A Terrible Resolve

Posted on by charliej373

(A few housekeeping notes: 1) Of late, some commenters have adopted excessively salty language, which we frown on here. I have instructed moderators either to not clear such comments or, if the comment has compelling value, to edit out excessive saltiness before clearing it. 2) I was stunned to discover on Facebook that I have almost a thousand instant messages. I have my setting so that I only see individual messages from close friends – the rest I only see on a summary notice page. I apologize to those I have ignored, but it will continue. I have no time to chat on Facebook except for serious matters with close friends. I apologize to all, but if you need to reach me on a weighty matter, send a note to this site.-CJ)

By Charlie Johnston

At the end of the movie, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” Japanese Admiral Yamamoto expresses his dread of what the sneak attack has accomplished: “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve,” he muses.

I could not help but think of this quote in the aftermath of New York’s gruesome celebration of its adoption of infanticide as a ‘universal human right’ – and the efforts of several other blue states to follow suit. I have long thought that the anti-God left was heading towards advocating for ‘post-natal abortions.’ Now we are there. The line of battle just gets sharper and and more well-defined.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is struggling to survive to full term in his state. Democrats are NOT agitated because of his radio interview endorsing infanticide, but because of a blackface picture in his college yearbook and his confession that he once donned blackface to portray Michael Jackson. Apparently, Democrats have decided he is free to execute as many black babies as he pleases, but don’t dare imitate an actual black person who survived the delivery room. How bizarre. I play the trumpet – and can do a mean singing Louis Armstrong impression. I know it’s good, because I once tipsily and cockily told a black musician in a Memphis jazz club that I could do a better Louis impression than he had just Cardinal done. Irritated, He challenged me to come up on stage for the next set. I did – and when I was finished he slapped me on the back and said, “Damn, boy, you were right.” With a wicked grin, he asked me if maybe there wasn’t a little ebony in the woodpile I came from. It was a different time and we both laughed. Fortunately, I never donned blackface for a show. I just hope the folks in Virginia keep Northam comfortable until they decide his fate.

I don’t think this pro-abortion triumphalism is having quite the effect its advocates intend.

I sing at the choir in my Parish. Understand, I keep a very low profile in Colorado. I do all my political and activist work in other states. I like to keep Colorado mainly as my home, away from the fray of my work in the rest of the country. And though it may surprise you, I am fairly quiet and soft-spoken when I am not working. There may be one person in the choir who knows I write a popular website, maybe one or two who know that I do some vaguely defined pro-life or political work. I’m just a nondescript guy there who sings bass and sometimes plays the trumpet. The folks in choir are good Catholics, the sort in the pews who avoid discussion of controversial issues and stick to the nice stuff. Tuesday, after rehearsal, a spontaneous discussion of abortion arose that lasted for over 10 minutes. Everyone was talking about how each of us has to do more to stand for life. Parents talked about the serious conversations they had with their children on the importance of the sanctity of life at all stages in the aftermath of these new assaults. We prayed for unborn children and the sanctity of life. I said not a word (except after rehearsal to the director – who has a vague idea of my work). The abortionists are succeeding in causing the ordinary people in the pews to get “woke” to the danger.

I am not the only one who was filled with visceral revulsion at the refusal of New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan to take a stand for Catholic values (other than to call any who were disgusted by his moral indifference “far right.” Apparently, anyone who will stand for life is “far right” to him now – and the far right is certainly not entitled to the charitable consideration abortionists and advocates of infanticide are from him). Cdl. Dolan has to be a little shocked at how unanimously both Catholics and ordinary conservatives have risen in disgust to condemn his inaction with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

I don’t think the bulk of the hierarchy – and certainly not the Vatican – have any clue what precipitous freefall their moral authority is in. The culture of sexual abuse and the defense and cover-up of it is just the tip of the iceberg. When several Dioceses jumped in with the lynch mob against the teenage Catholic boys from Covington, Kentucky, it told a lot of people how unreliable, even malicious, many of our leaders have become. Now four Dioceses are being sued for slander for their precipitous and vicious attacks against those school children.

In Saginaw, Michigan, a pastor was recently removed by his Bishop for being too “traditional” – and thus divisive. This is not a matter of Latin Mass or such. Rather, Fr. Edwin Dwyer had the audacity to preach an unapologetic pro-life message while introducing traditional elements such as bells and incense to Mass. It has not escaped the attention of a lot of Catholics that while almost all the abuse is committed by heterodox clerics, the only ones ever punished are orthodox clerics – and the charges are almost always trumped up against them. Even the trumped up, phony charges do not rise to the seriousness of the actual crimes and sins committed by heterodox clerics, then covered up or excused. About the only thing that can get you in serious trouble in this weird new church is to be serious about your Catholicism. The top hierarchs do not understand that it is no longer a matter of the faithful disagreeing with them: the faithful do not regard them as morally serious people anymore.

In just a week and a half, the World Summit on Sex Abuse called by Pope Francis will meet at the Vatican. The estimable Msgr. Charles Pope wrote a marvelous piece on the three keys critical to beginning to restore moral credibility to the hierarchy. I pray that it may begin, but I have little hope. Michael Brendan Dougherty noted a few months ago that the only men Pope Francis seems to promote or respect are those who are “morally compromised and theologically suspect.” I suspect we may see some grand gesture, perhaps the laicization of former Cdl. Theodore McCarrick as a sop to cover over the fact that no real reform is likely to be allowed at this summit, certainly not of the type that Msgr. Pope calls for. Top authorities are more likely to play at being clever rather than at being faithful. Then a lot of noble Bishops are going to have a great decision to make: will they go along with the defense of the indefensible or will they stand for the faith of Jesus Christ? We have entered the forge.

Yet, the devil always overplays his hand. The smoke of satan has never been thicker in the corridors of the Church than it is now. Some of the most noble Bishops may be effectively neutered for a time trying to balance their lawful duty of obedience with their duty to defend the faith, hearten the faithful, and defend the faithful. This is where the apostolate of the laity will come to the fore, not to supplant the hierarchy, but to empower those honorable, but often timid, members who still believe in the faith of Jesus Christ. Abortion is the tip of the spear for a much more comprehensive set of problems than initially meets the eye: the culture of death versus the culture of life. Many outside the Church and many authorities inside of Her have taken up the banner of the culture of death. They will not prevail.

We have a great battle before us. I am convinced, though, that the celebration of infanticide in New York will be to the pro-abortionists what Pearl Harbor was to the Japanese warlords: an overplayed tactical victory that ultimately ensured their destruction.

*******

Many of you know my friend, Mary Lapchak. When I am on the road visiting communities of the faithful throughout the country, she coordinates all the details of my visits. She it is who makes the trains run on time for me. She and her husband, Mark, have a wonderful working farm in central Colorado. I often visit them to decompress. We watch movies in the evening, have fabulous food (Mary is a superb cook) and just have a great time. When the transmission went out on my old truck a few months ago, Mark found a good used one for me and installed it, himself, at cost – which left me enough money for getting out around the country later this spring.

Often, confronted with the various outrages that are so common today, Mary will ask me what can be done. Ah, but she warmed my heart after the New York outrage and Cdl. Dolan’s refusal to do anything about it. She didn’t ask me what could be done. Instead, she wrote personal letters to every Bishop, including auxiliary and emeritus, in the country. She sent out over 400 individual letters. They were brief and to the point – no unnecessary words. This is what I mean by the apostolate of the laity and the prayer of doing. Many will probably not respond to her. Some already have. But before God, she has done something. The generosity of God for whatever we do in honor of Him guarantees it will reverberate throughout the Church, regardless of what responses she gets.

Mary is my indispensable right arm when I get out on the road. But this is the single most magnificent thing I have ever seen her do. Below is the text of her letter:

“Your Eminence,

Today, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the legalization of murder abortion of children up until birth.

Very bluntly, we are murdering God’s creation of unborn children. I would contend the charge of murder does not indict just the mother and father of the child, but all of us who know what is going on, and do little or nothing to stop this genocide/infanticide .

Surely, this is the work of the satan and an impossible situation for us mortals. Surely, this battle is “… not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of the present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Eph 6:12)

If this observation is true, we are told by Our Lord Jesus Himself, “…This kind can only come out through prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

Do you, as our shepherd, believe this is the evil work of the satan?

Do you believe Jesus’ words in Mark 9:29?

Do you have a conviction or have a desire to have a conviction to save God’s Precious Creation of the unborn child?

When will we lift our voices, in unison, to heaven? What more needs to happen to convince us the murder of unborn children will not stop until this infanticide is legal in every state?

What am I asking you to do?

1 Storm heaven with prayer by organizing and leading a Jericho March 1 seven times around your Planned Parenthood facility.2 This was done in the Denver Archdiocese by Archbishop Aquila on March 5, 2016.3

  1. I respectfully request you ask your parish priests to celebrate a weekly (at a minimum) Mass in front of all Planned Parenthood facilities in your diocese.

Thank you for your consideration.


Mary Angela Lapchak

Parishioner, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Limon, Colorado

cc: All active and emeritus Cardinals and Bishops in the United States

 

 

1 Now Jericho was in a state of siege because of the presence of the Israelites. No one left or entered.  2  And to Joshua

the Lord said: I have delivered Jericho, its king, and its warriors into your power.  3  Have all the soldiers circle the city,

marching once around it. Do this for six days,  4  with seven priests carrying ram’s horns ahead of the ark. On the seventh

day march around the city seven times, and have the priests blow the horns.  5  When they give a long blast on the ram’s

horns and you hear the sound of the horn, all the people shall shout aloud. The wall of the city will collapse, and the

people shall attack straight ahead.

12  Early the next morning, Joshua had the priests take up the ark of the Lord.  13  The seven priests bearing the ram’s horns

marched in front of the ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Ahead of these marched the picked troops, while the rear

guard followed the ark of the Lord, and the blowing of horns was kept up continually.  14  On this second day they again

marched around the city once before returning to camp; and for six days in all they did the same.

15  On the seventh day, beginning at daybreak, they marched around the city seven times in the same manner; on that day

only did they march around the city seven times.  16  The seventh time around, the priests blew the horns and Joshua said

to the people, “Now shout, for the Lord has given you the city.




349 thoughts on “A Terrible Resolve”

  1. Oh how I LOVE the after rehearsal discussion and prayer story and what it reveals. The hard push from the hard left to promote infanticide since President Trump declared he will veto ANY initiative which crosses his desk to promote abortion is chilling AND it looks like the evil one knows he’s going down and is making his last lunges to do as much damage as possible before being chained. I DO hope and pray Cardinal Dolan – and his confrères – is shocked “at how unanimously both Catholics and ordinary conservatives have risen in disgust to condemn his (the Cardinal’s) inaction with Gov. Andrew Cuomo” and that it precipitates a change of heart throughout the episcopacy.

    Yes, Yes, Yes, Charlie: “This is where the apostolate of the laity will come to the fore, not to supplant the hierarchy, but to empower those honorable, but often timid, members who still believe in the faith of Jesus Christ. Abortion is the tip of the spear for a much more comprehensive set of problems than initially meets the eye: the culture of death versus the culture of life. Many outside the Church and many authorities inside of Her have taken up the banner of the culture of death. They will not prevail.”

    Wow, Mary! Thank you for being a sign of hope. You give new meaning to the meme from the old Nike commercial: Just do it!

    My last thought is a plea: Friends in this Community of ASOH, please consider asking your parish priest to offer at least one – more if you can swing it – Mass for Charlie and the work that is his in this phase of the Storm.

    Liked by 17 people

    1. In my parish, based on the past experiences I’ve had approaching the pastor about such things, I think the only way to get a Mass said for Charlie is to submit a Mass request with a donation … and since my parish is so huge that all the Masses are quite possibly already filled through 2019, the only way may be to have a Mass said, with donation, through the Diocese, who will relay the Mass request to the foreign missions or other priests who have Masses available to schedule.

      Liked by 10 people

      1. Great idea, Phoenix! And one can go directly to websites of religious orders or various Catholic Apostolates to request Masses as well. I have, often, requested Masses to be offered from the Seraphic Mass Association, an apostolate of the very order to which our newly beatified American, Fr. Solanus Casey, belonged: Capuchins! Especially fitting since Blessed Solanus lived and advocated for growing in holiness via the ordinary, simple, loving way. The link for the Seraphic Mass Association: https://mymassrequest.org/

        Liked by 11 people

      2. I understand Phoenix, that the fix is already in once you submit your tithe for the mass to be said so you do not have to wait for the actual mass to be said before the graces are available to the one the mass is for.

        Liked by 9 people

      3. Had not though of this but I have had Mass said for the holy souls. I have noticed tho as this is never read out during The Mass…Makes me mad really as our old Dominican friends used to say the Leonine prayer. I am going to ask my local priests as to just why this important thought is not more widely recognized…
        Perhaps I will in the future just have a Mass said for Charlie and all on here…

        The more we get older the more life becomes complicated…

        Mac.

        Liked by 7 people

        1. Marie, I appreciate the shout-out to the Pious Union of St. Joseph. It is run by the Servants of Charity, and they are amazing. One of their priests is the pastor of my parish.

          Liked by 8 people

      6. We don’t really have a problem here in this parish as to getting a Mass said for someone. Please allow me to piggy back the intentions you may have on a Mass this week if I could get about it…

        Intention I would posit being the key here as we could keep in mind those we read on here as we say our own missive. Like I said on here many years ago. When we hear of someone departing this plane… We just have to say a Divine Mercy with the person in mind…

        Jesus I trust in You perhaps…

        Mac.

        Liked by 5 people

    2. Charlie, lit a candle for you, your good work and intentions with the Carmelite sisters at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra, CA. Thank your for your faithful witness and the hope you help us maintain here!

      Liked by 9 people

    3. Charlie, knowing the soft spot you hold for Texas, here is a little story to parallel your opening thoughts….

      God & 3 Mistakes

      What God did at Pearl Harbor that day is interesting.

      I never knew this little bit of history.

      Tour boats ferry people out to the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii every thirty minutes. We just missed a ferry and had to wait thirty minutes. I went into a small gift shop to kill time.

      In the gift shop, I purchased a small book entitled, “Reflections on Pearl Harbor” by Admiral Chester Nimitz.

      Sunday, December 7th, 1941–Admiral Chester Nimitz was attending a concert in Washington, DC. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him. When he answered the phone, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the phone.

      He told Admiral Nimitz that he (Nimitz) would now be the Commander o f the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Nimitz flew to Hawaii to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. He landed at Pearl Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1941

      There was such a spirit of despair, dejection and defeat–you would have thought the Japanese had already won the war.

      On Christmas Day, 1941, Adm. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters everywhere you looked. As the tour boat returned to dock, the young helmsman of the boat asked, “Well Admiral, what do you think after seeing all this destruction?”

      Admiral Nimitz’s reply shocked everyone within the sound of his voice. Admiral Nimitz said, “The Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could ever make, or God was taking care of America .

      Which do you think it was?”

      Shocked and surprised, the young helmsman asked, “What do mean by saying the Japanese made the three biggest mistakes an attack force ever made?

      Nimitz explained:

      Mistake number one: The Japanese attacked on Sunday morning. Nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were ashore on leave. If those same ships had been lured to sea and been sunk–we would have lost 38,000 men instead of 3,800.

      Mistake number two:

      When the Japanese saw all those battleships lined in a row, they got so carried away sinking those battleships, they never once bombed our dry docks opposite those ships.If they had destroyed our dry docks, we would have had to tow every one of those ships to America to be repaired. As it is now, the ships are in shallow water and can be raised. One tug can pull them over to the dry docks, and we can have them repaired and at sea by the time we could have towed them to America. And I already have crews ashore anxious to man those ships.

      Mistake number three:

      Every drop of fuel in the Pacific theater of war is in top of the ground storage tanks five miles away over that hill. One attack plane could have strafed those tanks and destroyed our fuel supply.

      That’s why I say the Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could make or, God was taking care of America.

      I’ve never forgotten what I read in that little book. It is still an inspiration as I reflect upon it. Admiral Nimitz was a Texan, born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas — he was a born optimist.

      But any way you look at it–Admiral Nimitz was able to see a silver lining in a situation and circumstance where everyone else saw only despair and defeatism.

      President Roosevelt had chosen the right man for the right job. We desperately needed a leader that could see silver linings in the midst of the clouds of dejection, despair and defeat.

      There is a reason that our national motto is, IN GOD WE TRUST. Why have we forgotten? PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY! One nation, under God!

      Liked by 8 people

      2. Thank you for that story, BC.

        I love the painting for this post. I’m a huge fan of history, especially the Pacific theater during WWII. My favorite series is from the History Channel: “Battle 360: U.S.S. Enterprise”

        10 one-hour long episodes. You can find them on YouTube. Here are two 9-minute samples:

        “Call to Duty”

        “Enterprise versus Japan”

        Liked by 4 people

    4. Sending in a donation for Masses to be said for Charlie and his work and other intentions to the Franciscans of the Immaculate in La Crosse, WI. They are affiliated with the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe there, one of my most favorite places. I was going to have the

      Liked by 5 people

        1. Oh audiemarie, how wonderful! I’ve always wanted to visit that gorgeous shrine. I have a dear friend who was a lay missionary associated with it and who is a friend of Cardinal Burke who founded the shrine and continues to serve as President of the Board of Directors there. God bless you.

          Liked by 4 people

  2. Charlie, my take on the VA Governor mess is that because Northam made that unbelievable statement about 4th trimester abortion, the Democrats acted quickly to get rid of him.

    Most likely they pulled up the black-face photo to effectively accomplish two things: 1.) To take the infanticide statement out of the headlines, hoping to neutralize it as rallying cry for the Pro-Life movement (and protect that PP money), and 2.) To begin the process of swiftly drumming him out of office, thus taking the infanticide statement with him.

    Northam foolishly crossed the line by stating what Dems actually support but would never say out loud because it would be political suicide. It looks like an inside job. Dems are experts at destroying people…its got their fingerprints all over it.

    (Looks like you got a Bing! His name, appropriately, is RALPH Northam.)

    Liked by 12 people

      1. Beckita — I created an excel spreadsheet of all active and emeritus Bishops/Cardinals/Auxiliary Bishops and can make it available.

        Liked by 6 people

    2. Another way is through the LifeSite news-Faithful Bishops link. There is a “send a postcard” button with the abortion topic for every Bishop here in the US. https://faithfulshepherds.com/
      __________
      Just read how New Mexico is passing or has passed the worst pro-abortion legislation.
      ________
      Life Site also has an article about Cardinal Muller’s teaching of the Catholic Church. Very good….

      Liked by 6 people

  6. Call to Arms-Rosaries Up-Locked and Loaded!
    Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the Fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

    Liked by 20 people

  7. Sorry Charlie but I have not read this posting.

    A very terrible thought struck me tho as I read the intro…

    As some old Irish poet penned one time…

    A terrible beauty is born…

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Because, “Too long a sacrifice, can make a stone of the heart”.
      And this is what we must, most fiercely, fight to avoid; the stony heart.
      God can work with clay, but stones have had the life baked out of them.
      pcj

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Charlie you say, “Of late some commentators have adopted excessively salty language” I wonder if these were the subjects of prophesy:

    “I saw rude, ignorant people offering violent resistance, but this state of things lasted not long.”

    Blessed Catherine Emmerich

    Liked by 2 people

          1. The rest of the vision was no joke:

            “I saw in all places Catholics oppressed, annoyed, restricted, and deprived of liberty, churches were closed, and great misery prevailed everywhere with war and bloodshed. I saw rude, ignorant people offering violent resistance, but this state of things lasted not long. Again I saw in vision St. Peter’s undermined according to a plan devised by the secret sect while, at the same time, it was damaged by storms; but it was delivered at the moment of greatest distress. Again I saw the Blessed Virgin extending her mantle over it.

            Blessed Catherine Emmerich”

            Liked by 3 people

            1. Indeed, the vision IS no joke, Joe. And it would be wise to read this vision in full context in order to discern well its meaning. And, even then, there can readily be layers of meaning. I have seen this passage plucked from context and used in many places online in these days. What are your thoughts as you bring this to our attention?

              Liked by 1 person

                1. Joe, surely you had a thought or two in mind when you shared the passage from Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. We may not always agree or, perhaps, someone may view a topic from a differing perspective. There’s room for that kind of discussion here. So, please, it was your contribution so don’t be hesitant to “speak” your purpose for sharing it.

                  Like

            2. I have read much of this Blessed but I have no memory of this passage. One has to realize tho I suppose when any people are restricted and deprived they will try to find alternative. That I wonder if looking at the yellow vest thing of today’s world. Just where are we to turn though when we are met with thuggish resolve by governmental thugs.? That of course is not a subject I would be ignorant of as I recall said thugs on sidelines awaiting their chance to cause riot. You may well trust me on that sight way back then as I watched a local sherrif start a quite unnecessary riot. That fellow has passed now long since but I do remember the memory of what his smile would eventually lead to considering that protest was peaceful with no hint of trouble.

              Let me hazard a guess here now Joe but Charlie most likely refers to this curmudgeon as the salt on this site. Let me assure all on here though as I would not wish to be the spilt salt on the meal of life. Take for example the pic of the intro of this piece. Reference to Japan in that horror. Japan, like Germany tried to surrender long ere that horror ended. Look you now to the letters of one Patton to his wife for referral. We have it now in the Caribbean basin just as we had it in Afgan, Iraq,Yemen, Libya, pick any old country beat it off a wall every now and again as some American general once said.Look you all well on that pic I daresay as it will be a hundredfold next pic. We have now a peace of sorts in Afghanistan just as we have had a peace in Ireland with The Good Friday Agreement. Look to who this Afgan peace will serve as we send American children to the new Vietnam. There would I assure you have been no Iqaqi quagmire had there been no Good Friday.

              On the subject of the Good Friday thingy Joe… Perhaps you may think it some accident it was signed in the Culloden Hotel. Culloden,,, the last battle of the Celt when the Sottish/Irish were defeated. See there now Joe but as you mention in some other post as to how we are being guided by some force we are unaware of. We are unaware of course as you say because we are tired, stupified by programming of media of our modern controlled world. “THEY” have to tell us Joe, it is part of the magik which we are under control of..They tell us aforehand…We are just not paying attention.

              My regards, Mac.

              Liked by 3 people

              1. As an afterthought dare I add… That cur who started that riot was on a check-point on night. He asked a certain individual just where he was going. To which said individual replied…Leave me alone as I haz a trunk full of ammo…

                He really should have noticed the car was weighed down…

                Mac.

                Liked by 1 person

            3. A friend shared this with me just yesterday:

              Interesting Read:
              Anne Catherine Emmerich was told by Our Lord that her gift of seeing the past, present, and future in mystic vision was greater than that possessed by anyone else in history. Born at Flamske in Westphalia, Germany, on September 8, 1774, she became a nun of the Augustinian Order at Dulmen. She had the use of reason from her birth and could understand liturgical Latin from her first time at Mass. During the last 12 years of her life, she could eat no food except Holy Communion, nor take any drink except water, subsisting entirely on the Holy Eucharist. From 1802 until her death, she bore the wounds of the Crown of Thorns, and from 1812, the full stigmata of Our Lord, including a cross over her heart and the wound from the lance.

              Anne Catherine Emmerich possessed the gift of reading hearts, and she saw, in actual, visual detail, the facts of Catholic belief which most of us simply have to accept on faith. The basic truths of the catechism–angels, devils, Purgatory, the life of Our Lord and the Blessed Mother, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the grace of the Sacraments–all these truths were as real to her as the material world. Her revelations make the hidden, supernatural world come alive. Below are some of the most enthralling of these revelations:
              She saw that each parish and diocese, each city and country has its own particular and powerful guardian angel.

              She saw that the Church never has allowed children of Catholics to be raised outside her fold, and that as soon as solidly established, she banned mixed marriages.

              She saw how the various indulgences we gain actually remit specific punishments which otherwise would await us in Purgatory.

              She revealed that to gain an indulgence we must approach the Sacraments with true repentance and a firm purpose of amendment–or we do not gain it.

              She deposes that it is more holy to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory than for sinners who are still alive.

              She describes the nature, extent and power of victim souls, and their role in the life of the Church. She describes the condition of St. Lydwine of Schiedam, a victim soul during the time of “three popes,” and how her body came apart into three pieces, joined only by the slenderest of sinews. She saw only 6 victim souls in her time working like herself on behalf of the Universal Church, and about 100,000 Catholic people worldwide who were great in their faith.

              She revealed that saints are particularly powerful on their feast days and should be invoked then.
              She saw that many saints come from the same families, the antiquity of which often extends far back into the Old Testament.

              She saw the strong link–even long after their deaths–between holy souls in Heaven and their descendants here on earth, lasting even centuries.

              She saw that the Garden of Eden, with all it contained, was a perfect picture of the Kingdom of God.

              She revealed that Enoch and Elias are in Paradise where they await their return to the world to preach at the End of Time.

              She revealed that Our Lord suffered from the wound in His shoulder more than from any other.

              She continually saw a false church, and wicked men scheming against the Catholic Church and doing much harm–both in her own time and in the future.

              She saw in a vision the enemies of the Church tearing it down and trying to build a new one on strictly human plans–but none of the saints would lend a hand. Later, this church of men is destroyed and the saints of God join in to rebuild the true Church of God, which becomes more glorious than ever before.

              She saw the revival of the priesthood and the religious orders after a period of great decadence.

              She describes in detail her visions of heaven, which she saw as “the Heavenly Jerusalem.”

              Quotes from Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich:

              “The Church is the only one, the Roman Catholic! And if there were left upon earth but one Catholic, he would be the one, universal Church, the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ against which the gates of Hell shall never prevail.”

              “Then I had the sweet assurance that Mary is the Church; the Church, our mother; God, our father; and Jesus, our brother.”

              “O who can tell the beauty, the purity, the innocence of Mary! She knows everything, and yet she seems to know nothing, so childlike is she. She lowers her eyes and, when she looks up, her glance penetrates like a ray, like a pure beam of light, like truth itself! It is because she is perfectly innocent, full of God, and without returns upon self. None can resist her grace.”

              “All over the world I saw numberless infusions of the Spirit; sometimes, like a lightning-stroke, falling on a congregation in church, and I could tell who among them had received the grace; or again, I beheld individuals praying in their homes, suddenly endowed with light and strength. The sight awoke in me great joy and confidence that the Church, amid her ever-increasing tribulations, will not succumb; for in all parts of the world I saw defenders raised up to her by the Holy Ghost. Yes, I felt that the oppression of the powers of this world serves but to increase her strength.”

              “There is no created good so lightly esteemed, so carelessly trifled away by an immense majority of human beings as the fugitive moments of this short life so rapidly flying toward eternity.”

              “Man’s value before God is estimated by the dispositions of his heart, its uprightness, its good-will, its charity, and not by keenness of intellect or extent of knowledge.”

              “If the Church is true, all in her is true; he who admits not the one, believes not the other.”

              “What the Pilgrim [Clement Brentano, her self-appointed secretary] gathers he will bear far away, for here there is no desire to have it. But it will produce fruit where he goes, and that same fruit will one day return and make itself felt even here.”

              “From the lips of those that pray I see a chain of words issuing like a fiery stream and mounting up to God, and in them I see the disposition of the one who prays, I read everything. The writing is as varied as the individuals themselves.”

              “I saw Adam’s bones reposing in a cavern under Mt. Calvary deep down, almost to water level, and in a straight line beneath the spot on which Jesus Christ was crucified.”

              “Mass badly celebrated is an enormous evil. Ah! it is not a matter of indifference how it is said! . . . I have had a great vision on the mystery of Holy Mass and I have seen that whatever good has existed since creation is owing to it.”

              “Were man and the earth in perfect harmony, there would be paradise here below. Prayer governs the weather . . . I see the life of nature intimately connected with that of the soul.”

              “She said what is most painful for me to repeat, that if only one priest offered the Unbloody Sacrifice as worthily and with the same sentiments as the Apostles, he could ward off all calamities from the Church.”

              “I can never grieve for a person who dies resignedly, nor for a child suffering patiently; for patient suffering is the most enviable state of man.”

              “Now, for all who are not in living union with Jesus Christ by faith and grace, nature is full of Satan’s influence.”

              “Owing to the spirit of the world and tepidity, if the Savior returned to earth today to announce His doctrine in person, He would find as many opponents as He did among the Jews.”

              “Now I saw clearly by this that the dear God looks only at the heart in time of prayer.”

              “No grace, no degree of sanctity surpasses in intrinsic dignity and grandeur the sacerdotal [priestly] character.”

              “The poor souls suffer inexpressibly.”

              “Many stay a long time in purgatory who, although not great sinners, have lived tepidly.”

              “The prayer most pleasing to God is that made for others and particularly for the poor souls. Pray for them, if you want your prayers to bring high interest.”

              http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2015/02/blessed-anne-catherine-emmerich.html
              http://jesus-passion.com/ANNE_CATHERINE_EMMERICH.htm
              http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weeping60.htm
              http://www.olrl.org/prophecy/emmerich.shtml
              http://tandfspi.org/ACE_vol_04/ACE_

              Liked by 7 people

              1. Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich had a rich mystical life and her experiences were prolific, Kim. Fr. Wang has read every published volume and found them to be a good source for meditation. A priest friend of ours has noted the many similarities between Blessed Anne Catherine and Luisa Picarreta. I have read many passages from the library of all the volumes we have here and am amazed by what Blessed Anne Catherine has received. Gratefully, her The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ was my main source of meditation one Lenten season. We are blessed with such a faith-enriching treasury of mystical literature in our Church.

                Liked by 6 people

                  1. YKC, since we’re so close to the beginning of Lent, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, might be a very good place to start. Other than that suggestion, you can simply search for a list of the books published from Blessed Anne Catherine’s mystical visions and choose a topic which interests you.

                    Liked by 1 person

              2. I have no ideas to how to like things on here… Then again I really have no idea of victim souls. Only recently sort of new to the idea of cancer/illness to facilitate as to how we exit this plane…

                Well done thought with this post. I did so like reading of the life of our Most Holy Mother…

                Dia agus Mhuire agut, Mac.

                Liked by 2 people

              3. Kim and Beckita, reading volumes about A.C.E.’s visions years ago had me totally mesmerized. I learned so much that applied to our time, and lessons for myself. For example, during the reading of 2 volumes, she described how the Lord took her to labor in an overgrown garden, I think it was. (Symbolically doing physical labor.) At the same time, i was digging up some plants that had large roots like concrete! I works sooo hard and thought of Emmerich’s story, and offered up all my work!

                Liked by 2 people

  12. My Pastor spoke on Excommunication last Sunday and this weekend announced a ‘new’ ministry for the Albany Diocese.
    https://www.rcda.org/life/post-abortion-care

    I did not necessarily agree with him on the Albany Diocese response to Andrew Cuomo, yet now a few days pondering… whom am I to say different.

    Clearly, the Bishop and Priest do know better as it is their ‘expertise’.

    https://evangelist.org/Content/Default/Homepage-Rotator/Article/Excommunication-outrage/-3/141/27262

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Well, Sean, had there been some serious effort to condemn this behavior with some teeth behind it, who would have complained that it was not, specifically, excommunication? I have been Catholic for 29 years now – and can count on two hands how many times I have heard an overtly pro-life homily (maybe even one). I have heard too many clerics elegantly explain why they can do nothing to uphold Catholic doctrine and Christian truth in the face of public opposition to be mollified by this. It seems to me their “expertise” is really in explaining why nothing can be done to uphold the Catholic faith – while insulting as troglodytes those members of the Church who actually do. I am perfectly open to a cleric telling me a particular course is not the right course, provided he is simultaneously acting vigorously to defend the faith I cherish. Otherwise, I’m not interested in his excuses, no matter how elegantly contrived.

      Liked by 11 people

      1. Agreed. I believe in the hard facts approach and as they say in boxing ‘pain is a good teacher’. Mike Tyson (boxing fame) once said “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face”.

        This was my first lesson in my mid teenage years. I thought (skeptically) I had influence over a younger friend until he demonstrably proved I was in error. (notably named Mike as well including boxing lessons 🙂

        “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face”.

        Pain is a good teacher.

        Liked by 4 people

      2. Hear Hear, Charlie. As we can read here, Pope Benedict certainly warned politicians who were pro-abortion that they risked excommunication. As I see it, it was a signal, a call to Bishops from all over the world that they rise up to BE the leaders, the modern day Apostles, who MUST administer their legitimate authority in such matters and in doing so they would defend faith, defend the faithful and hearten the faithful. (Just now it strikes me with deeper understanding: no wonder Charlie was charged with this trifold duty. In turn, no wonder we must take up our cross and live out the trifold duty wherever we may be living. Our flock may be but our own family, our neighborhood and parish. Perhaps our influence in this may be wider. whatever God wants of us we should want.) Too many Bishops, in these times, have missed living fully the purpose of their office. St. Augustine has serious words to convey about clergy who are derelict in their duty as shepherd. You can actually find twelve consecutive days of readings in the Divine Office, between September 16th and the 28th, on the subject. As Daria Sockey briefly notes here, St. Augustine Makes Clergy Squirm.

        Bishop Scharfenberger is surely a Bishop who has done great good, in many ways, and I do not attack his person. In reading the link, I see that the Bishop’s thinking is often flawed on this issue of excommunication. He was quoted as saying excommunication is “a sanction that is meant to lead to the healing of the person that is sanctioned and also to protect the community.” This is true as is the point of not applying penalties in revenge. Still, the Bishop left out another purpose of applying penalties: The sanctions are meant as a deterrent for others. And, from my view in the pew, the sanctions for offenders are an encouragement, a heartening of the faithful, both clergy and lay, to stay the course in defending the faith on Church teaching concerning human life. Also flawed, I think, is the Bishop backing away from singling out of Cuomo. In fact, as the governor, Cuomo alone has the power to veto the bills which come across his desk. Granted, this can be overturned if 2/3 of the members of each house vote to override the veto, nevertheless, there IS a more serious responsibility weighing on the one who is governor. And I totally disagree with this conclusion in the linked piece: “Here is my biggest concern: We are taking attention away from what really is the problem, what really is the cancer here, focusing on punishment and forgetting about what really has caused this,” he said, “and that is the ideology that has been deceiving us for years that it’s a good thing when women feel they have no other choice but to kill their child. That’s a bad thing for women. That’s a bad thing for society.” It is simply not true that an official excommunication applied by the local ordinary would take focus from the core problem. Not at all. I believe it would actually draw attention to the heart of the problem which would well be proclaimed by the excommunication:Repent and believe in the Gospel.

        Liked by 13 people

        1. Beckita,
          St. Paul the Great Apostle excommunicated a man for incest as he says below, “so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” Excommunication is not for punishment so much as it is for conversion/salvation of the person and a warning to the faithful. There was only one Bishop Fabian Bruskewicz, Lincoln, Nebraska,who dared to excommunicate all pro-abortion “catholic” politicians in his diocese. Only ONE!

          In my 25 years experience.of writing snail mails, sending emails, scientific research documents and pictures of aborted babies to bishops and politicians, I have not had one positive response. I had a heated and frustrating exchange of letters with my own bishop to excommunicate the pro abort politicians in the diocese as was his obligation. His reply was that I should have respect for him as my bishop. End of discussion. I will not discuss our exchange after that response.

          After all this, My only hope and trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ to intervene through His Blessed Mother Mary in the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart..

          1 Corinthians, 5:4 in the name of (our) Lord Jesus: when you have gathered together and I am with you in spirit with the power of the Lord Jesus,
          5:5 you are to deliver this man to satan * for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

          Liked by 7 people

          1. Joseph, didn’t Bishop Bruskewitz also excommunicate all the members of that awful group, Call to Action, who were operating in his diocese? As I remember, a good number of them later repented and were reconciled with Holy Mother Church.

            Liked by 4 people

            1. Mick,
              Can’t recall others who were excommunicated by the good Bishop but Call to Action sounds familiar. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz took a lot of heat from the “catholic” left, and I was called a “pharisee” when I defended him in the Catholic media. In my diocese there were only three men and myself who were demanding the excommunication of “catholic” pro abortion politicians. Not even quoting the many Early Church Fathers’ condemnation of abortion as murder could move bishops. The bishops won’t take action, the laity can’t fight against that wall of resistance but Our Lord Jesus Christ will, in His own good time. Heavenly Father, we offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and the whole world.

              Liked by 6 people

        2. Amen! ❤

          PS – I am having some trouble when reading ASOH posts/comments in order to *like* or *reply* from my Outlook email box, again! If I missed a 'like' or two or…please know I like what you said, how you think, and/or that you had the nerve to speak out, even if we may disagree and I ❤ you all! 😉

          Liked by 6 people

          1. Me too JL.
            I don’t have an account so I can’t “like” at all but I respect different opinions because how else can I grow?
            Many if not most of my friends have VERY different opinions about faith than I do and some have no faith at all. I believe God set us together for the intent purpose for me (us) to learn to love the reprobate as Jesus did by eating with sinners. If I had spent my whole life only with the faithful, who would I be praying for now? But as it is, I have a personal, loving relationship with sinners and the empathy to sincerely pray for thier salvation and not just a distant thought activity from a cloistered position of not knowing them. It also allows me to see the good that they do and possess knowing God loves them and this allows me freedom from my own shortcomings as I learn from thier strength of character and from their mistakes too. And since I am a sign of contradiction to thier world view, I sow doubt in them that maybe thier lack of faith is possibly wrong?
            “Doubt serves as a stimulus to the understanding for the investigation of truth. Therefore controversies of the teachers fulfill a proper and holy end. They (controversy) are also permitted in order, to make it known, that real science dwells in my Church more than in the combined study of all the holy and perfect teachers, and that she can make them wise above the wisdom of the worldly wise; that there is above them One, who is the Prompter of the wise (Wis. 7, 15), namely, Myself; who alone knows all and comprehends all; who weighs and measures, without ever being measured or comprehended (Wis. 9, 13); that men, although they may search my judgments and testimonies ever so much, cannot attain them, unless I give the intelligence and light (Job 32, 8), who am the beginning and the Author of all wisdom and science. I desire that men, in acknowledging all this, give Me praise, exaltation, confession, supremity and glory forever.”
            (God to Mary of Agreda; City of God).

            Liked by 6 people

            2. Amen, Phillip! I keep all here in pray too. That goes without saying. ❤

              On occasion there are certain comments/posts that are above my head. I *like* those too. 9x out of 10 I had little if any idea what our dear Bishop YD was conveying. I laughed, a bit at his uniqueness and at my inability to have a clue. 😉

              Liked by 3 people

      3. Charlie, if you can count on one hand the number of times you have heard a solid pro-life homily in the last 29 years, that is a maximum of five times the number I’ve heard in that same time. Last week, however, our pastor dipped his toe in. He started with A Tale of Two Cities, best of times-worst of times etc. He then compared Rochester, MN, home of the Mayo Clinic and all its heroic life-saving people with Richmond, VA and what has come from there lately. I can’t do his remarks justice here but believe me, it was pretty awesome and I told him so after mass.

        Liked by 9 people

      4. Charlie – I often wonder why converts even stay with the Church when the leaders are so duplicitous, the abuse scandal and on and on. Converts seem to have more faith than cradle catholics

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Good question, Momma. It was not a charismatic pastor who ignited my conversion (unless you want to count St. Augustine), but my conviction after intense study after that initial ignition, that here was truth that coheres, regardless of the holiness of the clerics I encountered. Thanks be to God, I have encountered many very holy and profound clerics – but I have encountered my share of skunks along the way, too. What really puzzles me is why clerics who hate Catholic doctrine don’t just go and form their own church instead of infecting and persecuting Catholics.

          Liked by 7 people

        2. Hi MKM, my conversion was based on some simple truths. I believed in God. I believed that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer Son of God. I believed that Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church to guide us and bring us all the tools necessary for our Salvation, and that the Church was protected from collapse and would never err in truth. That is the core of my beliefs. Holy religious and lay people, reverent Masses, and harmony in the Church hierarchy are all icing on the cake for me. Give me Confession and the Eucharist and I am good. I won’t be jumping off this barque anytime soon. I will ride the barque through any storm. Christ is not my fair weather friend and I will not be a fair weather friend to Him or His Bride.

          Liked by 7 people

  13. The latest edition of Luz de Maria (February 8th) speaks of Charlie’s latest article ‘a terrible resolve’. It is in Spanish, translated here into English via google translate. She speaks of Hope and Fortitude, living our Catholic faith, evangalizing our fellow Brothers and Sisters.

    https://www.revelacionesmarianas.com/index.htm
    ABOUT THE SOUL …

    My people, beloved My people! Humanity succumbs to walk without Me, has evolved in the mundane and has forgotten that it has a soul, and this, without Me, is left in oblivion, mocked by bad appetites. And it is no longer the soul that reigns, but the bad appetites are those who are forming men without conscience, who do not look at evil in anything and go offense in offense against Me, without realizing how much I suffer for you.

    Read revelations …

    MESSAGE FROM THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
    TO HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER LUZ DE MARÍA
    FEBRUARY 8, 2019

    Beloved children of My Immaculate Heart:

    I BLESS YOU ALL, I LOVE YOU ALL AS ALL ARE MY CHILDREN …

    In the time of man, you are witnesses that everything happens, but you are not aware that it happens at great speed. My Son, the Owner of everything, has allowed the Earth to accelerate its journey so that His People approaches the fulfillment of what is expected.

    I HOLD THE HAND OF THE FATHER, AS INTERCESSOR OF YOU, SUPPLYING YOU TO CONTINUE GIVING YOU OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT THEY DO NOT LOSE AND SAVE THE SOUL, BUT THE TESTARUDISM OF THE MAN DOES NOTHING TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND TO THE CALLS OF THE PATERNA HOUSE.

    I have crossed the times, I have gone from country to country, from town to town, alerting them because I love them, a few listen to me, others are totally skeptical and others follow the revelations of all the beloved instruments of the Paternal House, so they confuse and do not know what to do or where to go.

    I HAVE COME TO CALL THE ATTENTION TO YOU SINCE THE EVENTS CONTINUE GIVING, the nature exerts its force on the Earth so that the man watches intently the power of her, of the nature, but the man fears in the moment in which it faces a suffering and past that suffering ceases to cry out to the Father, stop calling My Son, stop invoking the Holy Spirit and stop asking for My intercession, because when he is free from the hardships, we are no longer necessary …

    This spiritual reality in which the man of this generation lives is sad, and for that reason he decays every moment more by welcoming the great news of the so-called liberation that evil offers them: it offers them liberation towards sin and freedom in all areas of the lifetime. The man who has not yet understood that in order to follow My Son must renounce himself, his desires, his whims (Mt 16,24), he welcomes all that debauchery that evil has disguised as freedom.

    I see how My children fall one after another into the clutches of evil and that the People of My Son do not meditate on the words that the Devil pronounced. He has unleashed his strength against My children to hurt My Immaculate Heart, for He knows that in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph and therefore He wishes to crush My children because He knows that I love My children even though they do not understand this, because it is easier to belong to the mundane and go with the majority that has been indoctrinated to follow the falsehood, the lie and despise the Path of Grace that leads them to Eternal Life.

    How many come on Sunday to the Holy Eucharistic Celebration and the rest of the week do not invoke the Holy and Divine Name of My Son, and that Sunday without awareness of what they do, they add up for their own condemnation, for they approach the Eucharistic Table, the Divine Banquet and receive My Son full of sins, of which they do not repent. How My Son suffers! It is that they do not think, is that they do not feel the pain of My Son because they make him live continuously His Passion and the whole journey of the Painful Passion.

    MUST BE DECIDED BY A CHANGE OF LIFE, ALTHOUGH I LISTEN TO SO MANY OF MY CHILDREN TO SAY: “HE WHO LOST HIM, LOST HIMSELF; AND HE WHO SAVED HIM SAVED HIMSELF, BUT MY SON, WHICH IS THE INFINITE MERCY AND I AM THE MOTHER OF THAT MERCY, WE LOOK CONSTANTLY WAITING FOR YOU TO GIVE OUT A WORD: “FORGIVEN, LORD, FORGIVE” AND MY SON WILL WELCOME YOU AS A FATHER RECEIVES A NEWBORN.

    MY CHILDREN, PLEASE ATTEND! … The Antichrist (1) walks in the world, is acting in the world, is moving its tentacles to face you, to outrage and run over you, to lead you to commit more sins, to despair, to destabilize them emotionally. He moves all the tentacles he has to go against My children and you do not react to this.

    Beloved children of My Immaculate Heart, Oh to suffer so great the one that I carry in My Heart for this generation, that like water between the fingers it escapes from the Hands of My Son and from the Hands of this Mother!

    They are accustomed not to think, not to discern, not to become aware, not to think about the consequences of their actions because they walk en masse, so they have massed so that the majority is the one that dominates and drags them, but you: no Do they think of Eternal Life or the suffering of the flames of hell ?, and I say it to against those who say that hell does not exist, that is lived on Earth, but the sorrows of the Earth are not comparable to the pains of hell, and Trinitarian Mercy is infinite, but it is just and will forgive those who repent, do not forgive those who consent in their lives with freedom to sin and act against the Divine Laws. This must be clear.

    Oh men of this generation!
    How much they continually revolt!
    How many sins of My children will come to light that will bring great pain to My Son’s Church!

    How much sin in the corridors of the Temples and I know that some of My children will say: “Forgive them Lord”!, But you are temples of the Holy Spirit and …

    How much sin I look in the corridors of your life continually, when you do not love your brother, but mainly when you break the Law of God!

    Great alliances occur in the world and forget the Revelation that tells them: “when great alliances are given, it is when they will find themselves closest to the great tribulations. (1 Ts 5.3)

    Children, they do not think about a Third World War because they see an apparent peace, but the Third World War began some time ago and it advances stealthily, from one place to another enraging men, raising the flames of war.

    My children, with that tenacity with which they attend to meteorological services when they are alerted of great cyclones that are approaching their countries. Prepare, to save the soul! How many of those who perish lose Eternal Life!

    THEY MUST PREPARE MATERIALLY, BUT BEFORE IT …

    PREPARE YOURSELF IN THE SPIRIT! COME TO MY SON AND LIVE IN PEACE WITH HIM.

    I, intercede for you, because you give so much importance to the things of the world and forget the main thing. Maybe because in the homilies they have not heard about their soul and what the soul is …

    Maybe because they have not alerted them to the changes that humanity will suffer …

    BUT I, AS SENT FROM THE HOLY TRINITY, COME TO YOU TO ALERT THEM FOR DIVINE WILL, TO DISCERN OVER YOUR LIFE, ON YOUR WORKING AND ACTING EVERYDAY AND TO SAVE THE SOUL.

    My children, how man despises life !, how man has become an executioner !, “how the woman consents to kill a son! … So much is the Divine Mercy that the Sacrosanct Trinity has waited for not to completely pour out the Cup on humanity and man feeling God, he kills a helpless creature. Where is the heart of man? I ask you not for the mind or the thought, but for the heart of stone that has been debased against itself.

    MY CHILDREN, RECAPACITEN AND BE EACH OF YOU, A SPEAKER OF VOICE OF THIS MOTHER. TAKE THIS WORD TO HIS BROTHERS, BE BRAVE CHILDREN. THINK THEM OF THE MERCIFUL LOVE OF THE SACRED TRINITY AND THIS MOTHER TO THOSE WHO, KNOWING THAT LOVE, HAVE DECIDED TO RENOUNCE HIM TO CONTINUE IN THE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD AND THE FLESH.

    Beloved children of My Immaculate Heart, you will see the sun reborn, the Sun of the Divine Will reborn and be placed in the life of each of you to support you when necessary. Not everything is penury, My Son is freedom, it is love, it is freshness, it is wind that blows and refreshes when it overwhelms the heat, it is crystal clear water that quenches thirst, it is infinite sweetness, even in the midst of bitterness.

    MY SON COVERS THEM, IT LIES IN THEIR ARMS, MY SON IS THE INFINITE PLENITUDE, THEREFORE WALK TO MEET WITH HIM. I LOVE YOU ALL AND I WISH TO SEE YOU ALL WITH THE WHITE DRESSES WALKING TOGETHER WITH MY SON WITHOUT ANY SIN AND THAT IS POSSIBLE IF YOU DECIDE TO LIVE FOR HIM (Cf. Apoc 3.5).

    I bless your sacramentals, I bless the path of each of you and your families.

    I bless your heart and the heart of each of your relatives.

    I bless all those who are sick so that in the disease they can see love when it is offered for the salvation of souls.

    I bless those afflicted, those who despair to offer everything to God for the salvation of souls and look with different eyes at the situations of life.

    AS A MOTHER I BLESS YOU AND I ASK YOU WITH MY IMMACULATE HEART TO PRAY TO MY SON THAT SENDS TO HIS ANGEL OF PEACE. (two)

    Mama Maria

    AVE MARÍA PURÍSIMA, SIN SIN CONCEBIDA
    AVE MARÍA PURÍSIMA, SIN SIN CONCEBIDA
    AVE MARÍA PURÍSIMA, SIN SIN CONCEBIDA

    (1) Revelations about the Antichrist, read …
    (2) Revelations about the Angel of Peace, read …

    COMMENTARY OF LIGHT OF MARY

    Brothers:

    The Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother insists that we should not be people who claim to belong to the Catholic religion, but actually live without understanding or loving or sharing that being our Christ-centered life we ​​can not remain static. God is a creative movement and so we must be His children and not keep the Truth that we know in Sacred Scripture or the Truths of our faith.

    The response to God must be free, just as faith is also free, so that we understand the greatness of Divine Love.

    Humanity knows how to stagger, doubt, emotions and affections, but have you known the Love of the Father that has been manifested to us in Christ, in the Holy Spirit and in our Blessed Mother? Therefore, the security that we are not alone has to go before everyone. We are called to follow Jesus Christ, because we are His children.

    We are called by God to follow His Son, in each one of us is the Holy Spirit of God, the answer to the call is scarce because man is interested in the mundane and not the above matters.

    Brothers, let us not forget the call to grow and so be everyone from and for Christ, and with Him be lovers of the Blessed Mother.

    Amen.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Sean, we already have a policy of asking that full, long news articles not be posted in their entirety while excerpts can be added with the link to show why the commenter is sharing a particular story. It’s also good policy for these very long mystical messages as well. In the future, go ahead and use excerpts which you think are pertinent and/or important and then simply add a link to the full message.

      Liked by 3 people

  14. Does not Canon 1398 (Automatic Excommunication) come into play for these legislators such as cuomo and such ilk, for their part in this infanticide?

    “Canon 1398 provides that, “a person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication.” This means that at the very moment that the abortion is successfully accomplished, the woman and all formal conspirators are excommunicated.”

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Yes automatic excommunication comes into play, BD. In the case of Cuomo (God bless him and may Cuomo respond to grace and come Home), he’s in a second marriage which was not in the Church so in that he’s already rejected his Catholic Faith. At the same time, there are valid reasons for applying the public declaration of excommunication.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I know it’s splitting hairs but Cuomo hasn’t married Sandra Lee yet. They do however, live together very publicly. May the Holy Spirit whack him on the side of the head with Aaron’s rod and enlighten him.

        Liked by 5 people

  15. Would it be inappropriate to use same letter to the Bishops? I cannot think of a better way to say anything than what was in Mary’s herculean effort. I would not use it without permission and I would make clear that I was not the thinker behind the thoughts.
    And how awesome to have a link to all the Bishops, etc. !!

    Liked by 4 people

  16. “Abortion is the tip of the spear for a much more comprehensive set of problems than initially meets the eye: the culture of death versus the culture of life.”

    Thank you for saying this. I spent the first six months of my first pregnancy working in New York City. I can tell you, it’s a terrible place to be pregnant. I can give several instances of rudeness, callousness, and downright hostility I experienced. Given the high percentage of pregnancies that end in abortion, it’s no wonder. It was a happy day when I quit.

    As to the point about awakening the sleeping dragaon: My dad and brother who are not conservative on social issues and may or may not even believe in God have expressed shock and disgust over the infanticide laws. God willing, people may convert.

    Liked by 9 people

  17. Dear Dolan letter is # One @ MILINET Today 😉

    MILINT: Articles for Christians
    ====================
    Dear Cardinal Dolan–Jennifer Hartline
    https://stream.org/dear-cardinal-dolan/

    The following are just headlines from NY Slimes & Washington Compost. Oft times you can get the essentials/drift of an article just from these headlines.
    I refuse to pay/support the above for their, mostly, godless Left Propaganda!

    Nun’s Rape Case Against Bishop Shakes a Catholic Bastion in India

    Vatican tries to rein in expectations for sexual abuse summit

    Is Religious Freedom for Christians Only?–NYT Editorial

    Pope encourages worldwide prayer in fight against trafficking
    https://cnstopstories.com/2019/02/07/pope-encourages-worldwide-prayer-in-fight-against-trafficking/

    Well, WELL! It appears that the fire under his Eminence’s Butt was gettin’ hot?
    When it comes to the slaughter of the NY unborn, the phrase “Too Little, Too Late” comes to mind and the Phrase: “Better Late Than Never” is not an acceptable excuse.
    Let US Pray that the Blood of the Innocents creates a Flood of Outrage & Retribution!

    Abortion’s Dred Scott Moment
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/abortions-dred-scott-moment-11549583717

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 8 people

  18. I went to Mass last night in a very small town. The homily was about answering God’s call, giving up everything for the Lord. Then the priest asked (to my delight): “Are you all in? Are you ALL IN?”

    I grinned ear-to-ear.

    Then this troubling bit occurred. At the end of Mass, he read a letter from Bishop Gruss. The bishop told of a group called The Roman Catholic Faithful (rcf.org) who were coming to Rapid City this month. They are apparently trying to find dirt on a former bishop here, now Cardinal Cupich. The bishop discouraged us from attending or participating in this event by RCF.

    The priest then added that RCF is affiliated with The Church Militant. The priest said that attempts to divide the Church like this are the works of the Evil One. After Mass, he told me privately that Cardinal Cupich is an orthodoxed man.

    Here is the flyer for the RCF (not to endorse, just to show).
    https://www.rcf.org/conferences/rapid_city/announcement_registration.html

    I know nothing about RCF, I don’t read Church Militant because of doubts that have been raised here, and I have no opinion about Cardinal Cupich because I do not know the man. I do, however, know bishop Gruss and hold him in high regard and, so, will honor his request.

    People here may know about the above players I have mentioned, and I welcome discussion on this matter. Thanks.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I think Cardinal Cupich is an anti-Catholic bigot. He is a wolf in wolf’s clothing. I don’t see why anyone would make a great search for his dirty laundry, though: he airs it out for all to see. I don’t know Bishop Gruss either, but if he thinks that pushing the LGBT agenda, supporting gay marriage, forbidding his Priests to participate in open pro-life activities, and persecuting Catholics who prefer the Latin Mass, even bearing false witness against a Pastor, and that developing political statements on “climate change” is more important than addressing in-Church sexual abuse and its cover-up, he has a vastly different interpretation of “orthodox” than I do – for these are all positions that Cupich has staked out. I pray that these are not positions Bishop Gruss advocates. Since you think so well of him, I am guessing they are not…and most likely he just doesn’t want to make waves.

      As for Church Militant, they go a bit over the top sometimes, but I have much respect for the good work they do.

      Liked by 12 people

      1. Thank you, Charlie. Fortunately, Bishop Gruss didn’t make the statement in his letter about Cupich’s orthodoxy (though I’m still trying to get a hard copy), but rather this was the private opinion of the priest, Father Sorensen, who said mass in that small church.

        I think the problem may be how the RCF is going about their mission to weed out corruption. But if Cardinal Cupich has skeletons in his closet and/or behaved contrary to the Church while in Rapid City, we need to know this and appropriate action must be taken. And if Bishop Gruss is running a screen to protect him, I will be deeply disappointed. People’s true colors are being shown whether they are aware of it or not during this “time to choose”.

        Glad to hear about the Church Militant being on the right side of things. It’s been awhile, but I have liked what I heard from them in the past.

        What a confusing mess. I feel kind of helpless, afraid to ally with one side or the other because I don’t know all the facts. I am afraid to misstep. All I can do is pray.

        Thanks again.

        Liked by 7 people

        1. Dear DP, don’t fret too much about a misstep. Seems to me like you are exercising your discernment muscles very well. And asking for guidance is a sure sign of that.

          “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
          “Test everything; retain what is good.” 2 Thessalonians:21
          Sounds like you I must say :-). I do believe you have chosen and allied with the Lord. And don’t forget, as Charlie often reminds us, we will make mistakes, but God will use them to our (and everyone’s) great good.

          Liked by 7 people

              1. C. Grandma, you may call me whatever you please, Sweetheart! ❤️

                Your little change actually holds meaning for me: When I enlisted into the Knights of the Immaculata, they sent a certificate and reversed my names to “Daniel Patrick.” I thought this was cool because in the Bible special people receive new names at key times, like Abram’s name changed by God to Abraham, or Jesus renaming Simon “Cephas”. 🙂

                Liked by 6 people

  19. I read Charlie’s latest email on the church and abortion and I have to state that this email, all of the added links, tell more truth about the RC church, as well as many other denominational churches, that I have ever seen made by a Rc.

    He is 100pct correct in h is observations and conclusions imho….He has recognized the spirit of iniquity, both in and outside of the church walls….He also through his first link, tells us correctly why the people behind all the sin cannot stop themselves…..he might not use the very same words I do, but he certainly implies rather well the very same things.

    Once we embrace sin, we get deluded by it…and once God see’s that our delusion is beyond control, He allows strong delusion to take over as their judgement consequence……loss of eternal salvation and life with God…

    Every Catholic should read this, indeed, every Christian. It’s time for us to wake up and smell the coffee…The spirit of iniquity has plainly shown its cards to all, and its now time to call their bluff….

    Charlie clearly see’s, much as I do, that a good portion of the good people in the pews do not understand the mystery of iniquity, let alone how it works…..This shows where the real crime of passion is conducted- the pulpits….no one is making any supreme efforts to wake the congregations up…they are content in their role as they are comforted by the senior leadership….and the sheeple need to be re-directed back to the shepard…..

    great read!.

    Glenn

    In God’s Providence We Trust for Our Republic

    [X]

    [X]

    [X]

    ________________________________

    Like

  20. Hello Everyone….I have been away from the forum for a while, in body, if not in spirit or prayer, and am behind on reading posts. That said, I leave it to the moderators to include or delete this comment as it may have already been brought up.

    Dan Lynch recently had a wonderful idea as to how the laity might assist our bishops in a return to holiness. Dan believes, and I agree, that personal holiness in the lives of our bishops must be the place from which all true reform begins. As such, he is asking the laity to ‘adopt’ a bishop for the purpose of praying a Novena of Nine Holy Communions in honor of Jesus, True King as described by Jesus King Of All Nations. For each Holy Communion, Our Lord promises to send one angel from each of the heavenly choirs, to the person being prayed for. You send an email to Dan and they will contact you with the name of the bishop assigned to you. Great idea I thought.

    https://jkmi.worldsecuresystems.com/clergy-be-holy

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I am actually planning to reprint this as a stand-alone article. Dan is a good friend and I much admire his steadfast fidelity over many decades to promoting the faith and proclaiming the Kingdom.

      Liked by 7 people

    2. Received Dan’s mailing this week, CG. Thanks for bringing the link here. I’m planning to make the novena Dan recommends for our future Bishop of the Diocese of Helena. We’ve been in this interregnum period for close to a year now and have been praying and hoping to be granted a strong, holy man.

      Liked by 4 people

      2. Beckita. I finished the novena of angels for you today despite the challenging snowy and extra cold weather for this southeast of Seattle area. When attempting to send you the information about the novena of communions, I encountered surprising difficulties that consumed over an hour in getting the posting together that could only have come from the Satan and his demons. Obviously he doesn’t want me to do this. Then, the ensuing weather put more obstacles in my path.
        As I said, I will now send angels to key contributors from the ASOH community. I started Charlie’s angels today. I hope his new angels from the nine courts of angels get along well with the angels who have been guiding him these many years.
        May the Holy Spirit continue to protect and guide all in this community as we continue on as the Storm and the Rescue intensify on our way to the Triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.

        Liked by 6 people

          1. Does it ever end? After sending Sunday’s comment, when I got up to go to dinner, I found my left leg in intense pain when I put any weight on it and had to resort to my cane even to move about with the anticipation of limited ability to get to church on Monday morning in order to continue Charlie’s novena. Also my back surgeon’s appointment later in the day to go over my latest MRI to see what could be done for my further deteriorating lower spine causing me pinched spinal cord and nerve damage resulting in both leg pains. Also the weather threatens my Thursday appointment for the pre-op to my left hip replacement scheduled for March 4th. It is now down to bone on bone and is causing some of my left leg pain. I had my right hip replaced some years ago followed by both knees replaced together soon after. I am headed to become the bionic man. These mobility problems are beginning to get to me. The Satan obviously doesn’t want me to be sending these angels but with God’s grace and the intercession of all the saints of heaven and holy souls in purgatory, he will not prevail. But then again I can be such a complainer. I still have not gotten down this suffering in silence thing.
            May the Holy Spirit continue to protect and guide this blessed community of ASOH. Watch and pray, pray and watch. TRUST in the Lord.

            Liked by 5 people

            1. Praying a PMT for your healing, JAS, and sending St. Raphael to intercede for you as you work with your medical team to be blessed with better health. For now, you might consider making the Novena with spiritual communions until you are readily back on your feet when you can complete the Novena as directed in the devotion. Jesus knows your intent and He knows the obstacles before you right now. God bless you.

              Liked by 4 people

              1. Beckita. My wife and I say our morning prayers and rosary at home if we are not able to make it to the church for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I don’t think spiritual communions qualify for this novena. All in God’s good time.

                Liked by 5 people

                1. Beckita. Thank you and all for your prayers and good wishes. I failed to add that I took an Aleve before going to bed and the anti-inflammation feature of that medication plus careful posture during sleeping resulted in being able to walk acceptably this morning. The snowy and icy roads still may be a problem. I will find out at 11:00 if the surgeon and staff who have to travel about 20 miles to the clinic which is just short of 3 miles from me for my 12:00 o’clock appointment.
                  May God bless all here.

                  Liked by 5 people

                  1. At my 12:00 0″clock appointment today, my back surgeon said that though I have spinal problems with arthritis throughout my body, nothing needs to be done right away, to come see him again a couple months after my hip replacement and we will take another look, to keep taking good care of myself and I will be okay. He gave me a two paper describing in detail an assessment of the MRI referencing disc to disc and vertebra to vertebra problems from moderate to severe but most if not all is beyond my comprehension. Pray and TRUST in the Lord. God bless all here.

                    Liked by 3 people

                    1. JAS, my dad suffered through severe spinal problems with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. He also had both of his hips replaced twice, the first when he was 40 and the second time he was around 60. He was a man of great faith, devoted to daily mass as often as he could. My mom was his rock and caregiver and anytime I’d ask her about how Dad was doing she’d always say, “We’re offering it up.” May God bless you and be with you through this challenging condition, and thank you for being a true role model like my parents. It’s brave people like you who keep pushing forward and don’t give up that help us on our journey. I will pray a PMT for strength and healing and ask for the intercession of St. Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint of arthritis sufferers. ~juls

                      Prayer on the back of St. Alphonsus medal: St. Alphonsus Liguori patron saint of arthritis, you suffered from your sickness throughout your lifetime only to help others. Ask God to give me strength and heal me from my suffering.

                      Liked by 3 people

  21. By the way Mick… thanks for your reply to my email some weeks ago. I did receive it. Unfortunately, as is often the case, life went into fast forward immediately after and I wasn’t able to follow up on my idea or get back to you. 🙃 Hope you and the family are surviving the winter from Outer Siberia!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hi, CG! We’re hanging in there (well, here) in the frozen tundra. My 19-year-old daughter asked me the other day, “Why do we even live here?” She doesn’t get that it could be worse: we could live someplace like North Dakota or Buffalo (no offense to anyone who lives in or hails from either of those places, but… just sayin’).

      But in the spirit of laughing at ourselves (it’s how Michiganders keep from crying our way through the winter months, right, CG?), here’s something funny (but be sure to skip #16 because of the salty language, which I don’t know how to edit out):

      https://www.homesnacks.net/michigan-jokes-124596/

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Oh my gosh Mick. That was great as I sit here laughing at my computer. The only thing salty was the picture of the snow filled highways! Listen, being from the Pittsburgh area originally, I can relate to all of those pictures for sure. Thanks for sharing 😉

        Liked by 4 people

        1. Ha, BD! I know that in the grand scheme of salty words, the one that appears in #16 if pretty tame. But I still thought I’d point it out in case there are people like me who will read Charlie’s site when their young but literate kids are looking over my shoulder. I just didn’t want anybody to be caught unawares. 🙂

          Liked by 4 people

      3. Hey Mick,

        As someone who lives in Tennessee, I can DEFINITELY identify with #17…. LOL!
        A mother who had kids home from school several weeks ago (due to the possibility of snow), took a photo of her back yard and posted it on facebook (regular backyard with NO hint of white anywhere nor In the huge the pasture across the way….and she titled it THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 2019?

        It certainly is the *normal* reaction to the mere mention of *snow* in the south. 😉

        Liked by 4 people

      4. Poor Buffalo! One little blizzard and our national image was ruined forever! When the Buffalo Bills play a snowy game in our open stadium, it just reinforces the snowy Buffalo image. We may be a chilly snow globe but we make it up for awesome food (beef on weck, Buffalo wings, chocolate covered sponge candy, etc), friendly people and, in my humble opinion, one of the prettiest Churches around. Check out Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica (http://www.ourladyofvictory.org/).

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I really want to visit there sometime, CMBookmark! We are on their mailing list, and I am a huge fan of Father Baker and the work that he did–and the work that still goes on because of him.

          Like

  22. More signs of hope…
    **Cardinal Burke launched his own personal website and hopes to use the site to teach the Church’s doctrine and discipline. News of it is here.

    **Cardinal Müller Issues ‘Manifesto of Faith’ News here.

    Liked by 12 people

    1. Her are a few words of encouragement which Cardinal Burke had during one of his interviews:

      Well in this particular challenging time I’ve clarified in my mind what is essential to me in
      order to remain one with Christ because even in trying to do the right thing, the devil can tempt
      us to go in a direction which is not in union with Christ. So prayer is number one and during
      these times we really have to pray fervently and if possible increase our prayers. Number two,
      not to permit myself to become discouraged or to become embittered by all of the difficulties that
      one can encounter when you’re fighting for the Truth, but to remain serene and I keep reminding
      myself all the time that Christ is with me, He is with us in the Church, He promised that and He
      doesn’t tell lies, “I’ll be with you until the end of time,” and if He is with me, He has won the
      victory. All I have to do is do my part.

      Liked by 12 people

    2. Hey Beckita, I meant to comment earlier on someone who was talking about a priest who tells it like it is in his homilies. I can’t find it now, but I wanted to point out the priest at a parish of St. Raphael’s in Crystal, MN. The priest is a parochial vicar, Father Robert Altier. His homilies are posted on the church website. He also has a series that he is doing on EWTN called, ‘Beauty, Truth and Goodness, the Fundamentals of Catholicism.’ It is currently running once a week, with a different topic every week.

      Liked by 2 people

  23. Any Writ of Excommunication applied to Governor Cuomo by either Archbishop Scharfenberger or Cardinal Dolan would be viewed as being considerably too harsh & uncharitable by those with clout in the Vatican who would simply have the Writ of Excommunication voided and see to it that Archbishop Scharfenberger & Cardinal Dolan would be tending their flocks in the newly formed Archdiocese of Victoria Land, Antarctica while the Governor would be considered for an advisory role in Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Obviously this is a rather bleak assessment of the situation however nonetheless undoubtedly true. Let all the bishops of the world now openly choose sides & oppose each other until the painted over barnacles of apostasy are completely removed from the ship.

    Liked by 4 people

      1. not having anything to do with the serious discussions here, but another sign of hope (for a shorter winter, anyway 🙂 ) the cardinals and robins are back! they don’t usually come back at the same time here in NE.

        Liked by 5 people

    2. Nice! I have told my wife it would be nice to see the Northern lights but she is not a lover of the cold. I will tell her to watch this and save a trip although it still would be nice in person.

      Liked by 5 people

    4. Barb indeed I daresay. Must be the first time you came across this old curmudgeon, (Thank you Charlie for memories of my old ma as she would use such for me.)

      You have a safe journey Barb, Dia agut air sinn…

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Dear all comrades in prayer here:

    Today an article was posted by a respected writer on Salon:
    https://www.salon.com/2019/02/09/i-was-groped-by-a-man-called-mary-the-world-changes-but-not-the-catholic-
    church/

    It reveals the depravity of Cardinal Archbishop of NY Spellman. 1939-1967. Homosexual clergy has been a festering sore in the clergy for a very long time.

    Every revelation that comes to light is heavy burden and for myself I it is difficult to take much more. My son committed suicide at age 17. A priest at his school had been abusing him for 3 years.

    I cannot tell you the rage that is in me that is becoming more and more difficult to contain.

    If the issue of homosexuality is not delt with in the church I will
    Join with the Chinese underground church and go home and pray and know that depravity in the church can’t last forever. If the current Pope changes the wording of the Catachism about homosexuality then I will know the Holy Spirit has left us orphans.

    I am at a loss as what to do but pray.

    In Christ our only hope,
    Jasconius

    Liked by 7 people

    1. I am so sorry, Jasconius, about the abuse perpetrated against your son and so sorry about his tragic death. Who can truly fathom the pain and anger you feel? You are right, this perversion cannot last forever. Praying with you and for you as we plead for all that is hidden to be revealed and that we follow Christ’s directives to set things right within our Church. I also pray that you have friends and/or family around you who are accompanying and supporting you and that Christ will bring you healing. God bless you, Jasconius.

      Liked by 10 people

    2. Praying for you and your family Jasconius … I am so sorry about your son’s death. Asking the Blessed Mother to comfort you in your sorrow.

      Liked by 6 people

    3. Jasconius, I am deeply saddened to read your post. I can’t even imagine… just know that you and your son will be remembered in many forthcoming 7 sorrows rosaries and Divine Mercy chaplets.

      Liked by 7 people

    4. I’m so sorry, Jasconius, for your son/will PRAY for him and all who have been abused and mislead by the Wolves.
      I read this this article yesterday and thought about posting it here but “Salon” and the author, I figured, may have “had an axe to grind” ….. but ….. I’m guessing it is true and it make some other pieces of the puzzle fit. I’ve read/heard over the years that Bishop Fulton Sheen and Cdl Spellman were not best buddies … I wonder why? … exactly?? …. and I’m also thinking that Cdl Dolan’s “actions” of late may well be that the, soon to be revealed?, massive scandals of the New York Archdiocese have completely overwhelmed the man. His attempt to go the cover-up/easy-way is about to explode in his face? Lots of Machiavellian Palace Intrigue be goin’ on in NY and Lord only knows how many other seats of Church/Civil Powers in the USA …. & Old Christendom!? ;-(
      I’ll say again! There is a Big Reason why The Lord told St Faustina, c. 1935, that we were to Trust in Him and left us with that Divine Image with the exact quote: “Jesus, I Trust in You”. Jesus knew of the soon to come horrors of WWII and The Red Star of Communist Oppression and slightly longer term in the days of our times.

      GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Amen, Crew Dog. Trusting in God and His Plan becomes pressed to the heart ever more deeply as we journey through the final revealing of so much that has been hidden for too long. May we ever be trusting and ever at the ready to TNRS!

        Liked by 5 people

    6. Dear Jasconius, I join others here in praying for you. May the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother sustain you. I am deeply sorry (and angry) for what happened to your son. I pray this wickedness and evil ends soon. God graciously bless and comfort Jasconius and family.

      Liked by 3 people

    7. Jasconius I am curious about your avatar — Jasconius.

      So I googled it of course.

      Turns out that Jasconius is a name from the story of St Brendan the Navigator and his band of 14 Irish monks. As a the legend goes, a visitor to Brendan’s monastery in Clonfert, Ireland tells a story of discovery of a fabled Island of the Saints — Paradise — and Brendan and his monks determine to launch a voyage of discovery to find it.

      Long story short the voyage lasts for 7 years. In the course of the voyage Brendan and his monks discover many things including islands and people. Including Jasconius. Looking for a place to rest the little boat of monks comes upon a strange craggy island in the sea. Some of the monks land on the island which has no grass or sand. It does have a little wood. The monks celebrate the Pascal Feast and bed down for the night. In the morning they are cold and hungry and light a fire to cook some food. As the pot heats up the island starts thrashing and twisting and turning and in a panic the monks head back to the safety of Brendan and the boat.

      Turns out it was not an island at all. It was a huge fish. The fish was trying to swallow its own tail but couldn’t because it was so long. The boat riding on the back of a huge serpent trying to swallow its tail is a part of Irish iconology to this day.

      It is metaphor of course. A sea journey. A big fish. A sea journey is metaphor for the search for God. The big fish?

      You can google Barbara Green’s book Jonah’s Journeys for the meaning of the metaphor of Jasconius.

      https://books.google.com/books?id=1iNGKntf0VYC&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=jasconius&source=bl&ots=VuAuB5iDNA&sig=ACfU3U0ArJ6BCa9F8SV19a01Q__oLAErUw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5hPe7krTgAhXL1FkKHdroARg4FBDoATAEegQIABAB#v=onepage&q=jasconius&f=false

      “An INTERNAL struggle signifying one’s life’s journey in a quest for God. As Green describes it: ” The God-quest, the utter commitment of of all that one is toward achieving a deeper union with God, not simply later but now — WHILE EN ROUTE. ……

      ….. God can seem remote and not worth the effort, or those who have not matured appropriately in religious and spiritual matters can feel they have outgrown the deity of their childhood, as in fact they ought to have done! …. The Brendan story is compatible with the human quest for relatedness with God and its attendant fruits: wisdom, insight, self-knowledge, compassion toward others, reverence for all of life, and so forth…..

      MEANS AND END POINT ARE INTERCONVERTIBLE. …. For many people the journey toward or into God is coterminous with the process of humanization. It is our most important “deed”. ….. Brendan’s journeying … is a way of life designed for and capable of bringing him into engagement with God.

      ….. The object of the quest cannot be grabbed untimely but must be must be sought tenaciously and gently. ….. Preparation and process are the key ….. The Pilgrims contend against various EXTERNAL opponents: weather, monsters, animals, demons, inhospitable places. But their struggles are also clearly against various INTERNAL conditions: The monks are often physically weak, some are tempted to rush inappropriately or lose heart, Brendan’s men become fearful, ….

      ……. As Brendan journeys, he learns both with and from others about the God-quest and is able to be a teacher and guide for his companions and those he meets….

      …….. [The journeying monks] come upon what seems to them a strange island. [it’s a big scary fish] …
      His name is Jasconius. The community accepts Jasconius on its own terms rather than their: a fish not an island; and in time, the animal guides the group helpfully toward the destination they are seeking. Every year of their travels they celebrate the Easter Vigil liturgy on the back of Jasconius. …

      …. The fish, engaged in its own effort at integration [swallowing its tail] grounds the monks’ quest for absorption in God. Six times the “Jaconius Easter” reminds the journeyers that they are IN PROCESS AND NOT ARRIVED, and yet they have been reassured that their regular encounter with the fish is correct, prescribed, planned for them. Not necessarily tangibly productive in itself, the fish marks for those visiting it that they are WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, doing what is their life to do.

      ……For Brendan and his companions the journey toward God is [BOTH] filled with BIBLE NARRATIVES and with every encounter with the PHYSICAL WORLD that can be experienced. Both environments comprise testing of the human spirit and access to the mysteries of God.

      …….Brendan’s Jaconius shows us that to reduce the fish merely to positive or negative misses the point. The fish is frightening, especially before the monks come to know him; but once they learn what he has to give them, he has to become primarily helpful, if not quite comfortable, a place to celebrate the return of life ( The Paschal liturgy) and TO MARK PROGRESS ON THE JOURNEY….

      ……Though Jonah’s journey inside the fish is opaque …. Brendan prompts us to see that part of the journey as formative. ”

      Jaconius you are truly a complex fish. Your journey is every bit as daunting and frightening as Brendan the Navigator’s along with his 14 monks. You are as shaken as the monks in the legend by the raging seas about you. You are clearly on an EXTERNAL journey full of storms and peril …. and pain … lots of pain including the loss of your son. You are clearly on an INTERNAL journey that is shaking your faith to the core.

      But do not despair. What you are experiencing is evidence that you are on the path to engagement with God. The journey is perilous and arduous with filled with many dangers. But you have many companions on the journey with you. Don’t let the fish swallow you. Try to take it on its own terms. It must then become helpful. And guide you to your destination. Do not take counsel of your fears. Don’t jump ship in the middle of the storm. The Barque of Peter may be battered and storm tossed but it is WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

      WHY ME?
      I’d recommend praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and contemplating the fruits of those mysteries for your life. There you will meet a companion on your journey. A guide. A teacher. A guy who has been there. He is walking every step of your journey with you. Shoulder to shoulder. Step for step.

      Read Jeremiah 29 4:14. God has a deal for you. Call it a contract offer. Quid pro quo. You do something for Him and He promises to do a lot of somethings for you. What is your contractual obligation? What do you have to do for God? To bloom where you are planted. And, from what I can tell it ain’t no rose garden. What is God’s promise to you? I’ll let you read and contemplate those promises for yourself. All I’ll say is that set of promises will bring tears to your eyes.

      GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

      Brendan had companions on his journey. You have lots of companions here. Keep coming back.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I was actually quite good when I had a memory in youth as I loved old lore such as The Navigator. We learned those old stories of old and loved such. Tir Na Nog, Diarmuid and Grainne who were the first Romeo and Juliette. That couple of course passed by where is my house… Then again my locale holds the staff of Moses/doctors, Just what is the doctor and his oath. Old mind alas ???

        My locale of courses is first mentioned about the time of The Christ. Mac Nessa asked his druids as to why the sky was wrong only to be told by Kaivee of a great king being murdered in a far off land.

        This King uttered Kaivee is a king of kings, not of this world but yet our saviour…

        Like

        1. Sorry there now as I had meant to add as of my granddaughter going to school…The gubment changed the curriculum as to not offend new people here…Old lore now it would appear have modern names…

          Like

    8. Oh Jasconius, deepest sorrow and sincerest condolences for you and your son. May you feel the arms of Jesus wrapped around you, and cry into his shoulder the agony of your betrayal by his ministers. May his love console your emptiness and pain.

      Liked by 3 people

    10. Jasconius, I am so sorry for the loss of your son and the abuse he suffered. I will ask the teens at the confirmation retreat I will be at this weekend to pray for you and your family, and the repose of the soul of your son. May God send you the support and the strength you need in all that you are going through at this time.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. https://onepeterfive.com/anne-catherine-emmerich-and-the-two-popes/

    Perhaps as requested by Beckita this will give clearer meaning to my previous post. The author of the article concluded that the vision of Blessed Catherine referred to the past and did not refer to the relationship between Benedict and Francis. In the extract I posted, Blessed Catherine imparts blame for the crisis of the day on the plans of the “secret society” not the pope. While I do not agree with the suggestion that Pope Francis is guilty of uncritical ecumenism (he has laid out a clear path of integration with the One True Faith) I feel that the secret siciety remains the source of trouble today and that the short time during which the counter attack on the secret society’s plan – and the plans of the principalities of darkness – will take place from the Warning to The Great Miracle and after that the darkness will once again “Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war.” Then will come Chastisement at the hands of God, another short time: The Three Days of Darkness. As the drama unfolds it will become even clearer that the hammer and the sickle and the square and compass are not such strange bedfellows. As you say Beckie, prophesy has many layers. Indeed it has. Happily the solution is still the same: prayer, penance and provenance, to Jesus through Mary, rosary in hand, in surrender we find victory.

    Liked by 3 people

    2. Honestly, Joe, I had wondered if you might have thought the vision passage you shared applied to the two popes of today. (This vision has been showing up online as something that applies today but it is time specific for the ways God used Blessed AC Emmerich.) I didn’t want to simply assume so I pressed on to listen to what you were thinking. I did pull up Volume Two from the two book set of The Life and Revelations of Blessed Anne Catherine from which the passage came so I could read it in context. The vision was given specific to her prayer and suffering for Pope Pius VII who contended with Napoleon. She was a hidden instrument God used to support the Pope in his struggles in those days.

      I agree that so much damage has been done by secret societies today – which have been active for years in attempts to destroy the Church. I wonder at St. Don Bosco’s dream… why was he only shown the ships battering the Barque of Peter from an exterior position? Sometimes, I think the interior battering of our beloved ship has been more violent and devastating then the outside forces. I guess you could say the outside forces simply penetrated into the interior. I yet ponder Fr. Gobbi’s locutions and wonder at the impact of the Masonic forces as Our Lady referred to infiltration by ecclesiastical masonry. I think of Bella Dodd’s sharing with Venerable Fulton Sheen concerning communist forces and their infiltration into the priesthood – surely the Vatican Herself must have been a target. And I wonder what will be clearly revealed about the secret inner workings of the St. Gallen Mafia.

      Love your hopeful conclusion, Joe: “Happily the solution is still the same: prayer, penance and provenance, to Jesus through Mary, rosary in hand, in surrender we find victory.” In Jesus and Mary, we are not powerless. May we never tire of prayer, fasting, penance and next right steps to the finish of God’s Plan and into the New Beginning with the Rescue and full Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

      Liked by 5 people

      1. I would think, in light of Charlie’s many posts and comments about trying to interpret prophecy and private revelation, that we would not want to read Catherine Emmerich’s prophecies and visions strictly, in only one sense.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I read prophesy not so much to “know” what is going to happen but to get a more general sense of where things may go, what to pray for and prepare to react to when and if it actually happens or a mitigated version as God wills. We can only deal with the here and now in order to discern the next right step as we travel on. Always TRUST in the Lord as the true basis for your life. May God bless and guide us all.

          Liked by 4 people

  28. My husband and I always liked Charlie’s idea of lifting up and supporting our Bishops when they take an unpopular stance that upholds Catholic teaching and Holy Scripture. Bishop Daly of Spokane wrote a beautiful letter confirming the “..Church’s commitment to the life of every human person from conception until death is firm.” We have decided to send him a letter thanking him for being a sign of hope.
    http://www.courageouspriest.com/bishop-dalys-letter-bars-pro-abortion-catholic-politicians-receiving-communion?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bishop_daly_s_letter_bars_pro_abortion_catholic_politicians_from_receiving_communion&utm_term=2019-02-10

    Liked by 8 people

  29. MILINET & AM Surfing: Articles for Christians – 11 February
    =====================
    Grammys 2019: Why God will be center stage at the award show
    https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/grammys-2019-why-god-will-be-center-stage-at-the-award-show

    Gosnell: When Art Collides with Reality and Exposes the Truth–JOHN FUND
    https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/gosnell-movie-late-term-abortion-new-york-virginia/

    Report: States passed more pro-LGBT laws in 2018 than anti-LGBT laws
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/02/11/Report-States-passed-more-pro-LGBT-laws-in-2018-than-anti-LGBT-laws/3111549871163/?sl=3

    Bronx lawmaker refuses to apologize for anti-gay remarks
    https://nypost.com/2019/02/10/bronx-lawmaker-refuses-to-apologize-for-anti-gay-remarks/

    Hypocrisy is a great teacher
    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/10/the-phoniness-of-the-left-is-on-abundant-display/

    America’s Abortion “Choice” – Will We Let a Fraudulent Alibi Justify Murdering Even More Babies for Profit?
    https://townhall.com/columnists/cliffnichols/2019/02/11/americas-abortion-choice–will-we-let-a-fraudulent-alibi-justify-murdering-even-more-babies-for-profit-n2541136

    I’m thinking The Church needs a Wrecking Ball Pope!

    Donald Trump, the Wrecking Ball President
    https://townhall.com/notebook/stevesheldon/2019/02/09/trump-the-wrecking-ball-president-n2541009

    What It Means To Be a Woman
    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2019/what-it-means-to-be-a-woman

    ….. then they came for the Jews …………..

    Democrat Ilhan Omar Uses Anti-Jewish Smear About Money: ‘She Might as Well Call Us Hook-Nosed’
    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/10/democrat-ilhan-omar-uses-anti-jewish-smear-about-money-she-might-as-well-call-us-hook-nosed/

    The Boy Scouts is just another fine institution all but destroyed by the godless Left and their ever more radical fringe in the Media and Democrat Party ……. in case you have failed to notice?…. these are the very same people who despise/wist to destroy The Catholic Church and the Faithful Pew Peons therein! ;-(

    Sir Robert Baden-Powell’s Original Vision for the Boy Scouts
    https://patriotpost.us/opinion/61075-sir-robert-baden-powells-original-vision-for-the-boy-scouts

    In Congress, Life Can Change in an Infant
    https://patriotpost.us/opinion/61071-in-congress-life-can-change-in-an-infant

    I would think that a cursory investigation of Islam would demonstrate that Islam is only “Moderate” when they are less than 10% of any given population or when guns are held to their heads.
    Meanwhile back in Ol’ Christendom whilst the Pope is on his Kumbaya Mystery Tour …… ;-( ………. ;-(

    POPE FRANCIS TO VISIT MOROCCAN IMAM TRAINING INSTITUTE TO PROMOTE MODERATE ISLAM
    https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/10/pope-francis-visit-moroccan-moderate-imam/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 7 people

  30. “This is where the apostolate of the laity will come to the fore, not to supplant the hierarchy, but to empower those honorable, but often timid, members who still believe in the faith of Jesus Christ.” Amen to that Charlie. And bravo to your friend Mary. I wrote to Cardinal Dolan and here is what I said; “Dear Cardinal Dolan, you stated that excommunication was being used as a weapon if you excommunicated Governor Cuomo for his signed bill on abortion through all 9 months. Here’s the thing Cardinal, you’re wrong. It would actually be a mercy. It would be better for Governor Cuomo to be excommunicated from the church now, so perhaps, just perhaps, he can ponder and ask God why. He can know it is an abject evil he has committed, and maybe he can repent. It would be far better for him to be locked out of the church here on earth than to be thrown into the fires of hell for all eternity because of his lack of respect for the dignity of life. Excommunication would be a mercy for him. And if you’re worried about being hated by the world for doing it, Congratulations, it hated Jesus first.” May God have mercy on us all right now.

    Liked by 12 people

    3. Well said I daresay as I recall the priest of my parish who was sidelined for his belief. That fellow would take some notion and say The Mass to an empty church. Caught me unawares one day to find that out as I was the only one in church to see this devotion. That fellow if memory serves was a late vocation. A widower, father and just a nice man. He gave me penance one time on my rare visit to correction…

      I am giving you now a new cloak, a new pair of sandals… Now try if you will to keep those things clean. No doubt he was thinking as to how I would loose some precious whiskey at my new falling down.

      A good man I would hazard. A true soldier of our Christ. The way of the world one has to suppose as we are lead to believe we should accept modernism. Modernism has no place in our society tho as we look to those who would lead us…

      Those said leaders are at best cowards. At least ignorant dupes of earthly pleasure. Wrong is wrong tho and posting pic’s of lions only prove this fact. Lion is king, he has no need of any to tell him how to rule his jungle. Jungle really is a most apt word as we should ponder the lion eying his domain. No fear, no fear as the mouse would be tossed up up by the lesser cat in playful demise…

      Just stand up and say no when we hear such things as infanticide, Just say no if you know someone who is being abused. Just say no if you believe your local politician is telling you lies, (They all, mostly do that of course, tis the nature of that animal). Just say no I posit if it be a cleric/politician, Just say no. Tired really as to how we should progress as of just where we are now… Alas death of our political elite makes for good news…

      We have now in my country of a people being somewhat awake. Protesting at Politicians houses…How dare you I daresay protest at my house, (On a week end of course when we stupid sheep are not working for you), how dare you !!!

      Regards, Mac.

      Liked by 1 person

    5. I don’t really Tweet, but I saw that Cardinal Dolan had tweeted about Cuomo/abortion and decided to look. He got BLASTED by people tweeting back to him! I wondered if he really thought that he was popular among Catholics and was shocked at the response.

      Liked by 3 people

  32. Our Lady of Guadalupe stopped human sacrifices in Mexico, but the blood lust was later replaced by abortion in the world.

    Can abortion be really stopped or significantly reduced by the normal? It seems that many religious leaders have traded in their divine authority for the option to play in politics. I wonder how this comprises the divine…?

    We definitely have to hold the line against the culture of death, but in the end I don’t see anything short of God’s intervention putting a stop to the culture of death.

    Liked by 5 people

  33. My wife and I were talking today about if Dolan should excommunicate Cuomo and I was thinking and wondering of there is a third way. Not to act is not an option, or least it shouldn’t be in the face of such evil. If he says “I am excommunicating you” he will cement resistance to the “evil repressive church”. Dolan and other church leaders could merely state publicly that the Governor of NY has already chosen to excommunicate himself by his own behavior, as abortion promotion carries the penalty. This would also serve as a teaching moment for all the faithful, and help the faithful decide if they want to remain in the church or if they wish to remain on a “train headed for hell” if they are now supporting these evils. And like a wayword child who yells, “you are being mean”, it would make it clear that Cuomo is the one who is being disobedient and sinful.

    Liked by 4 people

  35. Sorry coming late to the story! I think everyone has a legit comment, so much information, and very deep love for our Lord’s teachings. Then why so hard for our clerics, Bishops, and hierarchy to move in the right direction. It seems so many have sold their souls to the devil, and convinced many more to follow. We must be humble enough to understand that this is only salvageable by the Lord personally, and much will be asked of us, to help right this boat. The Blessed Mother has told us prayer is first and most important; 2nd fasting; 3rd repentance; 4th great sacrifice. Well, we learned of a father who lost a child in this blog; what an immense sacrifice. That which is gleaned from this tragedy will be put to use in God’s Kingdom! We will all pray for this family. There is justice, it will come.
    The beautiful teachings of Blessed Ann Emmerich written here above by a contributor tells us this is long from over, and how the Lord views our souls, which is very(amazing) beautiful….AND The anger we feel will only be given grace if we put it to good use. So, I believe I will set about writing some letters, to the good Bishops to encourage them to continue the good fight. The other ‘bad’ ones will receive their comeuppance when they face their peers, and/or God himself. (Yes, I will pray for them). And then I will wait to hear from our Lord again and what to do next. Take care good and beautiful people. It’s good to have friends like y’all. I’ve been blessed. Thank you! Ave Maria.

    Liked by 6 people

  36. For those who feel like they’re going it alone, watch what happens when this ole fella, Red, has given all he’s got against a pack of 20 hyenas.

    A brother has his back!

    Liked by 4 people

      1. Exactly what happened to me, Mick and MP, real tears. It’ s a metaphor for all of us as we identify with the lion! God bless his brother lion and all our brothers and sisters!

        Liked by 3 people

      1. Glad you liked it. This video might have been better placed under V98’s post about the Clergy. As it is, it probably got overshadowed by the Cow/Chikin/Flatulence sidebar that that rascal B started. Pass the salt, B.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Ha, MP! I’ve got plenty of pepper too. 😉

          Seriously, it was such a beautiful video accompanied by your heartening comments that it deserves a repeat here.

          MP’s comments and video:

          For those who feel like they’re going it alone, watch what happens when this ole fella, Red, has given all he’s got against a pack of 20 hyenas.

          A brother has his back!

          Like

  37. Thank you Charlie, good piece. Thank you Beckita.

    I heard today that Cuomo’s approval ratings are the worse in the 8 years he has been governor and down even from January of this year. Yes!
    This gave me hope that people are waking up and realizing who he is.

    I have my letters to him and Cardinal Dolan almost ready to go out.
    Civility prevailed and I realized how much they needed prayers.

    I love the idea of offering prayers, novenas and Masses for our leaders, for those in diabolical disorientation, for all here and for our families.
    May God open their eyes to the truth.
    Good will prevail.
    Courage. 🇱🇷

    Liked by 8 people

      1. That was good, For the Sake! I liked the political memes a lot, but to me the most hilarious one was about Linda and the essential oils (I am a user of essential oils myself).

        Liked by 5 people

            1. One of the unspoken truths about our planet is the net zero production of O2 of forests because of the equal USE of O2 by a forest community and the high production of CO2 by decaying leaf/detritus and animal matter by microorganisms both on land (above and below ground) and in the sea. Invertebrates alone make up the majority of animal biomass of land and sea animals by a significant factor.
              So why all the fuss about cows? Interestingly enough, it is the microorganisms and plant matter in cows that actually produce the farts- so who is really to blame!?

              Liked by 6 people

    5. Hah! When I heard about this AOC New Green Deal deal the first thought that came to my mind is this silly girl wants to get rid of everybody’s barbecue grill! Your barbecue grill. MY barbecue grill!

      We love to grill out. We grill out a lot.

      Propane Weber model. 3 burners. Ribs. Chicken. Steak. Sausage. Burgers. Dogs.

      She wants to take all of that away: No propane for you! No charcoal for you! No cooking for you!

      Eat your meat raw or better yet just go vegan and eat a lot of raw vegetables. Eat your cold peas!

      My meme: A picture of Storm Tracker standing in front of his Weber with a couple of racks of ribs grilling toward perfection. Wearing his barbecue apron standing there with his barbecue sauce slop brush in one hand and his meat flipper in the other. With a defiant glare on his face.

      Caption: Out of my cold dead hands!

      Liked by 10 people

      1. Mmmm…. Oh how I hope you can make it to the Mt. Meeker Gathering after the Triumph of Our Lady’s Heart, Ed. We spoke of such an event quite frequently at TNRS. Just imagine a group of Propane Webers with all manner of TNRS-ASOH chefs BBQing a feast of meats as we all meet up and talk the days and nights away, sharing the stories of our next right steps through thick and thin.

        Liked by 11 people

      5. These people are ridiculous. “We’ll fix things,” they always say. ‘Course we’ve got to let them make every decision for us and give them complete control. O-C gives us a good look at the new (old) mindlessness coming down the pike. Whatever.

        My latest set of grilling tools includes a multi-purpose spatula that can not only flip a rack’o ribs, beef, chicken, sausage, dogs… it’s heavy and solid enough to chop wood, and I’m not exaggerating for effect.

        Liked by 10 people

    6. Beckita,
      Belly laughing out loud! I was just thinking, if we could wrangle a herd of the Laughing Cows Cheese makers up to DC, feed them a bushel of beans, and point them in the right direction, not only would they laugh AOC out of Congress, they would blow her and all the Dimwits out into the middle of 2030!

      Liked by 6 people

  39. Praying….

    “Just weeks before the Catholic Church’s summit on the sexual abuse crisis the faithful became privy to Pope Francis’s rather unorthodox views on sexual morality. In a book length interview with Frenchman Dominque Wolton, who accompanied Pope Francis to World Youth Day in Panama, the pope concurs with Wolton’s premise that the most radical message of the Gospel is greed and “money madness.” This message is obscured, however, due to the Church’s preoccupation with sexual immorality and deviance. In his response to a question about how to refocus the Church on this proper message the pope speaks in generalities that bristle with clues about his true sentiments on chastity along with the import of sexual misconduct among the clergy.”

    Full article found here.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Mary said at Fatima or later to Sr. Lucia, not sure which, that “More people go to hell due to sins of the flesh than for other reasons”. Somehow I don’t believe those in hell are glad to be there and are saying to themselves “At least I am not in a lower place in hell due to sins of pride and envy”!! She did say to pray much and to offer penance for poor sinners, to save them from hell. And how many of the clergy really believe in that place and what Jesus said about the broad road which leads to death?

      Liked by 5 people

      1. This text on Fatima:
        https://archive.org/stream/TheMessageOfOurLadyOfFatimaWithPicture/fatimaSelectionspic_djvu.txt
        and the section notes on why souls go to hell for these sins:
        1. “More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other
        reason. ” Sr Lucia, the last living Fatima seer, said this refers primarily to sins against
        chastity, also called sins of impurity. The reason for this statement is not because sins
        against chastity are the most grievous sins, but the most common and, as Sr Lucia stated,
        “because of conscience, ” since sins of impurity are less likely to be repented of than other
        sins. Why? 1) because the sense of injustice committed, which is the primary stimulus to
        repent of one’s sins, is not strongly felt when engaging in them, with the exception of
        adultery; 2) there is a greater sense of shame when committing certain impure acts and
        hence greater difficulty confessing them in the sacrament of confession, or even repenting
        of them in one’s heart; 3) sexual activity of all kinds is presented by our post-Christian —
        even anti-Christian — popular culture as natural and good, and sexual abstinence is even
        taught to be unhealthy. The sixth commandment, relating to chastity, has always been
        called “the difficult commandment.” Today, with pornography everywhere and women and
        girls dressing more immodestly than ever, it can almost be called “the impossible
        commandment.” However, Jesus assures us: “What is impossible with men is possible with
        God.” (Lk 18:27) We may add that all who invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary for help in
        overcoming sins of impurity, will receive the grace to do so, as she herself has revealed to
        St Bridget of Sweden and various other saints. And those who strive to live chaste lives
        know from experience, when sins of impurity are humbly repented of and confessed, a
        great burden is removed from our consciences, and we experience that peace of soul that
        the world and carnal indulgence cannot give.

        Liked by 5 people

    2. It seems to me that illicit sex and greed go together like peas and carrots. There sure are a lot of people profiting from lewdness and sexual immorality.

      And what precisely is the correct “modern” interpretation of the virgin martyrs who accepted torture and death rather than debase themselves…they were unreasonable prudes?

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Nice insight, goldensun. I’ve noticed that once there is any kind of serious stronghold the evil one has on a person, that poor soul becomes bombarded with all sorts of temptations from multiple sides.

        Liked by 4 people

  40. They make sure that the sexual part, be it homosexuality or family division due to sex, or transgender, or ….gets thrown into the mix because it is the catch by which satan lures his victims and snare them into the increasing darkness of this world. So we will never actually get his full take but we have had hints dropped ever since he took the Papacy… I remember the first time this came to the front, and most were so caught off guard, they just stepped back. Many knew already, but for the most, we thought it was just a bit of hype, translation problems, etc. But our gut, the gut again, said huh no, this is not right. Then progressively year on, we realized yep, that ole gut! Well, 2019 and it is full blown, or peaking, and we are rounding the bend, wondering if we are going to dive under, or step up and fight the good fight b/c we will have no choice. If they cannot decide the right or wrong on abortion, then we have the answers. The rest will solve itself when we solve that problem. Infanticide . What a despicable word. Excellent take Bekita. Thank you.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Every day, robill, I become more and more grateful for a core message proclaimed by Charlie from the beginning of his days of speaking to what is unfolding before our eyes: God has a Plan. Blessed be God forever! Ave Maria!

      Liked by 7 people

      1. Yes, if it was not for Charlie early on, I prob would not have been here today. The stories he told and Abraham’s journey kept me glued. Heard of him very early, (SD.com early 2000’s) lost track of him for about a year trying to find where he went, and then I came upon a lady attached to Roku(?) Linda Sommerville (I think that was her name)…anyway she told me how to find him again. And that was that. From the very beginning, I knew God was telling me to stay on this course, he is there. Ran into alot of ‘naysayers’ but each time, I just said, “nope, my G/A is pushing me to this direction”. And even in 2017, it did not matter, we don’t know why God changes up the scheme of things. Perhaps the Bld. Mother stayed his arm again, one more time. Who knows, and actually I was not just that ready. But here we are, hopefully more ready. Our little Church in this hill country lost an amazing woman this morning. She succumbed to life after a long long battle with cancer. However up until a month ago, she was active and in the middle of it all. She was, you could say, the backbone of the Mission. Everyone loved her and will deeply miss her! Her life was quiet and peaceful, doing what God asked of her. She cooked, prepared all the meals, ran the kitchen, and was so pleasant with all that passed her way, inspite of the discomfort she carried. One more example of how it is to be a saint, and to know when we look up, she will be looking down. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
        A great article I think is worth reading for all here… by Crdnl Mueller
        https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11353/cardinals-at-war-over-fraud-of-antichrist-
        “Cardinal Müller also says that many wonder today what the point of the Church is, “when even bishops prefer to be politicians rather than to proclaim the Gospel as teachers of the faith”. ‘ Excellent point.

        Liked by 5 people

        1. So sorry for your loss, robill. Praying for the repose of your friend’s soul and for the grieving hearts of all who love her. Yesterday, I did read the piece to which you’ve linked. Further commentary is here. Cardinal Kasper’s accusation that Cardinal Müller’s text contains “half truths” and merely “personal theological views,” and therefore promotes “confusion and schism” reminds me of the evil one’s favored way of calling good:evil and evil:good. God come to our assistance. Lord make haste to help us.

          Liked by 6 people

        3. Robill, I’m sorry about the death of your friend. I will pray for the repose of her soul, and for all of you who are mourning her loss.

          Liked by 3 people

  41. Beware The Rise of the Nones

    Many of us of a certain age are nothing short of astonished at the turn the country has made in our lifetimes in terms of both the general culture, increasingly in the political culture and more alarmingly in what appears to be a spiritual death spiral. What we here identify as the Storm. So what accounts for it? What accounts for this gathering speed alarming spread of spiritual darkness in America today?

    At least part of it can be ascribed to the Rise of the Nones.

    Who are the Nones? They are that part of the U.S. population that admits to no religious affiliation.
    Not Christian. Not Jew. Not Muslim. Not Buddhist. Not nothing. It is an amazingly large portion of America and it is GROWING as a percentage.

    We Catholics think of ourselves as something of a cultural, spiritual and values juggernaut because we seem so numerous. But we are not as numerous as we think. We make up about 20% of the population.

    The Nones have us outnumbered. And their view of the world seemingly is shading out the Christian and Catholic worldview on a whole range of cultural and value centered political issues. Like abortion. Like same sex marriage. Like assisted suicide. Like transgenderism. Like cloning. Like a lot of things.

    Some statistics:

    http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/

    An analysis of the trends

    http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious/

    The Nones are increasing as a percentage of the population and they are becoming less religious and more secular.

    From Pew Research:

    “Is the American public becoming less religious? Yes, at least by some key measures of what it means to be a religious person. An extensive new survey of more than 35,000 U.S. adults [2014] finds that the percentages who say they believe in God, pray daily and regularly go to church or other religious services all have declined modestly in recent years.

    The recent decrease in religious beliefs and behaviors is largely attributable to the “nones” – the growing minority of Americans, particularly in the Millennial generation, who say they do not belong to any organized faith. Among the roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults who do claim a religion, there has been no discernible drop in most measures of religious commitment. Indeed, by some conventional measures, religiously affiliated Americans are, on average, even more devout than they were a few years ago.

    The share of U.S. adults who say they believe in God, while still remarkably high by comparison with other advanced industrial countries, has declined modestly, from approximately 92% to 89%, since Pew Research Center conducted its first Landscape Study in 2007.1

    The share of Americans who say they are “absolutely certain” God exists has dropped more sharply, from 71% in 2007 to 63% in 2014.

    The falloff in traditional religious beliefs and practices coincides with changes in the religious composition of the U.S. public. A growing share of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, including some who self-identify as atheists or agnostics as well as many who describe their religion as “nothing in particular.”

    Altogether, the religiously unaffiliated (also called the “nones”) now account for 23% of the adult population, up from 16% in 2007.

    [This is an extremely steep curve. 16% to 23% in 7 years ending in 2014. Where are we now?]

    Pew Research Center surveys consistently show that not all religious “nones” are nonbelievers. In fact, the majority of Americans without a religious affiliation say they believe in God. As a group, however, the “nones” are far less religiously observant than Americans who identify with a specific faith.

    The growth of the “nones” as a share of the population, coupled with their declining levels of religious observance, is tugging down the nation’s overall rates of religious belief and practice.

    GENERATIONAL REPLACEMENT

    the importance of generational replacement in driving the rise of the “nones.” As older cohorts of adults (comprised mainly of self-identified Christians) pass away, they are being replaced by a new cohort of young adults who display far lower levels of attachment to organized religion than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations did when they were the same age.

    The same dynamic helps explain the declines in traditional measures of religious belief and practice. Millennials – especially the youngest Millennials, who have entered adulthood since the first Landscape Study was conducted – are far less religious than their elders. For example, only 27% of Millennials say they attend religious services on a weekly basis, compared with 51% of adults in the Silent generation. Four-in-ten of the youngest Millennials say they pray every day, compared with six-in-ten Baby Boomers and two-thirds of members of the Silent generation. Only about half of Millennials say they believe in God with absolute certainty, compared with seven-in-ten Americans in the Silent and Baby Boom cohorts. And only about four-in-ten Millennials say religion is very important in their lives, compared with more than half in the older generational cohorts.

    The study also shows that the growth of the “nones” is having a particularly pronounced impact on the Democratic Party coalition. In fact, religious “nones” are now more numerous among Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults than are Catholics, evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants or members of the historically black Protestant tradition. The religiously unaffiliated also are growing within the GOP, though not as quickly, and they remain far outnumbered by evangelicals and less numerous than Catholics or mainline Protestants within the Republican coalition.

    the stability of religious practice among the shrinking share of the population that is religiously affiliated, coupled with declining rates of religious observance among the growing minority of religious “nones,” is producing overall declines in several key measures of religious practice. It explains the importance of generational replacement – the gradual supplanting of older generations by newer ones – in driving these trends.

    Meanwhile, the share of religiously unaffiliated adults who say religion is either “not too important” or “not at all important” to them has grown by 8 percentage points since 2007. Roughly two-thirds of the “nones” now say religion is of little importance in their lives, up from 57% in 2007.

    Similarly, the Religious Landscape Study finds that 62% of religious “nones” now say they “seldom” or “never” pray, a 6-point increase since 2007. And while there has been little change in the rate at which “nones” report attending religious services (few did this more than a few times a year to begin with),

    the proportion of “nones” who say they do not believe in God has grown rapidly in recent years. Fully one-third of religiously unaffiliated adults now say they do not believe in God, up 11 points since 2007.

    As a result of these two trends – growth and secularization among the religiously unaffiliated – the share of Americans who exhibit high religious commitment is declining.

    [GIANT RED ALARM SIGNAL GOING OFF IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH]

    In 2007, 16.1% of adults – 36.6 million people – described themselves as religious “nones.” And 57.5% of them said religion was “not too” or “not at all” important in their lives, yielding an estimate that 21.0 million adults were religious “nones” for whom religion was personally unimportant. By 2014, the religiously unaffiliated share of the population had grown to 22.8%, and the number of religious “nones” had ballooned to 55.8 million. And nearly two-thirds of the “nones” – 36.1 million adults – say religion is unimportant to them, an increase of roughly 15 million people in just seven years.

    [That would be 55.8 million adult Nones in 2014 and growing. That is a political base.]

    Generational Differences

    Who are the largely nonreligious adults whose ranks are growing, thus reducing the percentage of Americans who exhibit strong religious commitment? They are mainly young people just entering adulthood. Older Americans – those in the Silent generation, Baby Boomers and even Generation Xers – are, by and large, about as religious today as when the Religious Landscape Study was first conducted in 2007.

    But these three generational cohorts constitute a shrinking share of the total U.S. population, and, as their numbers begin to dwindle, they are being replaced by a new cohort of young adults (Millennials) who are, in many ways, far less religious than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.

    By comparison with older adults, Millennials exhibit far lower rates of involvement with religion. Fewer than half of older Millennials (adults now in their late 20s and early 30s) and roughly four-in-ten younger Millennials (adults now in their late teens and early 20s) say religion is very important to them and that they pray daily. And a majority of Millennials say they attend religious services a few times a year at most. Millennials’ relatively low rates of religious involvement are attributable in part to the fact that many Millennials are religious “nones.” However, on several of these measures, even young adults who are religiously affiliated are less observant than their older counterparts. ”

    The Generation Gap in U.S. Politics

    http://www.people-press.org/2018/03/01/the-generation-gap-in-american-politics/

    From immigration and race to foreign policy and the scope of government, two younger generations, Millennials and Gen Xers, stand apart from the two older cohorts, Baby Boomers and Silents. And on many issues, Millennials continue to have a distinct – and increasingly liberal – outlook.

    Millennials remain the most liberal and Democratic of the adult generations. They continue to be the most likely to identify with the Democratic Party or lean Democratic. In addition, far more Millennials than those in older generational cohorts favor the Democratic candidate in November’s midterm congressional elections.

    In fact, in an early test of midterm voting preferences (in January), 62% of Millennial registered voters said they preferred a Democratic candidate for Congress in their district this fall, which is higher than the shares of Millennials expressing support for the Democratic candidate in any midterm dating back to 2006, based on surveys conducted in midterm years.”

    To summarize:

    Demographics is destiny. We are looking at a growing spiritual darkness in America driven to a large degree by demographic change.

    Just guessing, but if we are going to reverse the trend to growing spiritual darkness the answer is going to have emerge in the form of a cure for what ails the spiritual life of the Millennial Generation.

    According to Pew Research the Millennial Generation is those born between 1981 and 1996. They are currently between the ages of 23 and 38. It’s succeeding Generation — Generation Z — 1996 -present is between the ages of 7-22 in 2019. Generation Z is measuring very closely to the Millennials in religious attitudes.

    The Rescue is going to have to include the conversion of this group of Americans.

    Work. Charlie would call it work. A lot of work. Bringing the Light of the Gospel to this growing and increasingly Spiritually Dark cohort of Americans. How do you reach somebody between 23 and 38?

    Somehow this generation of spreading darkness has been ill served by the Church and by our academia and by our political institutions. Neglected. We say it is a time for choosing. If it is millions of our young fellow countrymen are choosing very badly. Maybe the damage is now irreparable. Let’s hope and pray that is not the case.

    The Rise of the Nones and what can be done about it should be of concern to all of us.

    Liked by 10 people

    1. I like this post and wonder if you Storm came up with the description of the nones. Some very sobering reading if you came up with the none all on your own. I have often wondered of the description of millennials and such like as I read on here…

      Hah there now Storm as I try to read, re-read this most complicated post you have here. Being an old haulage recovery sort I tended to all sort of break-downs. I seem to have always had a mechanical brain. I thought I heard the word train perhaps ere I was conceived alas…

      As an outsider tho of American politics I never really understood as to just why That Republic never had proportional Representation of voting. We have that here in my country, just as we had a republic of one Arthur Griffith. That fellow, (Griffith) was sidelined in our 70’s which it seems now was just more division/lies as no country since our 70’s in Europe has had a majority government. That of course is a plan by those who have been control, told us the great lie oer many a long year.

      I wonder then as I think of the last time I filled out a national census. I read, re-read that afore I filled it in. Nowhere did I find referral to the human being as it mentioned but once the word human. I filled that thing out in all lower case expecting to be hauled oer some coals. Alas those curs just like the dreaded Tvee people here who like money for licence. Indeed Charlie, I held out never thinking curmudgeon. When that cur of a Tvee man inquired as to if I had a licence to view his governmental rot. I told him to go away, (not so polite actually) as I enquired as to just what was in his house. P… off and leave me alone. (Do you have a Tvee in yer house indeed.)

      Makes me wonder tho as I often do. Where, just where did we go wrong as we looked at our telly and listened to Johnboy say good night. Douglas Fairbanks as I remember him slide down the mast of a ship on a knife…About that time of course the WASP was loosing his grip on the hive. Alas the christian seems to me to be a most foolish animal. Animal indeed as we look to the word congress as it seems to be a monkey mind of corruption. Not meant in a bad way I hope to assure as we here in other countries are but a such like congress worthy of when Rome fell…

      And fall it will to be sure I do think as we are now living in a time of paying for our auld sins. For some strange reason I have always told people of life being some sort of hire purchase plan. We always pay the last payment……..

      Leave you alone there now Storm. Thank you for the creation O’thought as to nones. (Trademark that witch.)

      Dia agut agus Beannacht… Mac.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Well, Mac, alas I myself did not coin the term “Nones”. Found it in a study done by the Pew Research organization which does polling of all kinds of issues.

        My family comes from the East Galway region. Mountains and horses. Sheep. Green, green grass. Loughrea. Lovely little town right out of Hollywood. Country people.

        I have been there twice and I would love to do more travel in Ireland.

        My first visit occurred in my early 20’s and I recall being taken to the farm where my Grandfather grew up. He was No. 2 of 12 children. Two room thatched roof cottage. The barn was sturdier and more comfortable than the house. He was indentured out to farm at the age of 12 and returned home at the age of 17. Went to work contracting for the English Army paving the country roads with crushed stone. Which he crushed from big stones to little stones manually with a sledge hammer. He called it “…. that damned English road …” He was a tough, tough man. Strong as an ox. Brooked no nonsense.

        My Grandfather only had two vices. He smoked a pipe now and again and on Friday nights he would invite his brothers over to play cards around the kitchen table in the house my father grew up in and talk Irish politics. He got up early to go to work and he went to bed early. He got down on his knees and prayed the rosary every night beside the bed before he turned in. The house went silent at 9:00 PM.

        My second trip occurred in my 60’s. Went back to that farm and had a reunion with the relatives.

        I had an Irish born colleague at work who went back regularly. When I said I was returning to Ireland after 40 years I was told to be prepared for a shock. “It won’t be the same as you remember.” Progress. The Irish Tiger. Samsung. IBM. etc. etc. etc. Everything is different now and a whole lot better. Went back and got the shock of my life …. Ireland had not changed a bit from my first visit. Oh, a little around the edges. The highways were a bit better. More housing developments. But the tourist roads were exactly the same.

        I expect that if I had the opportunity to go back 40 years from now (which I won’t) it would still be the same place.

        The Irish seem to me to be a resigned and patient people. They don’t expect much from life and are pleasantly surprised when something good happens. Because it doesn’t happen very often. Unlike Americans, even Irish Americans, they are content with what they have. They wait. They wait to see what happens to them. They patiently accept what comes their way (usually nothing good). There is this attitude that if there was anything good lying around the British would have stolen it a long time ago, Resigned. Laid back. Watching and waiting. A kind of passivity that can take the form of gentleness.

        Socialism doesn’t seem such a bad thing to the Irish. At least the English aren’t stealing the sheep.

        So what happened to Ireland that it can change its Constitution to pave the way for abortion on demand? It’s the Millennials, Mac. You have an Irish Millennials problem. The Nones. The Nones have forced their cultural and spiritual and political views on the Nation. We talk about CHOOSING here at ASOH. You have Church corruption to match anyplace in the world. Your young have swallowed the Marxist Koolaid. Bad Choice.

        …….”Makes me wonder tho as I often do. Where, just where did we go wrong as we looked at our telly and listened to Johnboy say good night.” ……

        Where were the Irish? Where were the Americans?

        We were tied to our telly and didn’t notice our wee ones were slipping out the back door and taking flight. Ne’er to return. Like the Wild Geese. My Grandpa ne’er returned. But of course …. that’s another story……….

        The Irish: All their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.

        My favorite sad song about the Irish. This song tells the story of every Irish family in America. It’s my family’s story. My Grandfather’s story. It was my father’s story. It is my story. Like the Wild Geese we never go back home.

        I listen to this song every St. Patrick’s Day. Brings tears to my eyes.

        Kilkelly, Ireland

        I’ve searched but Robbie O’Connell’s rendition is the best there is.

        Liked by 5 people

        1. OH, MY GOODNESS STORM TRACKER! What an amazing story, and compilation of your life, history and the Irish demise. Truly, after reading the Trinity, by Leon Uris, I actually believed nothing would change in Ireland, no matter what. It just doesn’t take long for people to forget, or keep the resolve they fought to bring about in their country to end tyranny . The song was beautiful. Well, this is how I see it! The Nones are wanderers, with no place to come home to. I know that sounds strange, but look at how this all came to be….Money took over the idea that we could be millionaires, instead of being fine with the gifts our Lord gave to us. Sex took over the place where idea of family, love and children filled our hearts and still should have been deeply imbedded. And the Nones fill THAT nitch…and it gets bigger and bigger because now drugs have slipped in where just a family evening of fun, games, and reminiscing are long gone. We thew out the good, clean, innocent moments and replaced those moments with evil indecent- licentious moments. The Church removed Christ ‘s Tabernacle from the center of the Altar and we now sing protestant songs, allow abortionist to receive Communion. Allow sacrilegious Masses. (It gets worse). We took Christ out of lives, and replaced Him with pure evil. Just trickle, trickle , trickle = a little at a time, until one day we opened our eyes, and now ‘can’t find our way back home!” And what do we deserve? Looks to me, through UN-involvement or involvement, we are all part of this, and I don’t think Christ will be so welcoming as we round the bend…unless, something happens (gotta be big) to shake us up and wake us up. Find your ‘Nitch” and keep your faith. It will help others in trying to find theirs. Again thank you for your piece on Ireland. Very deep and stirring. Keep looking heavenly and onward. Ave Maria!
          ‘

          Liked by 3 people

          1. Well Robill, this comment gave me a certain inspiration. The occasional series I had intended to write under the title, “Uncommon Sense,” will instead be titled “The Way Back Home.” I wrestle with such things and get inspiration from many things, but I though you should know your comment was the catalyst for this one.

            Liked by 4 people

    2. The Lord is moving through various apostolates and individuals, sending graces by the power of the Holy Spirit to capture the hearts of His people who have lost their way. Encounter Ministries (EM) is but one such entity. Here’s but a snippet of the kinds of ministry – lots of street evangelization is happening – being fostered by EM.

      Liked by 6 people

    3. Thank you Ed. Very informative. A sobering reality comes through the statistics.

      “Noneism” is rampant in areas beyond belief in God. I teach college students who are primarily eighteen to twenty-five. Most have no clear knowledge of history, of politics or economics along with no knowledge of religion of any type. The frightening thing is that they have no spiritual, intellectual or political background, or frame of reference. They are emotionally and intellectually (and I would dare say spiritually) open targets for any belief system they encounter on social media.

      This is how, as a society, we reach the point of celebrating infanticide. Millions of people have no foundational belief system by which to judge the good or evil of even killing a baby. The ideals and beliefs that were instilled in older generations, which allowed them to intuitionally recognize such an evil, are not present. Now every thought, every action, is open for consideration and experimentation and can be accepted as equally “good” when compared to any other thought, belief or action.

      On the political level we see college students claiming the right to prevent anyone from saying something that disturbs them or makes them uncomfortable (triggered). They have no concept of the true meaning of the first amendment. They have no knowledge of the generations of struggle and blood spent to ensure freedom of speech and religion. They do not even have the logical basis to realize that if they are to be free, they must allow and support the freedom of others.

      A society which contains millions of such citizens is at grave risk of political hysteria, totalitarianism and of falling prey to any demigod who comes along. I would say the evil one has an open season on souls who have no spiritual, intellectual or emotional defenses against his attacks.

      You are correct in saying the Rescue must include preaching the Gospel to these people. Part of me feels that the main purpose of the Rescue may be God’s plan to save this and the following generations.

      Work. Charlie is right. There will be work. Both Matthew and Luke quote Jesus: “The harvest is great but the laborers are few.” Taking the next right step is a call for us to be the needed laborers.

      On a positive note. My wife and I went to Mass at a different parish last Sunday. There was benediction and adoration after Mass to intercede against the movement for our state to adopt the same infanticide law just passed in New York. There were twenty or so college students in attendance at the Mass. In the coffee hour afterward, they were quite willing to chat with us oldies. They displayed a wonderful and sincere desire to seek Jesus and serve the Church. Even in the darkness there are glimmers of light and hope.

      JT

      Liked by 8 people

      2. Amen, JT. And I think even more than being at risk, we’ve actually been living such as this: “A society which contains millions of such citizens is at grave risk of political hysteria, totalitarianism and of falling prey to any demigod who comes along.” So, I take note of these stats on the Nones – stats which have been quoted for a number of years with numbers growing – and think there really is a GREAT harvest for which the Lord needs us as laborers – wherever in the world we may live. I wonder how God will use you, JT, in the setting in which you live and work. What a rich mission field you have Praying for you and all of us as we tend to what the Lord asks us to do.

        The most heartening reality to me is that we’re now in the wondrous phase of which both Charlie and Farm Girl spoke to in the last few days. Charlie: “Aslan is on the move…and the spirit of many are rising to meet him.” Farm Girl: “Aslan is on the move … stirring up our hearts for action.”

        Liked by 5 people

          1. Oh yes, JT!

            C.S. Lewis reveals this change in a scene with the children and those jolly Narnians, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Father Christmas arrives with sleigh bells jingling. At once the children and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver suspect that the White Witch is losing her powers. He was a huge man in a bright red robe (bright as holly berries) with a hood that had fur inside it and a great white beard that fell like a foamy waterfall over his chest.…

            Now that the children actually stood looking at him… he was so big, so glad, and so real, that they all became quite still. They felt very glad, but also solemn.
            “I’ve come at last,” said he. “She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The witch’s magic is weakening.”

            And Lucy felt that deep shiver of gladness that you only get if you are being solemn and still.

            Enjoy them as briefly or as long as you wish to soak in them, Friends:

            When departing, Father Christmas calls out, “A Merry Christmas! Long live the true King!”

            A sign shall be given
            A virgin will conceive
            A human baby bearing
            Undiminished deity
            The glory of the nations
            A light for all to see
            That hope for all who will embrace
            His warm reality

            Immanuel
            Our God is with us
            And if God is with us
            Who could stand against us
            Our God is with us
            Immanuel

            For all those who live in the shadow of death
            A glorious light has dawned
            For all those who stumble in the darkness
            Behold your light has come

            Immanuel
            Our God is with us
            And if God is with us
            Who could stand against us
            Our God is with us
            Immanuel

            So what will be your answer?
            Will you hear the call?
            Of Him who did not spare His son
            But gave him for us all
            On earth there is no power
            There is no depth or height
            That could ever separate us
            From the love of God in Christ

            Immanuel
            Our God is with us
            And if God is with us
            Who could stand against us
            Our God is with us
            Immanuel

            Immanuel
            Our God is with us
            And if God is with us
            Who could stand against us
            Our God is with us
            Immanuel

            Liked by 5 people

      3. JT are you familiar with the work and thoughts of Antonio Gramsci? If not, I think your would find his thoughts about the role of Intellectuals in society, education, and in particular his eerie appreciation of the history of the Catholic Church — AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS — as a transmitter of culture from generation to generation. He urged communists to EMULATE the techniques of generational transmission of culture and belief systems employed by the Catholic Church.

        The biggest threat to Western Civilization does not come from the mind of Karl Marx or Friedrich Engels or Saul Alinsky. Gramsci is the Godfather of modern American socialism/communism/atheism.

        Gramsci promoted not Revolution by the gun but Cultural Revolution. Generational Revolution. He coined the term The Long March. By that he meant the Long March through the Culture.

        His ideas were penned while he served time in Mussolini’s prison. The judge said that it was imperative to lock up this man’s mind for the rest of his life.

        His ideas on Cultural Revolution particularly through the use of intellectuals and the education system are contained in his Prison Notebooks which were smuggled out of the Prison where he eventually died just before being released.

        Teaser: He said that it was imperative for the communists to separate the child from its mother as early as possible. Children, on their mothers’ knees, “breathed in” religious values and principles transmitted from mother to child and those values were nearly impossible to extirpate later in life. He advocated separating the child before the ager of 3. Put them in colleges. Surround them with ideologically correct communist teachers. Smiling. Tender. Loving. Not a word about God.

        3 volumes. Must read for anybody who wants to understand what is going on in American Education today. All of it — all of it — was conceived by this Italian Communist Party mastermind in the 1920’s and 1930’s in Italy. And imported into the U.S. by way of the communist intellectuals chased out of Europe by Hitler who landed at Columbia University and founded the New School of Social Research.

        America has never been the same since they landed on our shores.

        https://www.amazon.com/Prison-Notebooks-Volumes-Antonio-Gramsci/dp/023115755X

        Liked by 4 people

        1. Ed: I have heard of Gramsci, but I never really have had a clear idea of his importance or of what exact role he played in creating the present reality. I will check out his Prison-Notebooks.

          Thanks.

          JT.

          Liked by 3 people

  42. I wish a year of devotion to the intercession of St. Joseph would be declared. Except for the Blessed Mother, who can plead more effectively to Jesus than St. Joseph?

    Liked by 9 people

    1. And what would please St. Joseph more than a Year dedicated to a Worldwide Rosary Crusade to bring Christ’s Light that He may extinguish the Darkness? Of course, God would use human instruments as we co-create with the Father, through Christ, with Him and in Him by the Power of the Holy Spirit!

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Yes, joyful. We need to press on in our praying, fasting, penance offering and prayers of doing. Then, too, we need Divine Intervention. Some messes are just so big we NEED God’s extra help even as we continue to give all we’ve got. And with the Divine Intervention, we’ll still have lots of work, spiritual and temporal, to do.

        Liked by 9 people

    2. I thought our Bishops in America missed an opportunity when we were busy with the Fortnight for Freedom prayer initiatives. And they’re missing it now with the crises wiwthin their ranks as well as throughout the country (and world). Our country has been consecrated to the Immaculate Conception and She’s got the best track record when it comes to appealing to Her intercession en masse with rosaries in hand.

      Liked by 8 people

    1. Thanks for this reminder, Bob. Truly prophetic in the sense of God calling us back to the Covenant which He made with us. We really are striving for purity, not only of body, but of heart, mind and soul as well. Mary, Mother Most Pure, pray for us your children.

      Liked by 9 people

  45. Could the Church problems be part of a larger problem?

    It’s bad enough that the denial existence of personified evil (the devil & evil spirits), has effectively opened the gates of Hell; people often confuse external temptations as their own thoughts and and wants, and often offer no resistance nor seek moral truth.

    There’s also another factor that many shepherds out have stopped teaching about the dangers of pride (cause of all sin & evil) and the merits of humility (foundation for all graces & virtues). Humility is more than a nice first meditation in the rosary, and Jesus went on to say “take on my yoke for I am meek & humble of heart”; humility is largely ignored in the Church these days, how can the Church be an effective body of Christ when so many even shepherds & the rest of the Church pay little no heed to such things.

    These are strictly observations, I have no solutions. I remember stories of religious who were mean to those in their care, and wonder if those stories were true, then where was the Christian love, charity, & humility…

    Is there a root cause to the world’s problems? Too much pride & not enough authentic humility.

    Liked by 7 people

  46. This is something else! What stats, and depressing future, if not but for Christ and His Body. Thank you for this immense research. Excellent piece! The mustard seed, comes to mind. Thank you Storm Tracker!

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Yes, joyful. Once anyone signs up for Fr. Heliman’s email list, he sends emails about whatever new prayer initiative he’s being inspired to spearhead. God bless Fr. Rick. He’s another priest to whom I write encouraging notes of affirmation.

      Liked by 5 people

  48. Today’s leading article in http://WWW.spiritdaily.com is on Mary’s conversion of a Jewish Harvard professor and the accompanying videos about his conversion and its significance with regard to second coming of Christ following the conversion of the Jews to the Catholic Church is one of the most informative and inspiring other life experiences I have ever read about and watched. The first two video segments and the most important of the four are each about 55 minutes long while the last two are 1 hour and 20 minutes long. The professor is a very good and articulate speaker and his story is most riveting, by far the best ever. In the last video he also gives stories of other Jewish converts including Edith Stein. I most highly recommend it.

    Liked by 6 people

    2. It was an excellent article (SD.com), and this convert Jewish gentleman certainly has a mission ahead of him! Whew! Well, he went head on into this, Ask and you shall receive! Knock and it shall be opened. Also, the article about Padre Pio and the Guardian Angels. Beautiful and so inspiring. That makes it so important to not give up. He is my “Feast Saint” /my birthday /his feast day. And another favorite that I call upon often is Solonus Casey. To have known such a person. However, I know he is doing more in heaven than he ever did on earth. All the help we can get is right before us. Thank you, Blessed Mother and Jesus my brother!

      Liked by 3 people

  49. AL, what do you think about this. In order to have authentic humility we have to admit a minimum of two things: God exists and I’m not Him. With StormTracker Ed’s presentation on Beware the Rise of the Nones, it would seem the going maxim of Nones is IF God exist, I am He.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Yes, certainly, the universe does not revolve around us and we must be considerate of others through the love of God.

      St. Paul probably said it best in The ways of love, as it describes humility as well, because real love & humility go hand in hand. 1Corinthians “4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. ”

      I think the who Church needs a crash course in humility, as it’s one of those things you can never know too much of. That, and more spiritual awareness of the states we go through during the day and how to manage those.

      Liked by 4 people

  50. Seems that Cardinal Gerhard Muller is taking issue with Pope Francis and it is stirring a bit of a rah-rah in some quarters.

    This Manifesto.

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-mueller-issues-manifesto-a-quasi-correction-of-pope-francis-pontif

    The meeting with the Muslims. I saw something on the news about that meeting in the Middle East but very slight coverage and then it dropped. Very interesting commentary:

    “The manifesto was released in the wake of Pope Francis’ highly controversial joint document with an Islamic leader which says that “the pluralism and the diversity of religions” are “willed by God in His wisdom” – a statement many believe contravenes the Catholic Faith.

    Cardinal Müller takes a contrary stand when he says in the Manifesto:

    The distinction of the three persons in the divine unity (CCC 254) marks a fundamental difference in the belief in God and the image of man from that of other religions. Religions disagree precisely over this belief in Jesus the Christ. … Therefore, the first letter of John refers to one who denies His divinity as an antichrist (1 John 2:22), since Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is from eternity one in being with God, His Father (CCC 663).

    The cardinal is releasing his manifesto to a worldwide audience, in seven different languages, thus allowing for a widespread affirmation of the orthodox Catholic faith.”

    Liked by 5 people

    1. There could be a third explanation to Pope Francis’ unusual behaviours of promoting “the left’s propaganda” or being tolerant of beliefs that deny Catholicism other than being good or bad…

      Pope Francis is probably aware of Catholic prophecies including those prophecies not well known or made public knowledge. Could our Pope be trying to navigate stormy waters that would otherwise sink the Church & cause premature persecution of Christians?

      Until God removes Pope Francis from his position, we should try accept the good he does and pray to God for guidance on the other things we don’t understand…

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      1. Absolutely do thank God for the good He accomplishes through Pope Francis, Al. To me, first and foremost are the connections he is making with uniting people of faith. While I also think he can be clumsy in speaking theologically… such as commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation (Why not let the Protestants do the commemorating while we surge ahead with Pope Francis’ beautiful emphasis on the importance of dialoguing to unite and overcome differences?) Or the latest controversy in which the Holy Father said that a “pluralism and diversity” of religions is “willed by God.” Good Grief. That said, I think he had good intent and he is a tool the Lord is using to take us through the process of becoming one flock under one shepherd.

        Still, it is worthy to discuss the very real problems that are evident so we may aim our prayers at the needs and challenges and, perhaps, be inspired about possible ways to being of service as we, as a Church, work through the bumps. Think, too, of how Charlie first wrote about his concerns for this Pope, setting the tone here for engaging in heartfelt prayer for our Pope: I pray an intricate private Rosary. One of the things I do is offer each decade of a mystery for a specific, fixed intention. My literal intention for the third decade of each mystery is, “…to the honor of and seeking the intercession of St. John Paul the Great, whom I claim as patron; for the intentions, person, and immortal soul of our Holy Father, Francis: may he be strengthened to accomplish all God has appointed him and may his papacy bear great fruit; and for the intentions, person, and immortal soul of our Holy Pope Emeritus Benedict: may he be strengthened to accomplish all God has appointed him and may his life bear great fruit.”

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        1. I would hope that Pope Francis is better that “Charlie Chaplin” (for competence) as a pope, but perhaps his blunders are stall tactics to take external heat off the Church. I don’t know, but I suspect there’s more happening behind the scenes beyond media coverage.

          From another point of view, if we have a more effective Pope at this time, the anti-God left would see him as a threat and take measures to eliminate him and/or the Church. Right now, Trump is targeted as a threat, reducing attacks on Christianity. We have to remember, we’re past the point of no-return, it won’t be humanity, not even a Pope or the Church that can stop our downward descent into darkness, it will take God and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart to save us. All we can do in the present is “hold the line” if only to delay & reduce the enemy’s efforts until God’s appointed time of choice.

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          1. Without Pope Francis, it seems the wolves would have remained hidden as they had been for so many years, way too long. Al, I believe we’re called to do more than hold the line. We’re called to co-create with God, right now, already bringing the New Beginning… for the Triumph of our Mother’s Immaculate Heart IS a process which has begun. May we ever stay awake and be ready to do just what the Lord asks each of us to do. God bless you, Al.

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            3. I don’t see how we can do anything else but “hold the line”, truth is becoming transparent in society, but evil & pride is doubling & tripling down, we are not winning nor turning the tide…

              As much as I want things to turn the other way, I have accepted that society’s pride will lead to society’s fall. My heart is sad that there isn’t any other options that for evil to reach it’s fullness… I know not the nature of the fall that awaits us nor when, but the hour is late and that the pride in wickedness is difficult for me to bear…

              I franticly swing truth as a sledge hammer to bring people to their senses, I pray I do more good than harm…

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Published by charliej373

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