Running With the Wind

Posted on by charliej373

By Charlie Johnston

I have been going full speed ahead. Makes it a little tricky to get time to do full posts. The good news is that I have a full day free both Sunday and Monday, so I will look to get something serious up after Mass on Sunday.

I thought you might enjoy this picture of Linda who comments here. She and her husband, Michael, drove all the way out to Jackson, Michigan from Ohio to visit with me. She is just as bubbly and bright in person as she is in the comments section. Michael told me early on that he rarely reads me. I chuckled as we reached the end of the night, because he had been enthusiastic during the talk and conversation. I told him, “Level with me. You originally drove all this way to indulge your wife’s enthusiasm for a religious nut – but you enjoyed yourself.” He chuckled and said he had very much enjoyed it – and would gladly come out again…but that yes, originally, he did it to indulge his wife.

I have talked to CrewDog, for all of those who are worried. He is hale and hearty. He just

Linda at Jackson
From left, Linda, me and Marguerite in Jackson

decided on Memorial Day to take a bit of a summer break from the internet and catch up with things on the home front. His email to me began with the inimitable phrase, “Old age sucks.” Not to worry…to paraphrase Arnold Schwarzenegger, “He’ll be back.” So pray for CrewDog during his sabbatical to recharge and we will hear from him again in God’s own time.

Once again, I will be speaking in Manchester, New Hampshire, tomorrow (Saturday, June 15) at 6 p.m. at Templeton Farm in Goffstown. For info, contact Doug at asoh.Manchester@gmail.com. Then on Wednesday I will speak in the Albany area of New York at the Queensbury Knights Hall at 6:30. (I like that name – Queensbury…Stella Maris!) Thus far, attendance there looks to be light. That’s okay by me…a small gathering allows for more intimacy and candid discussion. I still give folks all the time we need. Last night I had a private dinner with about 20 people in Syracuse, set up by the wonderful woman who writes the Godversations Blog. Karen and her husband, Bill, have lived real sorrow…losing one young child to brain cancer and then losing an 18-year-old daughter in a car accident a few years later. Yet they live their faith with profound joy and hope. We started dinner at six and I stayed until midnight. What a wonderful group of committed pro-life and pro-God people. I tell you, Aslan is on the move in this great land. He is not the loudest in the land, but His power is rising with joyful resolve. Hosts worry about crowd size…so if you are in the Albany area and are free Wednesday, contact Sean at asoh.queensbury@gmail.com. It will reassure him. But we will have a grand, old time regardless – and I’ll hang with you as long as you can stand it.

I’m actually having more fun this time around than I ever have. A great change has come across a lot of the faithful in the last few years. Most I have spoken to are no longer restlessly trying to focus on preparation. Instead, they are resigned that hard times are here and will get worse – but they are resolved to stand and be true…and in the process, have rediscovered joy. I love it.

119 thoughts on “Running With the Wind”

  2. “A great change has come across a lot of the faithful in the last few years. Most I have spoken to are no longer restlessly trying to focus on preparation. Instead, they are resigned that hard times are here and will get worse – but they are resolved to stand and be true…and in the process, have rediscovered joy.”

    Same is true here. As evil rises, Grace rises even faster 🙂

    Liked by 13 people

    1. God is true to His Word: “But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…” (Romans 5:20)

      Liked by 6 people

    2. Tom, that is exactly what I was going to comment on. A peace and acceptance has come over me and “grace” is a great way to describe the genesis of those feelings. Worry about “what will happen” is no longer top of mind. The suffocating evil is still obvious, but it causes us to seek refuge in God’s safe and comforting arms.

      As long as we love God and know we will be with him for all of eternity, the rest, in comparison, seems “meh.”

      Liked by 7 people

    3. That’s what I Highlighted Tom Kuipers, b4 putting on my fb page…it’s soooooo true…all my stuff I bought years ago in basement probably all has greatly expired, and I don’t care…lol…

      Charlie has taught and prepared us all so well…

      most people think I’m nutz cause I go around smiling and hugging and joyful all the while they are so so so sad…I used to be too.

      Oh the joy of living with hope in a future where the people of heaven and the people of the Kingdom shall rise together shall rise forever and God shall rule 🤗😄

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      2. That is so funny. I did prepare some things and during a heartbreaking family rift, I lost it all. And so I go forward without my “stuff” but not my substance. Oh that God. He’s a real knee slapper!!!! ! LOL !(Remember George Carlin’s routine on stuff? Spot on.) Keep on keeping on. God’s got this…

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  3. This morning as I was getting ready for work I had a thought that came and went in an instant as God is sometimes quick to do. But it was as I was listening to the morning news and all the frightening stories and I thought – This government of ours wants us to be afraid, very afraid and to keep us living like anxious little bugs. – And I know that our Great and Wonderful God wants us Joyful and at Peace, He wants us to Trust in Him and Let Him take care of all the chaos in this little snippet of time that we are in.
    I love reading the comments of all you wonderful saints and we will keep our armor on that waltz to the Kingdom of God – knowing that He’s got this.
    Love, I do. Diane

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    2. Yup. Dem dems thrive on us being afraid. Nope. They don’t believe in God or, at best, have false conceptions of God. Thus, the end game is this world versus true believers end game is eternal life and getting as much others on the red wagon as possible. Blessings!

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    3. I was just thinking how much I’ve loved your comments over the years, and then you said it about others’ comments. Sweet timing. God bless.

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      1. Missy Filliion Hope the storms are better in your neck of Ireland today…we are under threat of flooding again in Ohio for next 3 days…the Saddler Sailing club docks are all under water across from Cedar Point. My sister Cindy said she never seen it like this.
        It’s surreal.

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    4. I feel the joy and hope bubbling us through God’s people here. I feel blessed to be part of this community. This week I was also blessed to be part of a Catholic Vacation Bible School. 120 “campers” 1-5 grades, 85 Junior High, High School, and adult volunteers. It was good. It wasn’t perfect, but it was fun, loving, edifying, and sometimes a little wild. “The theme was ROAR!” Like animals in the jungle. The lion made me think of Aslan. He is seeking out His own and calling them to Him. And if we can keep our hope and joy going, we are then a witness to others who don’t feel the peace.

      God’s blessings to all my sisters and brothers in Christ here!

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    5. Charlie, what an honor to be in your company last night. You are a spiritual “shot in the arm!” We thank you for taking the time to join us … and for sharing your knowledge, wisdom, stories and humor:) Until we meet again, may Jesus and Mary watch over you throughout your travels-
      Rita

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            1. Whoops! It is supposed to be spelled Lambzie. She was adopted. She met her biological mother and learned she was named after Jacqueline Kennedy. Jacki was born in 1961 in the middle of Camelot.

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  4. Run Charlie Run … you must have gone right through Massachusetts … well, maybe next time around. Good job encouraging everybody. Thanks!!

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        1. Me too…Mary Kelly sent me the group pic of Charlie and us all… my childhood best friends name was Mary Kelly. It brought back fond simpler times memories🤗 By the way, your profile pic exudes great joy and beauty in Our Lord🤗

          Liked by 3 people

          1. Hi Linda, thanks. Hope you find your friend. It would mean a lot to find such a friend during this stage of the situation with everything in the world out of control. So here’s hoping that bit of happiness comes your way !! God Bless You!!

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  7. “A great change has come across a lot of the faithful in the last few years. Most I have spoken to are no longer restlessly trying to focus on preparation. Instead, they are resigned that hard times are here and will get worse – but they are resolved to stand and be true…and in the process, have rediscovered joy.”

    This is so true and sums up how I have felt these last few years. Great post.

    Liked by 8 people

  9. Oh my goodness. .what a great great joy and honor to open up your next piece, Charlie and low and behold see you. Charlie, Margaruite (we are becoming fast friends ) & myself!!!

    I cannot take the smile off my face for you made me & Margaruitte’s day!!!

    Ha! Wait until I show Michael…he’ll get such joy tonight too… This post I will put in front of his face to read himself….lol….

    Last Night, Michael asked me…Ok, Linda…what’s the bottom line…what’s going to happen in the world?”
    You definitely had an impact on him, Charlie😄

    I told him what you and many others are saying, Charlie…which is The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I told him I felt it was going to be quite ordinary for I truly feel Charlie…you are teaching us how to live in the Holy Spirit…to trust in God…to accept that He has a divine plan and that He can use our past evils and brokenness to fix a hurting world.

    It was all too much for him, as he’s a simple man, and ended up eating another big scoop of ice cream! Ha. Ya really got him going on Haggen Daz ice cream!🤑

    Anyhow…Charlie. thank you again for coming to see us and spend time with us! You were a GREAT SIGN OF HOPE to me personally and I will forever into eternity have your back for what you’ve done and do and will do for us all. I personally think this is bigger than anyone of us know.

    You’re always welcome here Charlie and Michael most surely will visit you again…

    So glad Crew Dog is ok…praying for you, Crew Dog🤗😇😘

    And Charlie…as Beckita taught me, while you travel, I put my hand to my heart, and ask Our Lord…Passion of Jesus…strengthen Our Charlie😇

    TNRS ASOH xoxoxoxo (I’m sooooo french..ha)

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  10. Godversationsblog Karen and husband. .I’m so sorry to hear of your losses of your children…I’m glad you got to be with CHarlin for a time…God bless you both😇😇

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  12. “Saint Athanasius relates that the devils on being asked what verse in the Scriptures they feared the most, replied: “That with which the 67th Psalm commences: Let God arise, and let His Enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face!” They added that this verse always compelled them to take flight.” (from pamphlet for chaplet of the Holy Face)
    It has not been easy to get past the fear that had been experienced in the past. However, pleading and praying for souls has, in the fullness of this time, brought the determination not to give up, not to give in and to give all in the spiritual battle for souls and Glory.
    That’s why I changed my name here. If I act with joy, I will have joy. 🙂

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    2. Joyful, what was your old name here? (Just so I can keep track of who is/was who in my head)?

      The Chaplet of the Holy Face is one of my favorite prayers. 🙂

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      1. Mick, it used to be Nancy. (funny I never really liked it because the people who were close to me called me Nan) I like the new name because that is how I feel now. And the Chaplet of the Holy Face is my spiritual warfare prayer when things get rough 🙂
        ( WordPress wouldn’t take Nancy for a while so I was glad to have to come up with a new one… I’m happy.)
        Thank you for asking.

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        2. Indeed..I’m glad the storm is here…high waters over here on Lake Erie…I think it has folksies thinking about things of a higher goal…Praying for you, Charlie…🤗 TNRS ASOH

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    3. I read that story years ago and have loved saying that verse from the Psalm. What the Saints have given us is such a precious gifts; too many gifts to count! This was a good time to read your reminder with all I’m going through!

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          2. Ha! Maybe true, but the passion comes out with the right subject and with the right company. I certainly felt being in the presence of good company with your visit. Only problem was it was too short.

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  16. Charlie Thank you for your gracious visit to our little farm. It meant a great deal to me and Ron. I really appreciate your prayers to sell our home and for your continued prayers for Ron. He actually was a little more animated than usual. It sounds like you had a good visit with Mick as well. Remember we spoke about our Bishop? It looks like he is going to do something really not good for our diocese. I will know more after the 25th. Will stay in touch. We are currently in Seattle for our grandsons’ graduation and will be returning on Wednesday. The homeless are everywhere. 😔 God Bless you and thank you again for your visit. Sincerely, Jacquie

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    1. Hi, Jacquie! Thank you so much for the honey that you sent my via Charlie. I love honey! Is it from your own bees? And is it raw? (If it is, then I’ll save it for medicinal use; if it’s not, then I’ll cook with it.) 🙂

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      1. Hey Mick…I’ve been meaning to ask you about your special recipe for something made out of vodka??? Very interested

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        1. Ha, Linda! You make me sound like such a lush! 🙂

          Seriously, though, it was some sort of herbal tincture. Do you remember which one? Anyhow, drop me a note at TNRS Answers and I’ll send you my e-mail address so that we can talk turkey (I mean, tinctures).

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          2. Yes..tincture. .sorry…I know u said it was a healthy healing thing…very interesting and interested..she’s no lush. Folksies…just pure 🤗

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  17. “Level with me. You originally drove all this way to indulge your wife’s enthusiasm for a religious nut – but you enjoyed yourself.” He chuckled and said he had very much enjoyed it – and would gladly come out again…but that yes, originally, he did it to indulge his wife.”

    Michael just read his first Charlie blog and roared with laughter at above quote…then he said…”I think Jesus told him!”😆

    Liked by 4 people

      1. Michael said Jesus must’ve told him all that..for how could Charlie have known??? Oh the mysteries of the messengers of God… Mike has a flip phone…no technology sense at all and doesn’t want it…so I loaned him mine so he could read his first Charlie blog😆

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  18. Because I have now acclimated to the fact that my daughter and son in law and their 8 month old have been living with us for 7 weeks now, I have a bit of time to add to the comments here. However, my mind is still in scramble mode and I jump from one thing to another. There have been wonderful comments to Charlie and I too love Charlie’s posts all of the time! Anyway, I am just wondering, what does everyone have to say about Pope Francis changing the Our Father??

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  20. After a short period of struggle some years ago I was blessed with the insight, “Happiness is not always a choice but contentment always is.” Along came a prayer after a struggle to finish a job alone with increasing difficulty after promised help failed to show up, “Lord, I don’t ask that life be easy, only that it be possible.” and a constant prayer for peace of mind and joy of spirit for me and mine and living in the presence of God, a constant awareness of His presence and love. I was reminded that those who survive military basic training will always be proud of the fact that despite the struggles they endured, they made it through. We will endure and will rejoice in the Triumph of The Immaculate Heart as our reward.
    May God bless all here in the love of Christ. JAS

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  21. Thank you to all who commented on Anne the lay apostle. Only hours before reading your comments I came actors some newer messages of hers and they seemed spot on to me. However I know little about her…. Then read comments on last post here. I read her messages on…. After the warningread what is said about graces unique to each person! Wow!!!!’a

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    1. Just so so sick. I can only imagine the deep down angst and pain in those individuals who have bought the lies and are mentally playing with such identity confusion. Gosh. I had to read up on “cisgender.” The very definition makes your head spin: “Cisgender relates specifically to gender rather than sexuality. A person can be cisgender (often abbreviated to just cis) and have any sort of sexuality. For example, two men may both be cisgender but one straight and one gay.”

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    2. So, my oldest response to all of this craziness of identifying as something else.
      25 year old playing on a team for 9 year olds and beating them.”Well, he was identifying as a 9 year old that day.”
      Here is another one- Upon seeing the mile long line waiting to use the bathroom, mob of women identify as men so they can hurry and use the toliet. I don’t know-is it possible to identify as a man for 10 minutes? I don’t know, where does the madness end?
      Oh Lord, help us. The satan sows chaos and confusion. I believe that describes the times very well.
      Oh Lord, illuminate the path before as and only as much as we need for each step lest we die of fright.

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    1. Judith, in the MENU bar there is a listing entitled: Travels with Charlie. When you click on it you can view his schedule. After the visit in Manchester, NH today, Charlie will be headed to the visit in Albany, NY. Then, he’ll swing back down to NH in Keene. Then he’ll be movin on to Virginia, Florida and Tennessee before he heads back to the Midwest for the visit in Minnesota.

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  25. In looking at the cycles of human history from the beginning of creation through the progress of God’s people throughout the Old Testament it is a story of man uniting with God and His leadership and compliance with His will to falling away toward his own willfulness resulting in retribution and tribulation leading to repentance and return for a time until self will takes over once again and the cycle repeats itself once more. This carries over into the New Testament in basically the same way but in somewhat altered variations. Just as in the Old Testament “Men did what seemed best to hem in their own hearts” and not what God had called them to in His Law, from the beginning of the Christian era there were always those who wanted to put their own interpretation into the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Arian heresy was the largest until it was finally overcome. The great Schism of 1055 resulted in the breaking off of the Eastern Orthodox which persists to this day. The next and of most enduring effect was the Protestant so called Reformation led mainly by Martin Luther. Persistence finally paid off for the satan and he never gives up. The invention of the printing press resulted in the timely easily available bibles of many sorts which aided and abetted the growth of the rebellion against Christ’s Church. Although they had no teaching authority of their own, they appealed to the scripture as authority but they have never been able to agree on what it says and what it means. Instead of acknowledging the truth in Martin Luther’s concerns posted on the cathedral door, the Church in its normal human reaction tended to the other extreme resulting in Luther’s reaction leading him to the other extreme thus widening the gap and further aggravating the split. This splitting continues even to this day even among their own ranks resulting in over 40,000 Protestant denominations today and continuing to grow. The Council of Trent came too little too late and took a long time to take effect The internet today not only adds to this continuing dividing but contributes heavily to the dividing going on within the Catholic Church as well. But the satan doesn’t get everything his way. The internet is also being used with growing effectivity by the Catholic faithful to evangelize and spread the Truth. TRNS and ASOH are part of the unfolding of the Rescue and we must intensify our efforts in doing the part we are being called to. May God bless and guide us all.

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    1. Thank you for your reflection, JAS.

      We surely have and continue to cycle through keeping and breaking the Covenant God has made with us, His people. Given that we’re living through the *minor* apostasy in this time, I’m so glad I won’t be around when we go through the *major* apostasy. (As I’m trusting in God to make it to my heavenly Home, I’ll always be happy to intercede for the people of the Kingdom from our heavenly abode.) And while we are in this phase of the current cycle, there are unique realities about this time round. Both Charlie and Pope St. John Paul II have named this current struggle as “the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced”. Wow. And, this time, we await something unique in salvation history: the full Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

      The internet is a powerful tool in the hands of whoever uses it and whether it brings a blessing or a curse is rooted in the hearts and choices of how people use it. St. Maximilian Kolbe urged the use of the modern means of communication to evangelize and, in 2005, Pope St. John Paul II penned an Apostolic Letter addressed to those responsible for communications: THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT. He said: “Do not be afraid of new technologies! These rank “among the marvelous things” – inter mirifica – which God has placed at our disposal to discover, to use and to make known the truth, also the truth about our dignity and about our destiny as his children, heirs of his eternal Kingdom.” That noted, I see what you mean, JAS, about how the prolific abuses and downright sinfulness abound via some who use the internet. I can only imagine what glories will pour forth from technology after we have been purified and a great harvest has made a return to the Lord.

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      1. Beckita that was AMAZING insght..I can see why Charlie made you his go to gal…wow!!! I’ve always had (or at least since my last conversion) the feeling that the world wide web would have a great part to do with the very end times and the teaching that the gospel would be preached unto all the world before the end..it just makes sense to me.

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        1. So grateful for the goodness that this form of communication gives, Linda. We wouldn’t be here together without it. 🙂 PS Charlie has many good people, men and women, who have gathered round him, supporting him, his mission and message and this community. I am just so very thankful to be part of it and also very grateful for everyone here.

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  26. As usual, my comments are never aimed at telling it all but more so to stimulate further reflection and insights. I am pleased with the responses so far. It is true that the satan has used human technological developments against us but as Beckita said, it is up to us to use these same things to defeat him by being God’s instruments for good. The Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph through the instrumentality of her children. God most often works miracles through His children and less often through direct divine intervention. The patterns repeat themselves according to God’s plan. So, continue to do your part. Mine is but a small part.
    May God bless and keep us all in Christ’s love. JAS

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    1. JAS, your comments are filled with insight, wisdom, encouragement and love. They certainly do evoke further reflection and insights. And I am SO grateful you are part of this community!

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  27. Charlie, you did for our small group here in syracuse the same thing you have managed to cultivate here online. We are inspired and refreshed. Thank you for saying yes so faithfully and continuously living your call with fidelity and love! You are a gift. Godspeed on the rest of your travels this year.

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  28. I think I also added this comment but it seems to have been lost somehow…
    On my way to bed (June 16, 2019 at 12:54 am) far beyond my usual bedtime, it occurred to me that the satan imitates the same basic plan. Not only are we individually directly tempted by the satan and his demons, by obsessions, possession and other torments whose names escape me at the moment but the satan uses those willing to do his will in tormenting mankind such as Hitler, Stalin and Mao (not to mention Soros.) We know he will not prevail, “Her offspring will crush his head.”
    May God bless and keep us all in the love of Christ. JAS

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love your comments which invite us to plumb the depths of further meaning, JAS. Because of your shared gem, I found this wonderful piece discussing the closing quote you have used. From this article based on Genesis 3:15, comes this excerpt:

      In Genesis 3:15 it seems that there are several non-exclusive interpretations, at least three of which may be intended by the text itself: (a) a natural conflict between snakes and the human race, (b) a spiritual conflict between (righteous) humans and the devil, (c) the conflict between Messiah and the devil, and (d) the conflict between Mary and the devil. This is an example of a prophecy that has multiple fulfillments based on the different levels on which the text may be read—literal, moral, Christological, and Mariological.

      Prophecies with multiple fulfillments are common in Scripture. Another such prophecy is a direct echo of Genesis 3:15 which appears in Revelation 12:

      “And a great portent appeared in heaven, a Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. . . . . [S]he brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne… Then the dragon was angry with the Woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus” (Rev. 12:1–2, 5, 17).

      I not only enjoy considering these mysteries, I absolutely LOVE this brief commentary on interpreting prophecy: This is an example of a prophecy that has multiple fulfillments based on the different levels on which the text may be read—literal, moral, Christological, and Mariological. Prophecies with multiple fulfillments are common in Scripture. WOW! Applying this principle of interpreting prophecy is a hearty affirmation for the wisdom of holding the accompanying messages of our favorite apparitions ever so loosely in our hands… ready to release anything and everything – that doesn’t turn out as we had been thinking for so long – into God’s Perfect Providence… the better to focus on what God IS allowing and giving. With this kind of freedom, we remain completely open to Holy Spirit’s nudgings as we acknowledge God always… the better to take any next right step to which we are called while God beams HIs Light through, with and in us to all those who are around us.

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  29. Beckita You broaden the understanding beautifully and meaningfully. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and protect us, lead us to all holiness and truth. All praise and honor be to God who gifts us all.

    Liked by 1 person

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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.