Grace Notes

Posted on by charliej373

20190616_104316 (1).jpg

By Charlie Johnston

I figured I would share a few pictures and notes from my travels today. Right now, I am in Manchester, New Hampshire, preparing to head out to the Albany area, where I will speak tomorrow night (Wednesday, June 19) at 6:30 p.m. at the Knight’s Hall in Queensbury. For info contact Sean at asoh.queensbury@gmail.com.

In the picture at the top, from left, are our own Doug, me, Steve BC, and Frank who is visiting Doug and Jacki. In front is Anne, Steve BC’s mother. This photo was taken just before Mass last Sunday and Jacki (who we usually call Lambzie) had left early because she sings with the choir. That is why Doug is holding a little Lambzie – to

IMG_20190616_105753 (1)
Great license plate on Doug’s motorcycle!

represent Jacki. Anne is the four time women’s champion at her local country club down on the Cape. She also taught me how to eat a whole lobster. Steve and Anne provide me with my favorite workspace in the whole country – inside a bay window looking out on Nantucket Sound. It is always beautiful there, even if it is stormy.

I stayed in an RV while at Doug and Jacki’s gorgeous property – and it had the most comfy bed I have ever encountered in an RV.

*********

A video of my presentation in Wadena, Iowa is now up on the site. Videos, as they become available, can be found by clicking on the “Menu” button at the top right of the site. From the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Travels With Charlie,” and it will show you my updated schedule and any videos that are available.

I wore my red, white, and blue tie in Wadena in honor of my hosts, Gary and Pam, two of the most patriotic people I know. They have a beautiful place and the little shrine-like spot you see at the beginning of the video is a Rosary Garden they put up on their property.

IMG_0371 (1)
Friends in Wadena, Iowa. From left are Pam, me, a fellow who flew in from Minnesota (Dino) and Gary. Pam and Gary were my hosts.

*********

Fr. Dwight Longenecker wrote a wonderful article about the situation with David Daleiden. It really delighted me because it got most of the details right – which is rare in either establishment or conservative media in these very complicated legal battles. David has a GoFundMe page up – which is doing well enough to send the signal to Planned Parenthood and their favorite judge, William Orrick, that they aren’t going to be able to bankrupt David to get out of this.

*********

IMG_20190607_100105 (1)
The Annunciation

This is a window from a Chapel in Chicago. I noticed some years back, while I was praying there, that the depiction of Gabriel in this is the closest I have ever seen as to how he appears to me. Not the clothes, or even the way he wears his hair, but the lean, lankiness and the face – though the color of the hair is about the same (a little lighter, perhaps). While I was going through Chicago, I was visiting someone at this site and got the opportunity to snap this picture for your (and my own) edification. It was years ago when I noticed it and, in great enthusiasm, told the Priest I was visiting that, “That’s him! That’s Gabriel the way he appears to me!” And to be clear, this does not look like a good representation of him: this is him as he appears to me, though usually dressed and with his hair done a bit differently.

*********

I have some other photos from Syracuse, Solon (Cedar Rapids), and Jackson. But I am a bit clumsy at getting things uploaded, so I will have to put them up in another post. I will leave you with an old photo of Mick and her family. She had to leave on a family matter a little early so was not in the Jackson team photo, but I know you all want to know what Mick looks like. She is to the far right of the photo, with her husband, Chris, holding the then baby Anne-Marie at the center. It was so cool that, when I first saw them this time, Anne-Marie reached out enthusiastically with a great smile for me to take her.

Mick's family

139 thoughts on “Grace Notes”

  1. So SO great to see the pictures of everybody! Looking GREAT, Everyone!!! Beautiful family photo, Mick!

    Shout out of thanks to you, Gary and Pam, for the video.

    Wondrous presentation material, Charlie. In visits past, I viewed every single video because even though the need for you to reach all via repeating the content of the first hour is essential in each new place, hearing each ensuing Q&A session is always unique in special ways. Love it all.
    Hearty thanks, Charlie, for the sharing about St. Gabriel. How apropos that the image which best captures how you see him is of the Annunciation. From the beginning of discovering what Heaven is doing through, with and in you, I have pondered how Gabriel is one whom God has sent to earth at watershed moments in Salvation History. Among all that St. Gabriel was commissioned to reveal to you as you were being prepared for your mission, one understanding of these times was prophesied by then Cardinal Wojtyla in Philadelphia in 1976, when you were in your early twenties: “We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced.” In the words of Linda, recently: “This is HUGE.”

    I absolutely love SteveBC’s meditation about the Annunciation which he recently shared back at Charlie’s piece, “To Magnify the Lord,” wherein Steve beautifully shares about the wave of quiet spreading out from Mary. In my own meditation concerning that moment of pause which Our Lady took before giving her fiat. I have always thought that her moment of consideration was one that left all the people throughout transtemporal time waiting with expectant, bated breath! Oh will she say, “Yes”? Oh I pray she says, “Yes.” Oh, please God, may she say, “Yes!” Then, one Advent season, I excitedly discovered a musical rendition of the Annunciation which reflected not only the expectant emotion but also the commensurate joy and gratitude because she DID say, “YES!”

    In honor of how you magnify the Lord, Charlie, and in gratitude that you said, “Yes,” *and* in petition that we each continue to listen well and follow Our Mother’s counsel: “Do, whatever He tells you to do.” here is Andrew T. Miller’s “The Annunciation of Christ.”

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Beckita…that was WONDERFUL. ..this thing gets huger all the time🤗😇😘 I remember Charlie saying how we impact others God puts before us will save countless souls…I can’t wait to meet Gabriel some day😇 Go Charlie go….we are praying for you…Passion of Christ. Strengthen Our Charlie…(Beckita taught me that😆)

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Things get huger and we get smaller, Linda. 😉 How magnificent are God’s Ways while we get to follow St. Thérèse on her Little Way. Amen to your prayer for Charlie!

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Yes..it’s so true…things get huger and we get smaller…to me..the flame of love of this movement (plus I and i think many of you all do too)say fol rosary..hehehe) just seems like it’s moving along so ordinarily….ordinary like😄

          Liked by 1 person

  3. hmmm I have never thought of the biblical angels as “lanky”. I think of them more like Marines – buff and ready to OORAH into battle. 🙂 This Gabriel is kind of cute in a metro sort of way… I’ll have to reconfigure my imaginings!

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Madkat… hahahaha! I must say that I’ve never heard “cute” and “metro” used in the same sentence before. 🙂

      Hi, Doug and SteveBC (your mother is as cute as a button, by the way)!

      Liked by 7 people

      2. Yeah, you don’t want to mess with an archangel….look what happened to Elizabeth”s hubby…Joesaphat was it??? Lol

        Like

  4. Mick, what a beautiful family you have! Charlie, so good to have you as our guest and part of the family. Can’t be possessive. Time to share you with others (not that we have much choice anyway), but pray your travels and those you stay with are just as blessed!

    Liked by 7 people

        1. Somehow I missed the puppy thing up untIL now…lol…soooooo cute. ..sort of funny, went to FINALLY go buy some flowers today for my planters (they were flooded yesterday up to cash register ) and as I was walking down muddy isle all of a sudden this little mouse and cat came out of the shadows…I swear they both stopped and looked at me like…hey linda..take the next right step..it was surreal. ..of course I thought of Jesus and the puppy and Charlie..not sure what happened to that adorable little mouse but the cat seemed quite playful. ..isn’t that strange???🐀🐺

          Liked by 2 people

        1. With ease, Patrick: A talented cosmetologist (my sister) gave me a buzz cut with a 4-guard Speaking of which, I am currently in desperate need of a shearing; none of my hats are fitting these days. 🙂

          Hey, is that e-moji a chick with a ‘fro; or is it one of those funny-hat dudes that stands guard outside of Buckingham Palace? 🙂

          Liked by 2 people

          1. Yea, it’s one of those British guards we’re suppose to try make laugh when they’re on duty. I figured it would be the easiest hat for you to put your hair in. It’d be like Marge Simpson hair.

            You have a beautiful family, Mick. You are so blessed!

            Liked by 4 people

            1. Patrick, thank you for your kind words. Yep, God has richly blessed my family; and we are grateful.

              That Simpsons clip made me laugh. My husband is a huge fan of the show. Me, not so much; but certain scenes are beyond hilarious.

              So when are you heading East?

              Liked by 2 people

              1. I’m not sure now. In a new development, my truck’s water pump went out a month ago. I’ve been borrowing Pam’s handicap van to get to clinicals. But I’m losing time and lost many days. I may need to the end of July to finish.

                Got my truck back yesterday. $830 in repairs including new radiator. Uffda.

                Liked by 1 person

                3. Patrick, I am lifting you up in prayer in the final leg of this academic journey of yours. Seems the struggles are amped up for so many of us. Hang in there. ❤

                  Liked by 3 people

  6. I hope Father’s Day was good for everyone.

    I remember Sunday’s sermon at church being a lot less kind to fathers than the sermon was for mother’s on Mother’s Day.

    With socialists & liberals undermining male authority every chance they get, is it any wonder good fathers are hard to find? A father & husband isn’t much more than target to get ridiculed & abused, and when he refuses to submit to socialist policies/ideologies, then the divorce card is played by the wife in order to break him…

    I remember society was more Christian when fathers were respected, and now the liberal/socialist vultures gather to devour holy fatherhood that St. Joseph role once modeled.

    Liked by 7 people

  8. How wonderful it is to see all of you…oh my gosh..Doug who prays for us all so often…Lambs is so beautiful, Stevebc and his beautiful mom and Mick ‘s WHOLE family…no wonder you had to run off Mick…ur a pretty busy momma currently. ..wow. Anyhow, Charlie…have a good talk tonight…get some rest b4 hand and we all say…Passion of Christ…Strengthen Our Charlie🤗😇😘 Will be listening to ur new video cleaning house today…makes for a fun time😄 TNRS ASOH btw Doug…love love love ur motorcycle plate.. as Columbo used to say…”Just one more thing:” Charlie, my son Tommy and his wife Liz are globetrotting (Mick coined this phrase😃) around the world doing er nursing…they are currently in Edmonds Washington state…they talk about their bed most of all and how comfortable it is…hahahaha…I think it’s memory foam!!! Who’d a thunk RV beds are so comfy!!!😀😁😂😃😄😅😆

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Hi Linda, after surviving cancer 3 times, Lambzie said to me out of the blue “I want you to get a motor cycle and start living again” That was music to my ears for both Lambzie’s sake and me getting a motor cycle. Back when we dated (we met at 18), I used to take her many places on the back of my small trail bike. We have many fond memories like riding through the ocean waves at Good Harbor beach in Gloucester. When Lambzie made that statement, I had already been keeping my eye on this 2002 Honda Shadow for weeks that was sitting in a yard with a for sale sign. After Lambzie made that statement, I went and checked it out. It had to have a seat with a bar on the back for Lambzie and it had to be quiet (No loud pipes). It fit the bill on both and the price was right. What better and how fitting a thing but to get a vanity plate with TNRS on it. Lambzie and I have known each other for 39 (wonderful) years now and it keeps getting better. Blessings!

      Liked by 4 people

      2. Dough that is soooooo beautiful. .I pray so hard that you have beat the cancer. .it will be my personal request for Jesus tomorrow at THE GREAT solemnity of Corpus Christi. ..God is sooooo good…Lambzie is right..time to ride…What a wonderful beautiful Holy Family we all are…..TNRS🤗😇😘

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Tjank you Linda!  It has been a grace and much good has come from it.  Also, just to be clear, it was Lambzie who had the cancer.  God bless you!Sent from Doug’s mobile

          Like

  9. Great to hear from you Charlie!

    I live these pertinent short travel takes! I learn from you in the short or meaty pieces! 😀

    Mick your family is beautiful! What a gorgeous smile you have! It draws one to you! I want what she has! An evangelization smile!

    Can’t wait to listen to your talks!! I always learn more!

    Nice to put faces to names!

    Thanks team ASOH!

    Liked by 8 people

  10. Oh my gosh, Chatlie..that video ya’ll took in Wadena, Iowa is the BEST VIDEO EVER!!!

    Im cleaning and only got to listen to half…(at cutely 1:23..thank you Jesus. So I won’t /can’t 4get where to restart as my battery died…)

    But wow..the way you all sang God Bless America really heartened and invigorated my physical efforts of cleaning today…wow wow wow!!!

    Can’t wait to listen to Q n A when my battery catches up to ya 😀😁😂😃😄😅😎

    Very timely video…we all need these reminders of TNRS ASOH especially as some of us may swe our loved ones this summer.

    Xoxoxo

    As crew dog says…God save all here🤗

    Liked by 5 people

    1. “Chatlie” is my new word (adj.) for comments/replies when they are joyful with a playful edge. It appears your chatlieness is creating a whole new vocabulary. Doug is chatlie too.

      Liked by 6 people

    1. To me, the greater question which arises after reading this piece reflects the madness as I wonder: What in the world is the Holy Father, who lacks scientific expertise, doing by wasting his time making proclamations concerning global warning? Jaw-dropping it is that he just declared, 4 days ago: Dear friends, time is running out! …A carbon pricing policy is essential if humanity wants to use the resources of creation wisely… the effects on the climate will be catastrophic if we exceed the 1.5ºC threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement goals. —POPE FRANCIS, June 14th, 2019; Brietbart.com

      Mark Mallett tells his readers to follow the Holy Father’s advisement from Laudato Si: There are certain environmental issues where it is not easy to achieve a broad consensus. Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics. But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good. Laudato si’, n. 188 Really? It seems to me the Holy Father should take his own advice given in this quote. I pray he comes to the realization he has contradicted his own exhortation. Oi. (Not overheated here, just sadly amazed at this total nonsense.)

      Liked by 9 people

  14. Charlie,

    Like these short, uplifting posts.

    Interesting comment about Gabriel. In the Byzantine tradition he, Michael, Raphael and Uriel have sometimes been pictured with a stole.

    For those who read this comment, in the Byzantine tradition, Uriel is the 4th named angel in scripture, from the Book of 4 (2) Esdras, found in the Vulgate and Slavonic bibles. St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic in Olean, New York has a picture of him on the dome next to our lady.

    Mick, lovely picture of your family – handsome husband and beautiful children, just like thier mother! You are all in my prayers!

    Doug and Steve BC blessing on both of you. Prayers for both of you.

    That wraps it up, Beckita! Back to work! I will forward you the a picture of St. Uriel from the greea dome.

    Liked by 9 people

    1. Thank you, James; you and your family are in my prayers, too (and I’m still praying for your sister-in-law’s entrance into the Church). 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Thanks Charlie. Super fun to see my brothers and sisters from TNRS! And love a glimpse of St. Gabriel–this is not how I envision angels at all. How wonderful that you shared this with us.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. My feeling is that angels look just like the rest of us. In order not to scare the living daylights out of us. Normal. Angels look normal. Whatever normal means to you. Like this:

      The children at Fatima were prepared to encounter Our Lady by preliminary appearances by Angels. When Our Lady made here appearance the children were not overwhelmed by her presence.

      Fear not.

      Additionally , I feel angels move and work among us in huge numbers. They pass us right by on the street just like any average person on their missions from and for God.

      I’ll throw this in as well. I feel human beings FUNCTION and DO many angelic jobs for God. Most of the time those appointed for such tasks don’t even know or understand what it is they are doing. You know them. They are part of your community. Minions. Human Minions of God. What is called here at ASOH as SIMs. Saints in the Making. YOU may be such a person. God uses what He needs to use to achieve His will for mankind. Look around. Look in the mirror. When you see it in action you will begin to recognize it in others.

      Finally, I feel that Satan apes God. The demons work among us as well. They too will appear NORMAL in most cases. Like normal beautiful people. Golden people. Like a metro-Clarence Oddbody. And yes, Satan employs human minions to accomplish his evil will for mankind. We see and recognize them all around us as well. And like God’s human minions, unfortunately, those FUNCTIONING and DOING Satan’s evil work on earth seemingly don’t understand what it is they are doing.

      Liked by 6 people

      1. STEd, when I pray the rosary and the Annunciation part of it, it seems very clear to me that Mary must have had many visitations before that day. Otherwise, I think she would not have been so calm when some shiny dude pops into existence in her room and short-circuits her entire life. 😀

        Liked by 4 people

        1. That’s interesting, Steve. I never considered that. Thank you for pointing that out. My favorite image of the Annunciation is Henry Tanner’s painting, in which Mary sees a great light, rather than a clearly defined human-like form. God bless.

          Liked by 2 people

        1. @ASOH: A ‘partly’ card not a ‘whole-ly’ card. (Saint in the Making–not quite done being made holy? Get it? Get it?)

          BOO! Hiss! : )

          Liked by 3 people

  18. Ever since the time of Pope St. Gregory the great Uriel has been relegated to the background in western Christian thought. St. Ambrose of Milan discusses him. I first learned of him when I saw his statue at the Oxford Oratory of St. Aloysius. It is behind the altar and if you go to http://www.oxfordoratory.org.uk you can look it up.

    From the Russian Orthodox book “The Path to Confession:” Uriel means “light from God” and he is the archangel we pray to for unbelieving relatives.

    Here is a prayer to him found in that book.
    Archangel of God Uriel, beseech our Lord Jesus Christ that He may soften the hearts of my relatives who are sick with unbelief, enlightening their souls with the light of saving knowledge through thy all powerful prayers may they come to repentance, to belief in the Son of God who redeemed all humanity by His Blood. Amen

    Liked by 6 people

  19. News today of a very sobering and important development. The good news is that bad actors, hopefully, will be called to account. So necessary and so painful is this revealing and accounting. The toughest part is the airing of some mighty filthy laundry about prelates and priests of the Church, secretly stuffed away for so long, and it’s now being exposed for all the world to see.

    The only way out of this is through it.

    May God’s Justice and Mercy reign and rain as we are called to pray for the salvation of the souls, including the worst of the worst offenders.
    https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/cardinal-cupich-under-investigation

    Liked by 5 people

      1. I understand this feeling, HttP. Yet, please don’t cave to the temptation to whisper. The abuse of sex, finances and power are disorders of h.u.m.a.n. origin. These are sins of a broken humanity. They are NOT the Church. The silence and whisperings of those who believe and have lived Christ’s Teachings have provided open season to the anti-Church, hard-left folks who have run rampant through the culture wildly proclaiming, legislating and shoving their ideology down the throats of believers in the Gospel via activist judicial rulings. Christ’s Church and His Teachings ARE glorious. The bad actors within the Church who have furiously worked from the interior to bring her down do NOT represent Jesus and we who love the Lord and our Church can defend Him and the faithful – who are truly faithful – while agreeing with accusers that it’s ugly and we stand with God and His people as we continue to rout out the rot.

        Too, when you have time during this summer break, you might do some research on the stats concerning sexual abuse of children by educators. Take a look at this piece. Seek out info on the latest discoveries about this problem among the Evangelicals and Southern Baptists and, really, in e.v.e.r.y. sector of life.

        Our Catholic faith remains a pearl of great price, HttP. Blessed are we who are willing to accompany our Church on Her Via Dolorosa, as Simon of Cyrene or Veronica wiping with her veil, as believers who weep for these gross transgressions which were hidden for too long and as the holy ones that never left Jesus’ side from the moment the Cross was placed on His shoulder til His very last breath. We, too, will say one day, finally, when all has been cleansed: It is finished. And Christ’s Church WILL rise, again, in the greatest splendor! And we will know and acknowledge that this rising and every good thing come from the Infinite Goodness of God.

        Liked by 9 people

      2. That is what Charlie is here for HTTP to remind us that the church is Christ’s and that these are mere men. God will send the right saint at the right time. Heck, he may already be here and could be Charlie.

        Liked by 3 people

        1. I have no doubt, Doug and HttP, that God – first, deeming that Charlie be trained for his entire life by Archangel Gabriel – *has already sent* Charlie, a saint (in the making), for particular leadership in shepherding this poor humanity.

          As I’ve continued pondering away, I see that “Abraham’s Journey” is not just a cool sounding title. I wouldn’t be surprised if the very words spoken to our Father Abraham were spoken to Charlie – perhaps in an adapted-for-these-times fashion with the heart of the message enduring: “God brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5)

          In Charlie, I see Moses, as well, guiding the Lord’s flock through this modern day Exodus to the Promised Land of a New Beginning with the full Triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart now on the horizon. Too, I see the mantle of John the Baptist upon CJ: This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
          make his paths straight.’”

          That said, it would c-r-u-s-h Charlie with a sense of failure should we place him on a pedestal and make this about him. He speaks of signposts even as he IS a signpost, ever pointing to God and what God is calling each of us to do. Charlie’s mission and message really IS focused on all ordinary people… igniting hearts to embrace the truth that we’re ALL the right saints (in the making) for these times. In our own sphere of influence each one is a mini Abraham, Moses and John. May these saints, and all the saints, angels and holy souls, intercede for us.

          Liked by 8 people

          1. Thank you, Beckita. I get nervous when people get too enthused over me. I am pretty much a blue collar sort of guy: stay focused on the work and all else will work out. All this stuff is way too big for any of us, but if we stay focused on the work, the God of extravagant abundance will bless our efforts.

            Liked by 8 people

            1. Amen, Charlie. You speak with wisdom. It has always been DISheartening to me when I hear someone say, in a somewhat dejected tone, something akin to, “I’ll never be a Mother Teresa.” It’s like a temptation to give up on the actual work before us, seemingly insignificant as it may be. But our faith teaches us that faithfulness to God and His people in the little things matters very much to Him. No wonder we have a Doctor of the Church who was elevated to that stature by writing on and living “The Little Way” a way accessible to one and all at every moment. May St. Thérèse, patron of this site, remain close to us, ever whispering into our interior: “focus on the work” so that “the God of extravagant abundance will bless our efforts.” The highest glory, gratitude and praise be to Him!

              Liked by 6 people

              2. Beckita, I confess that I only remember saying that about our Blessed Mother when I’ve been trying to figure out how to be like Her. Now I just stay as close to Her as I can, fully consecrated to Her. She’s the Mom, I’m Her daughter.

                Liked by 5 people

            2. But Charlie, I am star struck over you. And star struck over Beckita and Steve BC and Mick and Jlynn and NO and Linda and Crew Dog and DeloraD, and Dianbevs and Sean Sullivan and BD and Storm Tracker Ed and HTTP and Sheralyn and Patrick Daniel, well, you get the picture. All of us here have a soul with incalculable worth. In particular, this was revealed to me about Lambzie and has brought our relationship to a whole new level; even after being a 3 time survivor. I am just recognizing the great gift we have been given in all here and expressing deep gratitude as my soul magnifies the Lord.

              Liked by 5 people

              1. “NO” is fine. It stands for “not outstanding.” If you met me you’d know how truly ordinary I am. I’m truly grateful for all my brethren, and the familial love were working toward perfecting. You’ll forgive me if I never “gush” though. I’m just not wired for it.

                Liked by 4 people

                1. @MP: You don’t have to gush. Your pictures and sharing of astute observations of nature do all the gushing for you. Thank you for sharing your God-given gifts with us–they gush with grace for us.

                  Liked by 1 person

          2. All good stories have characters that are endearing to some degree, and some of my favorite characters, fictional or not, are of the blue collar variety. Interesting choice of words –– “blue collar” –– because it’s related to work. Maybe what I appreciate most about the endearing “Johnny Lunchbuckets” of the world is their lack of pretense. They know they’re flawed, don’t pretend otherwise, but keep working hard with hope.

            Another interesting thing… try googling “blue collar characters” and you get a “List of White Collar characters (Wikipedia)”, “White Collar (TV series)”, etc. OK, try googling “white collar characters” and you get the same results. Just more evidence that our culture is seriously out of balance. I sometimes use the word “starstruck,” an attitude I find that often taints a person’s expressions about such characters as the Pope, the President, the CEO… even the potential saint.

            Some of my fondest and earliest memories were attending ballgames with my Dad, who was a white collar guy with a blue collar heart of gold. That fella could speak to anyone in their ‘native’ tongue’ and make a friend. In those days, the stadiums were rife with Johnny Lunchbuckets. Notre Dame Stadium, Soldier Field, Wrigley, etc.

            Try going to a Notre Dame game on Saturday these days and you’ll experience a little regional airport chock full of private jets flown in from parts unknown, an upgraded stadium that has literally swallowed Knute Rockne’s original stadium, and white collar fans galore. One has to look mighty hard to find the blue collar folks, and even many of them appear to be in disguise.

            Thanks, CJ, for making (yet again) the necessary distinction that this is about work. If we’re working hard, there’s simply no time to focus on anything else. God will let us all know in the end who’s who, and I reckon we won’t be focused on anything but Him at that point.

            Liked by 7 people

        2. Catholic Study Bible

          Jeremiah 1:5-8

          5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

          6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
          7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak.

          8 Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”

          *******
          All of us were chosen by God for this time. Right here and now. We all (hopefully) shall be Saints in Heaven. Some of us may be venerated later here on earth.
          Strive to receive a Plenary Indulgence for yourself and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Abundant treasures stored in Heaven.
          *******

          Catholic Study Bible

          Matthew 6:19-23

          19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal,

          20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

          21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

          22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light;

          23 but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

          Liked by 5 people

      3. Http, We are all struggling… lets ponder Saint Paul and review todays (6/21/19) mass first reading (wow) and contemplate what I can do right now.

        Catholic Study Bible

        2 Corinthians 11:18

        18 since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.)

        2 Corinthians 11:21-30

        21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever any one dares to boast of–I am speaking as a fool–I also dare to boast of that.

        22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

        23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one–I am talking like a madman–with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

        24 Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.

        25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea;

        26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren;

        27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

        28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches.

        29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

        30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

        Liked by 4 people

        1. Amen! And there you are, Sean. Have missed you. I trust your visit with CJ was wonderful. Did anyone, per chance, video the talk?

          Like

          1. Talk? I watched him in person. just kidding… i haven’t viewed the video yet. Last couple weeks or so has been hectic. Though, I must say, I feel a greater sense of peace now. Like ‘something’ has eased off. Dunno.

            Liked by 5 people

            2. Beckita, Sorry. I did not record the event. I was speaking of not personally viewing the Wadena video. Though as Charlie has declared we did set a record, the least number of audience members 🙂 present.

              Liked by 2 people

              2. Sean, It was a wonderful gathering, sort of like ” the chosen twelve” 🙂 or maybe it was thirteen. Regardless, I was so grateful to be there and be part of it. And, thank you, Charlie, for a wonderful evening. This web site and the meetings help keep me grounded in Faith.
                Blessings to you all.

                Beckita, how could a priest contact this site. He read “Ballad of the Ordinary Man, III” and liked it.

                Liked by 4 people

                1. Judith, in the upper right hand corner of this page is a MENU bar. When you click on it, the last option that appears, as you scroll down, is “Contact”. When you click on it, you’ll see the email address for the TNRSAnswers Service. That address is: tnrs.answers@gmail.com The team in the answering service would be happy to help Father with any questions he has and can readily put him in contact with Charlie, if that is Father’s need.

                  How awesome that you were able to gather in such an intimate group for Charlie’s visit!

                  Liked by 2 people

                2. Judith,
                  Thank you. I was meditating on “the chosen twelve” today. Though, our Grand Knight did make an appearance in the second half: so…. a bakers dozen?
                  {He was called to a parish meeting with his Pastor, prolonging his arrival time.}

                  Would you post those Divine mercy prayer cards you spoke about ? I looked for them and couldn’t find on the Shrine website. I would love to order a bunch.

                  Liked by 2 people

                  1. Sean, Thanks for bringing us together with Charlie the other evening.
                    For the prayer card, it is called “Trust Me”. website: shopmercy.org – under header ‘pamphlets & prayer cards’, click on ‘prayer cards’ and you should see it in the 5th row down – 2nd in.

                    Also, came across “Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation”, prayers given to the children of Fatima.
                    tedeumfoundation.org – order can be for one, one bundle of 10, several bundles of 10 , or bundle of 100, etc.
                    Thank you for your faithfulness in serving the Lord, Sean. God Bless you.

                    Liked by 2 people

                    1. Thanks. here is the text.

                      Do you believe that I am the Son of God?

                      And do you believe that I died for all men and women and that I rose from the dead?

                      Then why do you continue to be distracted and anxious about your loved ones?

                      Do they not also belong to me? Would I refuse to work in their lives just as I work in yours?

                      I have not put you in charge of redeeming them. I have already done that.

                      Nor do you have the power to change their hearts; Only my Holy Spirit searches and knows the deepest hearts of men and women, and only He can heal their deepest wounds.

                      Your task is to love, to forgive, to pray for them and to turn them over to Me. Come closer to Me yourself and I will do the rest. TRUST ME! (Author unknown; revised)

                      https://www.shopmercy.org/trust-me.html

                      Liked by 2 people

    2. Beckita,

      I read the article. I first heard this back in the 1980s in the Wanderer. But, for the most part, it was dismissed as coming from the fever swamp. However, I knew too many priests who believed it.

      Bernardin was always pushing progressive liturgical ideas, opposed firmly dealing with abortion, and opposed correcting the translation of the Roman Missal of 1975, as well as the Liturgy of the Hours. Someday, the evil he did will be fully exposed.

      Well, Cardinal George’s prophecy may well come to pass – Cupich will die in prison.

      We must keep praying and fasting.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. A mighty Amen to ongoing praying and fasting, James. From what I’ve read, it is most likely that Cupich will have beau coup cellmates, albeit located in prisons throughout the country. Here one initiative now in progress by Church Militant. And as the piece about this latest discovery concerning Cupich was brought forth by “personnel in the archdiocese of Chicago who are fed up with the lies and cover-ups” I see that no funds are needed for ordinary people, whistle blowers from all over this land who are also fed up, to come forth to do what the Bishops refuse to take up.

        Thank you, Charlie, for exhorting, again, in your talks the importance of holding people to account

        Liked by 7 people

    3. Yes. It has to be exposed. Our leaders need to be held to a higher standard because of their position and influence. Lord have mercy on us all.

      Liked by 2 people

    4. I’ve been following Michael Voris for a long time. As a catechist myself, Michael can walk rings around me. Every time I attend his Retreat at Sea, I learn more and more about my faith. Many are finally realizing that Church Militant TV is about shining a light on those who are trying to harm Holy Mother Church. Now Dr. Taylor Marshall, with his great book “Infiltration” is confirming what many have known since Vatican II. Those in the Church of Nice, don’t like to hear the Truth. But as you said “The only way out of this is through it”. That’s the only way. TNRS has taught us all how to do that. Thank you Charlie. It’s going to continue to get worse, both in the culture and in our Church. Hang on, keep praying, fasting and making reparations whenever and wherever you can.–and Trust in Jesus completely.

      Liked by 4 people

  20. We often get a picture in our minds eye of the various folks encountered in the blogosphere, but apparently my mental imagery of the farm girl, Mick, fell short. I reckon you were just a young Ma, when we first crossed paths, Mick. I’d say your’s is a million dollar grin, but simply can’t put it a price on it. It’s absolutely radiant! Makes me wonder what the Angel of farmers looks like. God bless your family, and the many families here.

    Liked by 8 people

  21. So far at least the Storm has not manifested or played out as I expected it would. So far. War. Chaos. Hunger. Disease. Complete societal breakdown. A hard physical Storm. A hard physical suffering.

    So far, as far as we can see, America’s economy is booming right along. More people working than at any time in our history. We consume stuff like there is no tomorrow. The stock market is setting new highs almost every day. To surface appearances Happy Days are here again!

    The Storm which is engulfing our country is more insidious than physical suffering. It is a spiritual Storm. It is a struggle for souls. It is a struggle between those who wish to displace God from our consciousness and those who yearn to know, love and serve God in this world and to be with Him in the next. It is a struggle between the City of Man and the City of God.

    It is a Storm whose outcome will determine the fate of all of mankind as well as the individual fate of each and every one of us. It is a war being fought out on the battlefield of Free Will. The casualties, the losses of souls for all eternity, are enormous. So many choose to displace God from their lives in search for temporal fleeting meaning in the City of Man. Fools gold.

    I watched Charlie’s talk in Iowa. Lots of issues raised in that talk. How do we alert, alarm, and wake up members of our own family who have taken the bait and are drifting off to the pleasure domes of the City of Man? How do we be a Sign of Hope for our families and those around us?

    If you only have ten minutes to spare to watch Charlie’s Iowa talk make it the 10 minutes between the 44minute and 54 minute mark. Within that clip is the answer to “What is it that we should be doing?”

    “When you abandon God all that’s left is a mad scramble for power.”
    Charlie Johnston
    See the 46 minute mark of the video.

    How do we save our children?

    “Do not let anger take you.”
    Charlie Johnston

    “What we have to do is to show them a better way. Not just by our words but by how we live.”
    Charlie Johnston

    “Do not think that you can save them. The Kool Aide they are drinking is poison.”
    Charlie Johnston

    “What you can do is live what you preach. I will respect your conscience as you respect mine. If you’re gonna browbeat me we cannot be friends.”
    Charlie Johnston

    “I would not become a co-conspirator but I would never give up on them. You want your children’s reclamation. You pray for them. You live your life. You live what you preach and preach what you live.
    Life has a way of slapping people in the face. If you have lived your integrity you will be their rock. When life slaps them in the face they will gravitate back to you. If you have lived your integrity. If you don’t if you say one thing and do another on a regular basis they will think you are just another fraud just like everybody else.”
    Charlie Johnston

    “God will give an extraordinary outpouring of Grace to everyone you love if you live your integrity before Him. But it will be in His time not yours. If you devote yourself to trying to CHANGE THEM instead of living your fidelity to your own integrity and being that Sign of Hope — it is a form of vanity.”
    Charlie Johnston

    “Some of us didn’t live the cleanest of young lives. If your kids are doing similar things you did then do the similar things that drew you back. Live with fidelity. Let people find their way. ”

    “If we live fidelity, God himself will see to the unity after the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. Stella Maris. Star of the Sea. An old navigational term. It’s how the old sea captains guided themselves. Our Lady is the Star of the Sea [The Storm] we are in. That’s how we navigate. We are navigating to her Triumph. It pleases Our Lord to let the triumph– the renewal — come through her.”
    Charlie Johnston

    All of us are participants in this great Spiritual War of the Two Cities. Nobody gets to sit it out.

    Last weekend the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Baltimore hosted the relics of Padre Pio. St Pio of Pietrelcina. We had the opportunity to go to confession in the presence of those relics of the great confessor of San Giovanni Rotondo. We said our penance and prayed for the intentions of the Pope. We did our Work of praying the Rosary. We gained the plenary indulgence and immediately descended to the crypt chapel of the Basilica for Mass and Holy Communion.

    The whole thing was a bit surreal.

    I found myself sitting in the crypt chapel of the BVM in the first row of blue chairs very near the altar. I did not have a good view of the processional into the altar but to my surprise a Cardinal processed in and sat down about a foot away from me. We prayed the Mass together. He was the Cardinal Emeritus of San Francisco William J. Levada. I’m thinking Cardinal Levada was in Baltimore in connection with the Meeting of Bishops taking place there last week to discuss the response to the Crisis in the Church in America.

    There was a community of orthodox Catholic Christians who didn’t know each other assembled there in the small crypt chapel underneath the spot where St Pio’s relics were being venerated just above our heads. I have to say it was a joyful community of believers who had taken time out of the middle of their Friday to be together here in worship. Charlie mentioned DOING the things that drew you back as the way to saving your children and the world. The Prayer of Doing. Well, that community, including Cardinal Levada and me, were DOING in that chapel.

    The first reading to that little Christian Community huddled in the catacombs was this one from Paul to the Corinthians:

    http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061419.cfm

    “Brothers and sisters:
    We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
    that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
    We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
    perplexed, but not driven to despair;
    persecuted, but not abandoned;
    struck down, but not destroyed;
    always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus,
    so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
    For we who live are constantly being given up to death
    for the sake of Jesus,
    so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

    The Storm may well move from the Spiritual Battlefield to the physical hard plane of warfare in our own day and are own country. Charlie was questioned in Iowa about the possibility or even likelihood of violence engulfing us. Charlie sees it coming. Hard days.

    The answer will be the same if we continue in the Kool Aide of Spiritual Poison Battlefield or in the hard physical suffering plane which may be just around the corner. As Charlie says: “Life has a way of slapping you in the face.” Indeed, it does.

    Live a life of integrity. Like St Paul. Our children and the world may need the slap in the face that is coming with this Storm raging about us. Let’s DO so that we all may be the rock that draws them safely home.

    Liked by 11 people

    1. Ed, thanks so much for taking the time to share the transcription of these excerpts from Charlie’s talk in Iowa. Indeed, a talk worth viewing and hearing.

      Liked by 5 people

    2. Ours is the better Story.

      True, there are an awful lot of people telling stories out there. I say “telling,” and many of them horrific. No small wonder the horror movie genre is trending so strongly right now. If it’s horror some want, it’s going to be real horror that they eventually run headlong into. Isn’t it that way with whatever we’re fixated on?

      We don’t even have to be master storytellers. Live it simply, yes, and share it. I like the fact that Charlie “shares” his story, rather than merely “telling” it to folks. Yes, there’s a big difference. Folks don’t want to be told stuff. If it’s worthy, they’re more apt to reach a resolution at some point. Resolve to be a part of it.

      From the Master Storyteller, and beginning with The Word (Chapter 1, Line 3): “Let there be light.” And so there was light.

      Liked by 5 people

  22. S.T. ED;
    I was at the Wadena (IA) presentation. I must say many of the quotes you posted slipped past me in the moment. Watching the video really let it all sink in much deeper. The hosts of that visit, Pam and Gary, are truly remarkable people. In fact, Pam is the one who got me involved with The Ambassadors of Mary nearly 10 years ago. She approached me after a weekly 6:30pm Rosary at one of the churches here not knowing me from Adam and asked if I would be interested in joining the group. It sounded like a noble endeavor so I agreed thinking I would give it a shot. The very next Saturday I showed up and met the group. We went to where the Pilgrim Statue was and prayed the Rosary, Litany of Our Lady, and St. Louis de Monfort’s Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary then packed up the statue and went to the next home. I was hooked and never looked back. It has literally changed my life. I owe Pam a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to repay. She had the courage to approach a perfect stranger on a cold dark December night with an invitation to get involved. I’ll never forget that lesson. It was bitter sweet for me when they moved to Wadena (circa 2012). I was sad that they were moving an hour away from here but happy they were pursuing a new life elsewhere. Absolutely fantastic people! Btw, kudos to the A/V guy in Wadena. Nice video quality and clean clear audio. Great job! Leave it to Gary to find the best in the area. 🙂

    Liked by 9 people

    2. I am convinced that beautiful things like this happen to people all over the world. I am so glad it happened to you, Christopher. In my example, it happened when some people invited me to join them on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in 2001. I got over there and the Blessed Mother changed my life. I will also be so grateful to those who invited me and the Blessed Mother and her Son for loving me so much. Above all the nastiness of the world, there are some truly Blessed things happening. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story.

      Liked by 4 people

    1. Bob, all I can say is Yikes!

      Moribund to say the least. We need some wildcats and what we have is tabby cats looking for the
      kibble.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I had not seen this, Bob, and I am glad you put it up. I am familiar with Bishop Baker and know him to be a very good man. He developed a Cenacalo in Birmingham. I was there at lunch one day when he came to visit the young men in recovery. It was nice that all the men knew him – but what really stood out for me as I watched him make the rounds was that he knew each man by name. He truly has the heart of a pastor…and that only comes from Christ. I am so sick of Bishops playing at being the Board of Directors for Catholicism, Inc.

      Liked by 8 people

        1. Doug, my Pastor comes to visit and answer questions in my Religion classes a few times a year. He’ll ask me what we’re working on. He’ll also ask me if there’s anything I want him to tell the students. Some days I ask him to just say one word. “Repent.” 😎

          Liked by 4 people

          1. Ha! That is good. I have been reading the Acts of the Apostles during this pentecost season and repent is a common theme. How it is just as fresh now as it was then!

            Liked by 1 person

  24. Charlie…hope ur ok out there horrible rains today…I’ve already listened to ur first half of awesome video but thought ud like to know mike & I together are watching it on tv vimeo…he is enjoying you very much…me too🤗😇😘🤗😇😘

    Liked by 3 people

Comments are closed.

Published by charliej373

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