Signs of Contradiction

Posted on by charliej373

presentationofbabyjesusatthetemple

By Charlie Johnston

At a recent Mass, the Priest (a man in minor authority, no less) gave a very thinly veiled endorsement for open borders, while informing all of us it was our duty to protest for the same. He started by explaining that in heaven we will all be the same, no difference in any of us. Then he explained our duty to protest for immigration policies that match our Christian conscience. He noted near the end that the only reason he would not say overtly the words was because he didn’t want to get besieged by angry letters.

It made me wonder what in heavens name they are teaching these guys in seminary these days.

First, as to the business that we are all exactly equal and the same in heaven…St. Paul speaks of various levels of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). Catholic teaching speaks of nine choirs (or hierarchies) of angels. In Matthew 11:11, Jesus speaks of the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Later, in 18:1 of the same book, He enters into a discussion about the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Responding to such banal nonsense, St. Thomas Aquinas once wrote tartly that “not all stars in the heavens shine with the same brightness.”

This does not mean that anything will be lacking from anyone in heaven. Our full capacity for joy will be filled. But we largely determine what our capacity in heaven will be by how well we live fidelity to the Lord here. Thus, some will be four-ounce tumblers, others 10-ounce tumblers, and some veritable pitchers. But each will be filled to their full capacity.

Now perhaps this Priest had some startlingly new insight, but if that is the case, he is obliged to explain why Scripture, Saints, Doctors of the Church, and Jesus Christ, Himself did not actually mean what they said. More likely, he was just offering up some feel-good, errant, theological cotton candy to go along with his advocacy of political activism.

Do you know where the most rigorous immigration standards are to be found?

Heaven.

Oh yes, all who embrace the virtues and principles Our Founder taught will be given entry, regardless of race, sex, or even creed. (The good is implanted by Our Father within us. Even one who does not know the way, but persists in seeking the good, will be brought into communion with the Trinity. Never underestimate God’s mercy to those who seek the good.) But those who reject those principles will be cast into outer darkness. Frankly, I would be very happy if we adopted similar standards in our own immigration policies – those who embrace American principles are welcomed while those who reject them are not allowed entry. So, in a sense, if you subtract the inanities and errors from the Priest’s homily, I agree with him on the central point. We ought to model our immigration policies more along the lines of heavenly policies.

*********

The Congressional Mueller hearings last Wednesday were, indeed, a revelation. Trey Gowdy had the best take on the day. “The person who learned the most about the Mueller report today,” he said, “was Robert Mueller.”

I have thought all along that Mueller was a dirty cop. His mishandling of the anthrax attacks, even after the true culprit was finally found and his choice to keep four men he knew to be innocent imprisoned in the Whitey Bulger case disgusted me. Nothing so angers me as a prosecutor who knowingly railroads the innocent. If I had my way, every one of them would be sentenced to the prison they knowingly sentence innocents to.

Now, I no longer think that was the primary reason Mueller was chosen. Rather, I suspect it was because (as some politely say) he has lost a few steps – a euphemism for senility. Mueller was a convenient figurehead to lend gravitas to this partisan witch hunt while not imposing any restraints on the witches who were actually running the show.

I cannot prove that Mueller intentionally presided over a witch hunt, but I can’t exonerate him, either.

*********

Over the last three months I have traveled to 26 states. Everywhere I encountered a Knight of Columbus, I asked if he liked the new regalia imposed from the top down. The Eastern survey is complete. I found ZERO Knights in the rank and file who actually like it. Some said they would go along, most said they will no longer formally participate in any event that requires regalia, some said they would secretly wear the old at funerals for comrades, and many launched into profane tirades against their top leadership over it.

The regalia (which looks like a globalist U.N. uniform) is a hot topic of conversation because the Knights in the field were never asked their opinion of it. It was simply imposed from the top. Knights in the field tell me the rules say any Knight who now wears the beautiful, old, traditional regalia in public will be given a warning on the first offense, a suspension on the second, and a permanent ban on the third offense.

I deeply admire the Knights in the rank and file chapters across the country. They do great work. It is the Knights who have provided ultrasound machines to cash-strapped crisis pregnancy centers across the country (a subject near and dear to my heart). When intense persecution of Christians broke out in the Middle East a few years ago, it was the Knights who, more than any other private organization, got to work defending and providing relief to the victims. In localities across the country, when a crying need is identified, it is usually the Knights who play a big role in meeting that need. It is one of the greatest, most effective, volunteer organizations in American society today.

Alas, at the top, it is a hidebound bureaucracy that enriches a few while ignoring and bullying the good men who are actual volunteers out in the field. Grand Knight Carl Anderson receives annual compensation in excess of a million dollars (and on several occasions his annual compensation exceeded two million dollars).

I expected that there would be few enthusiasts for the new regalia that Anderson and Co. imposed on the Knights in the field. I did not expect to find ZERO across 26 states who supported it. Anderson is scheduled to resign soon. His successor would be well-advised to can the bureaucratic arrogance, treat the men in the field as the heart of the organization (as they are), and develop policy from the ground up rather than imposing it from the top down.

*********

Beckita wrote briefly of a nasty bug I had while on the road. What I call my neurological episodes mimic some of the symptoms of a stroke. My forehead and scalp – and sometimes my torso – are suddenly suffused with sweat, my pain spikes dramatically, I get mildly disoriented, and I am rather wobbly when I try to walk. I get one every few months ever since my spinal surgery in 2003. I don’t think I have ever gone as much as six months without one. If I have a cold during the onset of such an episode, it complicates and intensifies it, sometimes dramatically. But the cure is simple: I just go lay down for a while and stay relatively quiet for a few days – and usually come out re-invigorated. It looks bad, but is not near as bad as it looks, so I usually just lay low until it passes.

On the road, I sometimes do not recognize the initial onset of a cold and push forward. While I was visiting Keene, New Hampshire, I got a bit of a cold. The Healy’s, a wonderful family up there, had me speak at an informal gathering at their place. I loved it…grandma and grandpa, then a family with seven lively and delightful kids. I spent four

20190623_131209 (1)
Corpus Christi procession in the New Hampshire woods

days there. On Corpus Christi Sunday, they had a pizza party for me with a lot of neighbors and friends. They made each of the pizzas themselves in an honest-to-goodness outdoor wood-fired pizza oven. Alas, I had an episode just before I was to speak. I went inside to my room to recover a bit without letting anyone know. I got through the presentation, but I was not particularly sharp and was more than a little woozy. No problem. I slept late the next day before getting on the road to Cape Cod.

I noticed during the following week that my voice was kind of scratchy and rough, but didn’t think much about it. I had places to go and people to see. The day I left Charlottesville a week and a half later, while driving, I had three very intense episodes. I figured I better pull over and get a cheap hotel, for fear that maybe this was not an episode, but the onset of a stroke. I didn’t want to hurt anyone on the road if that was the case – and like I said, the most reliable palliative for this is sleep. I went to bed at two p.m. that afternoon. I got up around five and putzed a bit on the computer, during which I had two more intense attacks. I was shaken. I called a brother of mine and let him know that I had pulled off the road because I was feeling lousy and told him where I was. Though I didn’t tell him, I was mainly calling so if I did not wake up, someone would know where I was. The next morning, around five a.m., I woke up with a sore throat and a characteristic pain in my left side I usually get with a certain virus. I was never so happy to have a sore throat in my life.

I intended to post something Friday after getting back home late last week, but I had not completely shaken the virus, which was flaring anew. So instead, I just took the first few days to do what works best; rest in bed and stay quiet. I am like a trusty old jalopy – don’t run pretty, but I do keep chugging along. And with all the prayer requests I receive, it is kind of nice to always have something to offer up.

*********

When he was in high school, my son and his class were given a selection of several esoteric topics on which to write an essay. One of those was, “What would it be like to be able to see the future?” Naturally, my son chose that one, figuring he could get some inside information AND get a little extra insight, himself, into his Dad’s peculiarities.

In his essay, he concluded that it would be more burden than gift. He wrote that it would be difficult to differentiate between those things that must be and those that only might be if current courses remained unaltered. It would be futile to waste time trying to change those things that must be, while missing the chance to positively effect those that could be mitigated. It would be terrible to know challenges those you love would face if you were seriously limited in speaking of them or changing them. In the end, you might have to settle for just being there to help rebuild in the aftermath of a severe trial.

As I recall, he got an “A” on that essay and the teacher commented on his unexpectedly deep and serious insight into the question.

I thought of that while driving. People think that if they only knew, they could mitigate all trials. The truth is, knowing only intensifies and adds a deeper level of pathos to trials that must come. It is doing your best as a servant of the living God, taking the next right step, being a sign of hope, and accepting that when you do this, whatever God allows is to your benefit or that of others. This is, indeed, a vale of tears. Once we accept that and humbly live our duty to the best we can, we find real joy even amidst the sorrows. I think the height of wisdom is knowing that we must surrender to God unto death – and knowing that our trust in Him is well placed.

*********

I was delighted to find, while driving towards home through western Kansas, sporadically placed images of Divine Mercy along the highway. It cheered and heartened me. I don’t know who is responsible for placing them, but whoever it is, Great Job!

*********

In mid-September I will hit the road again, after a little rest and recuperation at home. If you are interested in hosting me for a presentation, contact my assistant, Mary Lapchak, at lapchakma@gmail.com

200 thoughts on “Signs of Contradiction”

  1. Such great closing lines, Charlie… Grinning about the homily last-liner: “We ought to model our immigration policies more along the lines of heavenly policies.” And the one about Muller totally cracked me up: “I cannot prove that Mueller intentionally presided over a witch hunt, but I can’t exonerate him, either.” Gosh, it’s wonderful to read a Charlie piece again. You rest; we’ll pray; and may it please God to get you in steady mode again.

    Liked by 10 people

    2. Good to here Charlie is now feeling better. I also laughed atTrey Gowdy’s statement about Mueller. Keeping you all in my prayers.
      Christus Vinci

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    3. Beckita, wondering if Fr. Wang got the names, etc., concerning the generational masses. I posted it about 7/15/19.

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      1. Surely did, Tuna. We sent you a little treasure in the mail with a note acknowledging your request for Masses. Fr. Wang is so happy to assist your family in this way.

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          1. Thanks for your prayers, Doug. He’s doing very well. Just had his first cataract surgery yesterday and will have the same in the other eye in three weeks.

            Like

    4. I do enjoy your insight and humor Charlie. Great way for your son to put himself in your shoes! We pray for your recovery.

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  2. There is a rash of suiciedes among our teens, police, and service members. If somehow folks would realize the treuth of what your wrote here, I think that would abate:
    ” The truth is, knowing [what really is and the future] only intensifies and adds a deeper level of pathos to trials that must come. It is doing your best as a servant of the living God, taking the next right step, being a sign of hope, and accepting that when you do this, whatever God allows is to your benefit or that of others. This is, indeed, a vale of tears. Once we accept that and humbly live our duty to the best we can, we find real joy even amidst the sorrows. I think the height of wisdom is knowing that we must surrender to God unto death – and knowing that our trust in Him is well placed. ”

    You nailed the truth about Mueller. He not only was a “bad cop” as FBI director in his own actions, but surrounded himself with scoundrels such as Andrew Weissmann. And in his presumably last public act, Mueller intentionally provided cover for a Democrat inspired witch hunt.

    Re the well meaning priest, I’m reminded of an Army Major who once worked for me. He was most cheerful and likeable. He was a great father to his family. He was also highly motivated at work, which brought him frequently into contact with military and civilian officials who typically walked tight ropes to do good and survive organizational politics. But his high level of motivation, coupled with a lack of understanding issues meant he was constantly doing damage. If all of the poor folks outside of the USA suddenly got up and came here, with our paying for all of their legitimate needs with our taxes, we would be bankrupted, so we could join the poor and do no more good for anyone. Is not that obvious to any educated priest, or anybody else, such a our Dim political party?

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    1. Jack, your last paragraph is spot on. In the event of an airplane emergency, there is a reason the adult puts theirs on first.
      Here is another conundrum-If the dims hate this country so much, why are they wanting illegal immigrants to cross our southern border? (I know they want them to vote dim.)

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    2. As always, Jack, I appreciate your articulation and the additions that you make to Charlie’s outstanding work on our behalf. If you were not aware of this project on the border, I think that you might find it a Sign of Hope as well as Michelle Malkin’s presentation which lays out in part an answer to Charlie’s question about the mis-led, open-borders-minded priest: “Welcome the stranger!”

      I hope Bekita will allow a link to Michelle’s presentation last weekend at Brian Kolfage’s We Build the Wall Symposium on the Border. (A little edit for the video, III. I appreciate the work of Michelle Malkin but it takes time to responsibly vet the longer videos. No worries as people can catch it with these search words: Michelle Malkin – Open Border Churches Human Traffickers Hiding behind the Cross)

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  4. My best understanding, from friends assigned to work in priestly formation in various seminaries, is that U.S. seminaries have vastly improved over what they were as recently as two decades ago. Admission to seminary was once virtually automatic, but has become much more rigorous. Candidates for admission are screened against the written testimony of people who have known them in several walks of life, and many with weak recommendations are turned away. Spiritual formation of seminarians, which was once devoid of hagiography or the Church’s mystical tradition, has become grounded in the primacy of prayer and penance in development of a relationship with Christ and the efficacy of sacramental grace. Intellectual, or academic formation, is more faithful to the Magisterium than it has been in over fifty years. Generally speaking, the scene has vastly improved. However, no seminary program can trump the primacy of free will. Calculating seminarians know how to “game the system,” slip past ecclesiastical gatekeepers, and make it to ordination, their fundamental motivating ideals still in tact. In bygone decades, it was the doctrinally and liturgically orthodox seminarians who were forced to be calculating, hiding their principles from modernists and ideologues on the seminary faculty who wished to stop them. From what I can best understand, these days, the reverse is the case. Seminaries are nothing close to perfect, but they’re vastly improved in a short span of years, and I’m greatly encouraged by what I see.

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      1. I was there in Jackson Michigan, November ’16. There were at least two other priests that evening. If the priest you were thinking of was wonderful, then it was me. If the priest was not wonderful, it was somebody else. 🙂

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        3. Father, you are hilarious! I remember one of the other priests who was there; he offered an opening prayer before Charlie began his talk, as I recollect. And if memory serves, you led us in the Rosary. Good times… good times. 🙂

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    4. for my fellow vocabulary challenged

      “Hagiography, the body of literature describing the lives and veneration of the Christian saints. The literature of hagiography embraces acts of the martyrs (i.e., accounts of their trials and deaths); biographies of saintly monks, bishops, princes, or virgins; and accounts of miracles connected”

      To your comment…oy, the politics of it all. God has never been political with me. He is and there is no gamesmanship. It confuses and saddens me that what He established is not like Him. Rather, it used to confuse me. My working assumption is that our purification on Earth has taken and will take many more millenia.

      Very glad the good guys are on the upswing!

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    6. I recently watched Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Controversy. All of the archealogists had become agnostics. The author says we need a paradyne shift. I suspect our political correct priests have been affected by such ambiguities in Scripture studies.

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      1. Thank you for your observation, Kent. This is evident in several if not the majority of priests I have encountered in my diocese since coming back into the Church in 1990. The evidence of supernatural grace seems to be absent in their thought processes. I hope that what Victura describes will bring the paradigm the author requests.

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  5. So happy to read your writing, Charlie and to hear that you’re feeling a bit better. All the Masses and prayers said for you undoubtedly helped too! You’re loved Charlie! Thanks for hanging in there with us! God Bless You.

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    1. Charlie I lit another candle for you this evening after confession during adoration at the beautiful parish in sandusky ohio. Sts peter & paul. Just below our beautiful Mother and child Jesus 🤗😇😄

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  6. I wish we still had jalopys . Grateful you are well.

    A couple of other repartees to counter the open borders Christian SJW.

    In that passage, St Paul declares we are neither male nor female in Christ. Following the priests logic, if he sanctions open borders he must sanction neither male nor female marriage. Of course that is no sense, but neither is the priests implied restoration
    of Babyl. It was God who blessed and protected us by dividing us into various toungues and from there, Nations.

    Anyhoo, its a deep subject that touchy feely platitudes cannot withstand.

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  7. Charlie,

    Sorry to hear of your trials and tribulations on the road. Know that Pam Are keeping you in our prayers.

    Some thoughts on the homily regarding open borders——I continually find it interesting on how many homilies I hear where we “are all going to heaven”! I sometimes wonder if we are all going there, why do we need to go to Church?

    Regarding the Knights of Columbus issue, this infuriated me from the get go. Yes the membership was never asked and the lame excuse given by “the powers be” were almost laughable. Plus the new uniforms cost approximately $500 and now have to be purchased through the Knights as opposed to a third party where the old uniforms were purchased. So like most stuff today, follow the money!

    Given that many of the 4th degree Knights are older and retired, the purchase of a new uniform would put some undue hardship on these members.

    Most of the honor guards are older 4th degree Knights. Many of those are refusing to get the new uniforms so finding younger 4th degrees with a new uniform, much less spare time, is going to be a challenge to put an honor guard together.

    I lost a lot of respect for the order from this fiasco. Reminds me of our big government! I will remain a Knight, but I refuse to buy the new uniform as are many others in my Council.

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  8. Thanks for the great analysis, Charlie, as ever. That pic of the Corpus Christi procession is truly heartening… in particular the young Thurifer, his total concentration, the even younger kids around him and the deep reverence of the Priest, the proper canopy… aieee, brings me back, in one sense, to my own youth when such was just – what was done. And, in another sense, it brings me forward also, because this is the future. Thank you. God bless all, J.

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  9. Hearty laughter here over your description of the new KC regalia – and no surprise, Charlie – you won’t find any ‘likes’ on the Texas Gulf Coast either – at least among TNRS folk! I didn’t conduct a poll – didn’t have to – it’s ‘all the buzz’ wherever more than one Knight appears for any reason.
    Gee, Charlie…so glad you decided to make that ‘in case I didn’t wake up’ phone call. Of course, you remain in our prayers; thank you for enduring for all of us. Taking that ‘next right step’ sounds simple but it is not often easy.

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    1. I will admit it did scare me a bit. I once had three intense attacks in the same day before, but that was after I knew I had been pushing myself when I shouldn’t. It was the attacks after I napped that spooked me. I wish the attacks did not mimic stroke symptoms so closely – I was actually looking for any sagging in my face. But I guess I just have to take my own advice and trust God at each step.

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      2. Charlie, wishing you well. I pray that whatever hit you is now gone. Scary for sure. Pace yourself brother. Its always in God’s time anyway!

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  10. “I cannot prove that Mueller intentionally presided over a witch hunt, but I can’t exonerate him, either.” LOL Charlie. 🙂

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  11. Sigh….thank you for this post on immigration Charlie. This coming Tuesday I will sit amongst many who believe that we must hide illegals from ICE. Catholic Charities has put out another letter on how to do this –along with a Texas Bishop who believes that “all are welcome” without compromise. I care for the poor and homeless and I especially care for the people who have been used and lied to about a better life in America–just look at the homeless we already have. We need law and order. And we need sound immigration laws. Right now, we have neither. I will stand up and push back at this meeting of St. Vincent de Paul workers–trying to enlighten them–but I fear that I will be a lone voice once again and have to move on. I am out numbered here in No. CA. I pray that clear hearts and minds will prevail.

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    6. My prayers are with you SanSan. You can be the one voice there who can change the world, one right step at a time.

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    7. I just read a piece on the plans the CA education system has for the sexual indoctrination of students in their schools starting in second grade. It is harrowing and being forced on teachers who are objecting. One term used was “mutual self satisfaction”. It is the alphabet soup LBGQ….community who is in charge. For me this is nothing but state sanctioned corruption of minors. In any case alarm bells went off for my friend’s just born grandchildren who live in the LA area. But I also thought about all those illegals and even legal immigrants rushing here and wondered if they knew what their children were about to be exposed too through our schools, would they be in such a hurry to come here.

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    8. Praying for you, San San. If you should find a receptive soul or two, you all might b heartened that there is push back in other forums and other places. God bless you, yours, and your work, San San. Michelle Malkin like AG Bill Barr is Catholic. I did not know that until recently. This is a link to Michelle Malkins’ recent presentation in Sunland Park, TX where Americans individually paid for and built an impressive but short stretch of border wall. These people have great compassion for the damage that is being done to the pawns that imigrants and refugees have become. (Search text for the video: Michelle Malkin – Open Border Churches Human Traffickers Hiding behind the Cross)

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  12. So glad you are feeling better Charlie. I’m glad you are going to get some much needed rest. I look forward to your swing through California in the fall. God’s blessings to all here.

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    1. Yes, Linda. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross who is Edith Stein, the German Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun. She died at Auschwitz and was canonized a martyr. This St. Teresa is a patron – with others – of Europe. And does Europe ever need her intercession!

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      1. I woke up this am to a calmING male voice…He said, “St Theresa of the cross.” Probably just my own imagination but I think I will get a book on her….I know of Edit Stein but didn’t know she was st teresa BenedictA of the cross…the Saint’s are so wonderful. .thanks so much Beckita ..I knew you would know…xoxoxoxoxoxo 🤗😇😘

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        1. They surely are wonderful, Linda. I know you read Anne a lay apostle’s writings. I love the way the individual saints express their desire to assist us… if we but ask. 🙂

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          1. They are AMAZING. .so many times I or Mike n I just randomly pic out one of Annes books. Open and read..and it’s amazingly so appra po…I’ll order book on st teresa of the cross asap..I see she has writings

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          2. I just love all you TNRS’ers!
            Whoever first posted about Anne the lay apostle’s a big THANK YOU to you. I started reading them a couple of weeks ago.

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            2. Anne talks about abodes in heaven…she and Jesus made a visit to St Clares abode, they were all gathered around her talking and contemplating God…if it pleases our Lord, I bet we’ll have a St Charlie abode someday of a lot of next right steppers😆

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      2. I love her! Isn’t it wonderful how we can feel so close to these wonderful Saints. So many are very dear to my heart.❤

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      1. Thank you so much diannespinoza I ordered 2 books from library about her too…never would have guessed teresa of the cross was edith steinz..lol

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  14. As a 4th Degree member of the Knights I like the new regalia, change is always controversial, the Order will survive

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      1. Charlie, just out of curiosity, how many younger Knights have you asked about the regalia? As far as the Knights go, I am considered young. You may not realize this, but their has been a pretty seismic shift with the new members that have joined. The average age of new Knights has dropped dramatically. I along with the majority of my brothers have been excited about the change in regalia.

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        1. Interesting, TG. In the northern Rockies, every Knight I have spoken to – from young to old and in between – is disappointed with the change in regalia.

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        2. Ha, to your point, one clever Priest told me that the new uniform “looks like what a 60-year-old thinks a 20-year-old would like to wear.”

          Most I spoke to were in their 40’s. Some were older, one was in his early 30’s and another in his mid-20’s. The younger two whose age I learned told me they will not be going Fourth Degree and may leave the organization, altogether. The youngest one had been looking forward to participating in honor guards. Now he is re-considering whether he even wants to be a Knight. (Although, in fairness, I should note that, as much as he dislikes the uniform, it is the top-down threats that really ticked him off and has made him re-consider his membership in the Knights altogether.)

          It is abysmally stupid to make a move like this of a purely voluntary organization at the field level and, instead of asking those volunteers what they think, threaten to oust them if they don’t do what the bosses at the top say.

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    2. I agree with you Philip-I always cringed at the neo-Napolean feathered hats. To each his own, whether a knight wears a trefoil or beret they are wonderful men and true soldiers of Christ!

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      1. Now we have two – though you are not a Knight, Madkat! I love the feathered hats…and hate the silly berets. To each his own. But whatever the preference, the Knights administrators SHOULD have gotten some input from the Knights in the field rather than just imposing from the top down and threatening to banish any Knights who do not go along with this top-down decree.

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        1. I am another Knight of over 60 years who does not like (actually much dislike) the new regalia. Perhaps an updating would be okay but it should be appropriate. Allusions to history can be sacred.

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        2. Ha – true – but the Catholic Church more often than not operates like a monarchy instead of a republic or direct democracy–especially when it comes to transparency, but I digress.

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          1. TRANSPARENCY that is a problem. So much money from insurance and who knows where it all goes. Such good, hard working men who find common cause and fellowship BUT often remain in ignorance because of altruism’s ability to blind and to be easily beguiled and misled.

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  15. Charlie,
    I really wish when you made your stop in Crossville, I had know how you were feeling. I would have certainly told you to go straight home and rest, Sometimes you have to stop and think of yourself. Don’t get me wrong, Manny and I loved meeting you. You have already changed my life, you have given me strength to come out of my comfort zone. Since you have left, I have said yes to help people where normally I would’ve said sorry I can’t help. All I know is you have left a piece of yourself here that inspires not just me, but many that you spoke to. God has spoken to me through you and I am so thankful that you are willing to do what you do.
    I’m so glad you have some time to rest in your own comfort zone. Please don’t push yourself so hard. Manny and I (and the dogs), are so grateful for you and your inspiration. Always in our prayers.
    God Bless,
    June

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    1. Ah, I was feeling okay in Crossville, June. I loved visiting with you – and chowing down on the great chicken parm that first night! You have no idea what joy it gives me to visit with people around the country and see the confidence arise in them in a world that tries to grind them down. I tell you, this network of people committed in their work and confident in their God is going to be a key to holding things together should serious strife take hold…it may well be the main sign of hope in difficult times. Yes, I have to rest sometimes, but this is my call, my love, my life…and the primary source of my joy. I keep each trip under three or four months and then take time to recuperate. I trust God to give me the energy to go for the time and, by gum, He gives it to me. I gained confidence in that from the pilgrimage, too. That was a challenging task for anyone; for someone with a significant neurological injury, it should have been nigh impossible. But it was one of the most joyful times of my life – and so heartening to see the great heart of America. Now I get to see the great heart of America again – and help hearten them along the way. What could be better than that? And I am STILL snacking on things from the gift basket you and Manny gave me.

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      1. So Charlie, I’ve been wondering, how did you keep the mosquitoes from eating you alive when you were on your walk? They have been particularly bad this year. We have been up in the mountains and think how you said you would crawl under brush. How in the world did you keep all of the bugs off, especially mosquitoes?

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        1. Bugs didn’t much bother me – though I would often wake up with little bites on my leg. I was just as glad not to know where they came from. As for mosquitoes, for a time I had a face net for at night, but that was aggravating, too. I discovered something very counter-intuitive, but it always worked. If you were about 20 feet or more away from a body of water, the mosquitoes were horrific. But if you got to about 10 feet away or nearer, the mosquitoes were almost non-existent.

          Mosquitoes don’t bother me as much as some people. I have had a potassium deficiency all my life – and it turns out that it is potassium that mosquitoes are drawn to, not blood. When my son came to spend a week with me in Baton Rouge, the first night he was eaten up by mosquitoes, which scarcely bothered me. We stayed in a hotel the rest of the week. I reckon long ago God said, okay, the time will come when I send Charlie on a looong walk…but I’m gonna cut him some slack and give him a potassium deficiency so the mosquitoes are just a minor annoyance rather than a big problem.

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          1. I’m wondering if I may have such a deficiency myself Charlie?
            Standing outside a gig the other night with the other 3 musicians in our band the mosquitos were wrecking havoc on our guitarist while I stayed mostly unannoyed by them. It hasn’t always been so, as a younger man my escapades into the Florida swamps was a battle royal with these insaguinating rascals. In my experience globetrotting in the tropics, parts of Florida have the worst populations and the largest varieties of mosquitos I’ve encountered. It got so bad one year in South Florida that the cattle were dying from inhailing them!
            I’ve been bitten so many times I’ve become immune to the anticoagulant they inject so I don’t get the “welt” most bites produce anymore. I still feel the pin-prick when they stick thier little needle in, but it leaves no bite mark. Luckily I’ve never had malaria, of course, after so many bites, I may have become immune to that too? Would that render me a vector?

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  16. Beckita There may not seem to be any rhyme or reason to my choices of who to send angels to. I just do as I feel prompted and sometimes struggle with my scattered lack of memory. My memory is still very good for the many details I have to keep straight but there are areas of lack. Some time ago I was intent on sending angels to Desmond but so much was happening then and I can get distracted. For the life of me I can’t remember if I actually sent angels to Desmond or not as I had intended and I’m not too good at acrchiving. In the past, faced with such a dilemma I just sent another set figuring a person cannot have too many angels assisting them. With such a long list of possible candidates and the great need, I would like to avoid duplications. Could you possibly let me know if you can let me know if you can with regard to Desmond? Also I am open to suggestions as to who might be in most need. I take private inspiration from wherever I can get it. Thank you for all you do for this blessed community. In the love of Christ, jas.

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    1. Thanks for your kindness, jas. I cannot recall you promising to send angels to Desmond and I just cruised through your comments and his and there is no mention made of you planning to or accomplishing the novena for him. God bless you and your loving ministry of sending angels, jas.

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    2. JAS-I have started my 2nd round of angels. I was thinking about sending the leaders of all of the countries who are enemies of the USA. But, it just didn’t sit right. After doing some reading, it dawned on me that my first vocation is that of wife and mother. So, my middle son who has quite liberal views needs those angels first. Once my family is done, then I can return to those leaders.
      Thank you for introducing me to this devotion.

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      1. Thank you Beckita. I will send angels for Desmond next week as the Holy Spirit has been prompting me and I will make a list of the recent ones and keep it up as I have been neglecting for far too long. Thank you for all your help you give to the community. Through the love of Christ, jas

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        1. Awesome, JAS. I’ll give him a heads up that you’re sending him the angels. Gosh that has a beautiful sound of power, prompting renewed strength and resolve. Perhaps, when we encounter great difficulty, we can pray: Send us angels!

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      1. MADKATMOMMA I am again overloaded with limited time to respond. The novena of consecutive communions offered to Jesus King of all Nations is the devotion to send nine angels each from the nine courts of angels to assist the designated person’s guardian angel on their behalf. Actually, Beckita has posted more information on this devotion than even I was aware of. Perhaps you can look it up or Beckita who is much more skilled at such endeavors than I may be kind enough to assist us. May God continue to bless and guide us all in this wonderful community.

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        1. Thank you, JAS. Momma, you can access the info and prayers for the Novena of Holy Communions, wherein an angel from each choir is sent to the person for whom the novena is being offered, and so much more about the devotion to Jesus King of All Nations here. The amazing Dan Lynch has faithfully promoted this – and more – for many years.

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      2. I, too would like to know about the sending-angels novena.

        I do know there’s one from Jesus King of All Nations supported by Dan Lynch.
        I use it every day asking Jesus as King of All Nations to send an angel from one of the nine choirs to someone at each Eucharist; asking for even spiritual Communions to count. Very consoling.

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  18. Charlie, about status in Heaven and immigration.

    I recall watching Monsignor Charles Pope discussing the role of Angels which not many people really understand. He described the at least (his characterization) nine choirs of Angels operating in (at least) three aspects or levels of God’s creation as something like administrators and organizers and workers. 3rd Heaven, 2nd Heaven and 1st Heaven.

    The Throne Room of God exists in the 3rd Heaven. There God is served by Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. The Seraphim are closest to God and are something like personal servants attending to the Trinity. They have six pairs of wings. How do we know that? There is one source for that knowledge and it is the Prophet Isaiah 6: 1-3

    1 In the year King Uzziah died,* I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,a with the train of his garment filling the temple.

    2 Seraphim* were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered.

    3 One cried out to the other:
    “Holy, holy, holy* is the LORD of hosts!
    All the earth is filled with his glory!”

    Every time we pray and sing Holy, Holy, Holy at Mass I can’t help feeling like the Seraphim are present with us and singing and praying with us right up close to the Lord God. Ringed around the altar. The Church is filled with Angels at every Mass. Just as Isaiah witnessed and described. Kind of takes the breath out of you.

    The Angels in the 2nd Heaven have responsibility for organizing the physical cosmos and nature and science making sure all the atoms and gravity and such like work as designed. Completely beyond our comprehension.

    The Angels in the 1st Heaven are charged with the care and tending of mankind and include the Archangels and the Guardian Angels.

    Now, interesting from an Immigration perspective is that there are GATES between the three levels of Heaven.

    Monsignor Pope described the Descent of Christ in the Nativity and the Ascent of Christ returning to Heaven Accompanied by Angels. In both cases Christ is accompanied by rather astonished Angels Heralding and crying out loudly in amazement “Open the Gates the Lord is Coming!”.

    Can only surmise the feelings and astonishment of the Shepherds witnessing what may have been 10,000 angels (or more) announcing the birth of our New Born King. As well, Monsignor Pope debunks the idea of Christ rising solo through the clouds in Heavenly repose with hands clasped together and eyes lifted in some kind of simpering, wimpy attitude conveyed to us through artistic renderings over the millennia. #Nope. Accompanied by maybe 10,000,000 angels all making a great racket and announcing the return of the Lord and once again “Open the Gates!”

    Where there are Gates there usually are Walls. Gates control the flow of traffic to and from Heaven. Perhaps one of them is a Golden Gate or a Pearly Gate.

    I have this intuition that there is a Knucklehead Gate and the Gatekeeper is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many of my friends and family will be entering through the Knucklehead Gate. In my prayers for them I urge them to look for the Gate where the Gatekeeper is a beautiful woman holding the keys. Look for the Gate with longest line and be patient. The greatest asylum attorney in all of creation. She will plead your case for you. Personally, I am counting on Mary.

    There is at least one other Gate in Heaven that Monsignor Pope described. There is a Gate To Hell in Heaven. Monsignor described the role of Guardian Angels. They accompany us to Heaven after death to our judgement. Judgement will occur in an instant and our fate determined. If our fate is to be Hell our Guardian Angel accompanies us to the Gate to Hell where we are cast out of Heaven. One might guess the exit is a loving but firm experience.

    Interestingly, Monsignor Pope described the curiosity and amazement the Angels have for humans. The Angels view us as we transit through the Gates with our Guardian Angels as escort toward our judgement and face to face meeting with God. He said Virgins and Martyrs receive a hero’s reception among the Angels. Very highly esteemed and admired.

    We know that the Apostles were jostling for prime seats next to Jesus’ right hand in the Kingdom of God. Status. Who sits where is the Father’s perogative. Jesus taught that he is the Vine and we are the branches. Each has separate gifts and different functions. Eyes, hands, feet, etc. Not all the same.

    In short, it seems Heaven is going to be a diverse stimulating experience. It’s a walled place. With the simplest immigration law imaginable. One we will all have to abide by in order to gain permanent residence. We have to choose it. And we have to comport ourselves according to the will of God.
    It’s His Kingdom. We can’t remake it in our own design. Gates, Walls, and Immigration and Entry Law.

    Monsignor Charles Pope on Hell, Judgement and Heaven

    Liked by 11 people

    2. Thank you Ed. Love pondering all of this. I believe that St. Therese of Avila and the many mansions gives the same perspective that you and Charlie have written about. Every Mass I await St. Michael and all of the Angels to Herald our Holy Lord and Savior! Also, all of our brothers and sisters in purgatory arrive so that we can pray for them. Oh what a glorious day it will be when we will “see” Our Father in Heaven! I pray to persevere. TNRS.

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  19. Charlie, you made me laugh out loud, twice! “Do you know where the most rigorous immigration standards are to be found? Heaven.” and this one, “I cannot prove that Mueller intentionally presided over a witch hunt, but I can’t exonerate him, either.”
    I needed a good laugh. The leaderlessness of some of our Shepherds had been getting me down at times. We nebulously float with homilies and protocols that have no clear direction, or even worse, the wrong direction. I pray a lot. So the laughter was much needed. I am praying for you. Sorry you were sick.

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  21. Charlie, you’re a trooper. I know you know that these times and your mission are the culmination of a lifetime of spiritual, experiential, and informational preparation. Whatever physical or other ailments might arise, you are determined to fulfill your life’s purpose. Thanks be to God. I keep you in my heart-prayers here in the wilds of Oregon. ❤

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  22. Last Wednesday was a most horrible day for me, except that like Charlie I knew it was fodder for “offering up”.
    I thought it was for the Trump/Mueller thing that day ( which worked!:)
    But especially since I TOO thought I might be having a stroke, I now believe it was for Charlie.
    Ah, the Body of Christ.

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  23. Just heard Roy Schoeman speak at a parish here in Memphis. What a treat. He said we Catholics must pray for the conversion of the Jews– he believes there will be a mass conversion of the Jews someday– which is a prerequisite of the second Coming of Jesus, per Romans Chapter 11. He also said we must evangelize, and his examples were truly evangelizing primarily by how we live. The joy that springs from our faith will be ever apparent in how we live our lives and respond to the hardships of life.

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    6. Our dear Beckita, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to you and your entire family. I have prayed for the repose of Jim’s soul and for all who love him in their mourning to be comforted. ❤

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    9. Oh Beckita, Sibling deaths are so unique. I prayed a MT through Saints James and Peter Chrysologus, who’s feast it has been on Jim’s passing.
      Holy Siblings family of Martha, Lazarus and Mary Magdalen ( Saint of his month of death!) intercede.
      Amen.

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    13. So sorry to hear of your loss Beckita. I lost my brother in a similar manner a few years ago. Shocking and sad. I pray for the repose of your brother’s soul in the mercy and love of our God. Peace be with you. Our God lives.

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      1. Thanks so very much, Ed. I lost a younger brother to a sudden heart attack four years ago. Yes, our God DOES live and our dear ones who have gone before us are more alive than are we on this side of the veil.

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    14. OH, Beckita, I am so sorry for the loss of your brother! May the Angels lead him into Paradise…. My prayers are with you and him for the repose of his soul.

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    16. I will pray for him. I do remember Charlie saying that dying is not the major tragedy but that being lost and dying without grace is. Was he ready do you believe? Praying for you as even if a person is ready we still miss their presence here.

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      1. Absolutely true point that death, itself, is not a tragedy, Bob. In fact, it is a new birth, a birth to eternal life. Thank you so much for your prayers.

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    18. So sorry for your loss Beckita!

      Praying for the repose of your brother’s soul!!

      He is so fortunate to have you as a prayer warrior!

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  26. Beckita, may the angels have lifted Jim to heaven immediately and I will have a Mass said for him.

    Charlie, neurological symptoms can be devistating; so glad you are better. Hopefully you can sleep well on the road. The Dallas diocese newspaper just had 8 pages on immigration. “crowded, unsanitary conditions in immigration holding facilities with little food or water.” Some “walked through brush to evade Mexican immigration agents.” The father and daughter lying face down in the river near Matamoros, Mexico “cries to heaven for justice” the U.S. bishops said; “it sparked outrage against the U.S. government.” Too bad I hear all the leftest viewpoints there.

    George Soros’ radical globalist agenda along with U.S. funded groups are at work in Guatimala for their August election, Judical Watch says.

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      2. Hi Beckita, Prayers going up for the repose of Jim’s soul, and for you and your family. When I hear about someone being called home, it reminds me of Mother Angelica. She would always say after someone passed, “Now they know.” Now Jim knows of the wonders of God and Heaven. God bless and keep you.

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    2. This might help, Mary Anne, to give balance to the viewpoints that seem to dominate regarding the continuing travesty on the Southern Border. Peace. (Video search words: Michelle Malkin – Open Border Churches Human Traffickers Hiding behind the Cross)

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  28. The phrase “our American values” has lost all meaning for me when said by a politician. When they say it they are trying to connect to their audience and hope to convince us they they believe what we believe. That is hardly likely today.

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  31. Prayers going up for the repose of your dear brother’s soul, Beckita, also asking our Blessed Mother to comfort and console all his loved ones.

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  33. ( Edit from Beckita…Search words for the hour and twenty minute You Tube video… The Forgotten Dogma: No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church by Father Isaac Mary Relyea)
    I know this might fall flat with you Charlie (and others here), but, I believe that there is only one True Faith, Holy Mother Church, the Catholic church. I share this talk with you all who believe differently out of charity. (p.s. there are many Doctors of the Church, and Great Popes that have taught as much). May the peace of Our Lord be with you all.

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    1. San San, if you could post a link to the written text or synopsis for this talk, Charlie could speed read it before responding. I did listen to the first fifteen minutes and as I listened to Father, I thought about these lines from the Catechism of the Catholic Church which show us that there is not such a cut and dried understanding of this doctrine as Father proposes in his talk:

      “Outside the Church there is no salvation”
      846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? (335) Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

      Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. (336)

      (Here’s a critically important clarification of the doctrine which Father did not include in the beginning of his talk and this, too, is Magisterial teaching):
      847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

      Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation. (337)

      848 “Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men.” (338)

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      1. SanSan, I fully agree with Beckita AND the Church on this subject. I get frustrated with people who choose certain things they like and ignore all the Scriptural and Magisterial evidence that contradict it. Perhaps this is not all that Fr. Isaac said or meant on the matter, but this sort of triumphalism is not accurate, not Catholic, not Scriptural, and not just. It borders on blasphemy, because it images God as a pathetic bureaucrat rather than a majestic, just, and merciful Father. I love you, SanSan, and your often brilliant contributions here. But this is a sore spot with me. I spent the first 35 years of my life listening to people cherry pick Scripture to prop up their ignorant preferences – usually to see some other poor sucker get smited while they were convinced that God approved of them as His teacher’s pets. That is malice masquerading as holiness. I WAS familiar with these teachings of the Catholic Church as I studied during my catechumenate. Had the Church proclaimed that only overt Catholics could be saved as Magisterial truth, I would not have come in, as I would have known that this is not from the God I know. Any Church that requires me to believe that my older relatives and friends who have passed who were not Catholic, but lived the virtues with real love and fidelity, are roasting in hell is a church I would have no part of. I KNOW better.

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    2. I think it means that… When God, in his infinite wisdom, chooses or accepts a soul to heaven or purgatory, whether Catholic, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, whatever… He does it thru the power of His Bride, the Church and His Son Jesus Christ, whether they like it or not. So, there is no salvation except thru His church.
      The Church is not just a bunch of people saying the same thing, it’s a gift/power/grace/bride/pathToSalvation entity that exists whether we believe in it or not. Those of us who enjoy knowing and belonging to this gift while on earth have a lesser excuse to forego it’s graces.

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      1. Exactly, Quiet. Beautifully said about what the Church is. The other reflection that comes to me is that the onus for more conversion is really on us who are richly graced to be Catholic… and there are beau coup opportunities and ways to evangelize, some of them involve a direct way while others draw souls in a more indirect way which ripples, unseen to most. May we ever: God out to all the world!

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      3. Quietpathways: I’ve thought about “no salvation outside the Church” by starting at the Beatific Vision where fullness of Truth is fully revealed rather than in this life where “we see behind a glass darkly”. I reason that since the Catholic Church contains the fullness of Truth (not only teaching and doctrinally-wise but REAL PRESENCE-wise as well), then only fullness-of-truthers ie Catholics can be present at the Beatific Vision. They may not have known they were Catholics before the Beatific Vision, but the objective fact is that because of the “Immigration Rules for Heaven and Heaven’s Borders” that require Fullness-of-Truth-Belief-and-Practice “visas” for citizenship–only Catholics are in heaven.

        Unlike American citizenship, it would seem that a necessary requirement for heavenly citizenship is that one need to LOVE heaven in order to be a citizen of it. Lol

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  37. The ideology of socialism/liberalism vs the Gospel of Christ (the Gospel of the truth of reality).

    Like I said before, when all ideologies & fictions are done a way with and people start accepting the truth of reality (God is real), only then will we find peace…

    Liked by 2 people

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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.