedication among the staff.

        Thanks again for your prayers. I would ask you to also pray for a family friend, John Paul, who is 38, married with three young children and who was diagnosed a month ago with a virulent form of leukemia. The doctors are trying to stabilize his blood count to do a bone marrow transplant but have had no success so far. I have been offering up my daily aches and pains for his healing. God has given me a much bigger offering to make.

        I go forward in faith and in peace. Thanks again for your prayers.

        God is great and Jesus is Lord. Mary is our great intercessor.

        JT

        Liked by 7 people

        1. Thanks for checking in with us, JT. Happy to hear you are at peace and being tended to with good care. Surely will pray for your friend, John Paul, and for his family. May the Lord swiftly heal you!

          Liked by 2 people

        2. JT, it is so good to hear from you. I have offered prayers for you and John-Paul and for all who love an care for you both! Thank you for your heartening witness in spite of your struggle. ❤

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        1. This bing couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person, Doug. Why, you’re not only the original bing-caller, I’d say you’re the King of Bing. Tee Hee! Seriously now, may all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. (To the tune of Silent Night: May they sleep in heavenly BING!)

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            1. Doug: I feel blessed to have been the subject matter that earned you a Bing award!
              JT (Maybe it should think about changing my moniker to IT, sounds much more modern.)
              God Bless all thanks for prayers for me and for my friend John-Paul.

              Liked by 4 people

                1. Aye lad! I am especially grateful for you getting a poor soul out of purgatory for the month of bing!

                  On a side note, for others here, can you imagine another world where language is different and the word bing really means prayer? This is what the left is doing to change laws. It is a very real strategy to redefine or confuse language to chanhe existing laws. It is an evil of our day. It is most used by the left in terms of applying what is “case law” as opposed to original intent. When you hear the term “case law”, warning flags should go up. Blessings!

                  Liked by 3 people

                    1. Hey, given this is the month of Bing, I think we need to bring back the old cartoon “Ricochet Rabbit”. Anyone remember him and his famous line? “Bing, bing, bing, Richochet Rabbit !!!”

                      Liked by 2 people

                    2. Yup. I am at a bagel shop eating breakfast this morning with my wonderful Lambzie (like every morning). I accidentally sat on a bagel. So I am on a roll……😎

                      Liked by 2 people

  30. Charlie, I want to acknowledge this part of your post:

    “It was right around the Feast Day of Our Lady of Tepeyac in 2002 when Our Lord appeared to me and tartly rebuked me. “I have made you holy for my purposes, not yours,” He said, “and you are NOT to gainsay it again.” To be holy is to be entirely the servant of the Lord and His will, despite your continuing faults and sins, to do the most right thing you can think of, acknowledging God, at every step.”

    When Jesus speaks to St Faustina, he also speaks to us. And when Jesus speaks to you, Charlie, he often speaks to us. Some of your most memorable messages have been the brief words of Our Lord, like about the young man irreverently receiving communion. (What an honor to be rebuked by Jesus…you’re in the company of St. Peter who arguably received the most stinging rebuke ever).

    In the previous post I considered how the grip of concupiscence has been eased from my life, and I do wonder how. Part may be natural aging, physiologically and mentally. Definitely returning to the Catholic faith was the biggest boon, reading the saints, the Rosary, confession, and communion all certainly play a part. And, of course, my love of Our Blessed Mother and requests for her intercession.

    But I fail to properly acknowledge the one who desires my holiness and eternal life MOST for bringing about this grace. I told Jesus earnestly that I want to become a saint. My desire is to love him and serve him alone. I asked that he lift these temptations from me because I’m incapable of doing so through force of my pathetic will.

    A bit from Sacred Scripture complements your message well:

    ✝️ “A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” (Mark 1:40-41)

    Our Blessed Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady, is the one working such wonders in our lives. HE WILLS IT! Thank you for sharing his message. God bless you, brother Sherpa.

    Liked by 9 people

  31. Fr. Heilman is hosting an event with Fr. Ripperger today. Here’s the notice with the livestream link if you wish to listen in:

    FR. CHAD RIPPERGER LIVE-STREAMED NOVEMBER 3-4

    On November 3rd (First Saturday) – just 3 days before the elections – Fr. Chad Ripperger will lead a powerful evening of prayer and reflection at St. Mary of Pine Bluff, WI (This will be live-streamed).

    Here is the link for live-streaming: https://stmarypinebluff/live-stream/

    Saturday – Nov. 3

    8:00am – Low Mass at St. Mary of Pine Bluff (Live-streamed).

    4:00pm – N.O. Anticipatory Mass ad orientem at St. Mary’s – Fr. Rick Heilman will offer this Mass, with our schola in attendance.

    Saturday Evening (Nov. 3) of Prayer and Reflection with Fr. Chad Ripperger

    5:00pm – Holy Hour of Adoration, Confession and Benediction.

    6:15pm – Fr. Ripperger’s talk on “Different Levels of Spiritual Warfare” (Live-streamed).

    7:30pm – Cake and coffee Social.

    Sunday – Nov. 4

    7:30am – Fr. Ripperger offers a Solemn High Mass with Fr. Zuhlsdorf (Live-streamed).

    Liked by 4 people

      1. Thanks, Marie. I had copied the notice from Fr. Rick’s FB post when it came through my news feed but had not tested it yet. Usually, on a live stream link, the screen is blank until the event begins.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thanks, Marie. The link hadn’t kicked up for me, either; and I don’t have the computer-smarts to fix it. Thanks for fixing it for me/us. 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

  32. Christian Haters are everywhere including the entire Global Left which includes
    “The Media”. The Christian Right will become an even greater Big-Fat Target if a Red Wave, Please God, occurs Tuesday. Sadly, the perpetual Drip, Drip, Drip of Catholic Church Pervert Scandals will only make “IT” worse when the inevitable Troubles-n-Terror occur ;-(

    MILINET: Articles for Christians – 3 Nov
    =================
    God’s Red Army-The Republican Party hopes to beat back the Democrats on Tuesday with a big push from the Christian right.

    Attack on buses of Coptic Christians in Egypt leaves 7 dead
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/11/02/Attack-on-buses-of-Coptic-Christians-in-Egypt-leaves-7-dead/1731541181998/?sl=11

    Islamic State claims responsibility for attack near Egyptian monastery: AMAQ
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-security-claim/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-attack-near-egyptian-monastery-amaq-idUSKCN1N7245

    New Orleans archdiocese releases list of 57 alleged abusers
    https://www.apnews.com/f9a20ffc600a439d80ed222aaf0ea780

    Supreme Court agrees to hear Maryland cross memorial case
    https://www.apnews.com/0bbdc69f3d204799b468a7bc50cd12ca

    and ….. sadly one of the terrible side effects of the Pervert Scandal is the fact that Catholics, Clergy/Laity, feel the need to keep their mouths shut in public lest they be confronted with the “Sins of Our Fathers”. Sooo and even Country Singers must take up the slack.

    Rev. Graham: ‘So-Called Faith Leaders’ Blessing Abortion Mill Is Like Blessing Auschwitz
    https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/rev-graham-so-called-faith-leaders-blessing-abortion-mill-are-blessing-murder

    I used to be a regular over @ MOG but the blatant anti-Semitism that was expressed and tolerated there was a Last-Straw for me ;-(

    Charlie Daniels Rewind: Anti-Semitism in Our Time
    https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/charlie-daniels/anti-semitism-our-time

    … on a lighter/happier note

    https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/10/31/mandarin-duck-in-central-park/

    https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Fishermans-Rescue-of-Entangled-Whale-Caught-on-Camera-499221291.html

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6347379/Interstellar-asteroid-Oumuamua-giant-solar-sail-sent-civilization.html

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 3 people

  33. @ Crewdog.
    “I used to be a regular over @ MOG but the blatant anti-Semitism that was expressed and tolerated there was a Last-Straw for me ;-(”

    anti-Semitism /anti-Christian

    Me2…….. for the sake of my salvation and sanity.

    Liked by 2 people

  34. What a gift to be able to discern when to speak and when to stay silent. Very confusing lately how to do both without causing harm either way. I think Charlie has mentioned that we will make mistakes in this discernment. It is scary to see how we are called to do much but are so little. It is humbling indeed. If a priest who is notoriously pro things that are not considered orthodox and he is quoted (for something orthodox) then there is a desire and a belief that if this person is church sanctioned, he is ok and can be followed. Does one have obligation to tell friends about this person or not? When does one step in and when does one just end up sticking their foot in their mouth?

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    1. Praying for you, thankful, and for us all that the Holy Spirit grows our gifts of wisdom and discernment as we strive to develop them by using them. We do and will make mistakes and God does write straight with our crooked lines.

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    1. I listened to the whole thing, Doug (while I was tending to other stuff… multitasking!). It was exceptionally informative. My favorite takeaway is that even though from a worldly perspective Prof. Rectenwald has lost almost everything, he is happy because he, in his own words, has “gained [his] soul.”

      Liked by 4 people

  35. Please pray for a priest who has resigned. He has done much good but it seems like the burden to carry was too much. I am heartbroken. Please Mary and all the angels and saints come to rescue him. So sad.

    Liked by 3 people

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