The Mob Asserts Itself

Posted on by charliej373

By Charlie Johnston

A few years back, I was struck by the previews for a movie called “The Purge.” It was about a dystopian society in which, once a year, all crime (including murder) was legalized for a day. It was not something I was interested in, but the concept was striking. What I did not realize was that it was a prophetic movie. Ah well, to paraphrase Ruth Buzzi, no matter how cynical you are these days, it is hard to keep up.

I have said repeatedly that we will not get out of this without a fight. Think about it. The anti-God left is demonstrating right now that they are eager to break things, burn down buildings and kill people when they don’t get their way. Do you really think that if Donald Trump wins re-election they will just say, “Oh, okay, we were wrong.”? Meantime, if the Democrats win, they will make the authoritarian overreach of Covid governors and mayors look like a warm snuggle. Their plan is to give us the economy of Venezuela and the commitment to human rights of North Korea. Will you submit, knowing that you condemn your children and grandchildren to a live of misery, poverty and chains if you do? Somebody give me a reasonable scenario in which we get out of this without a fight.

Derek Hunter, the most under-rated truly great columnist in business today, suggests letting the atheist left have Washington and Oregon as their own country. He thinks that once the inevitable dystopian nightmare develops, they will come home chastened. Since he posits putting in a time period where normal Americans can get out and leftist loons can get in, the idea is tempting. I have a great love, particularly, for Oregon, but there is a gigantic flaw in this otherwise tempting idea: leftists always lay waste to whatever they have power over and ALWAYS blame others for their own obvious failures. Shoot, over the last 120 years, progressives around the world (primarily in the Soviet Union, China, and Germany) murdered about 127 million of their own people – making them scapegoats for the leadership’s failures. It seems God is making a point about atheist leftism for anyone who is paying attention: 80 percent of Covid deaths are coming from states run by Democrats – you know, the ones who presume to lecture the rest us about science. Almost all of the murderous mayhem is coming from areas run by Democrats, who are eager to surrender to the mob and make common cause with them against honest people. So to let the mob have the Pacific Northwest would, indeed, leave it to become a dystopian nightmare, but there would be no repentance or conversion, for being an atheist leftist means never having to say you’re sorry. We would just have the equivalent of Venezuela or Cuba on our border blaming us for its multitude of disasters.

I hate the toxic racism implicit in the Antifa/Black Lives Matter movement and the surrender by so many public officials and entities to them. All of this madness tacitly assumes that there is NO way black folks can make it except by the indulgence of white folks. It posits that white folks must be held to rigorous standards because they can exercise moral agency – while simultaneously holding that black folks cannot be held to any standards because they have no moral agency, but are savages without any impulse control. That is why the relatively rare event of a policeman killing a black man (police officers are 18 and a half times more likely to be killed by a black man than a black man is to be killed by a policeman, under any circumstances, according to the latest statistics), while the very common event of a black man being killed by another black man is met with complete indifference. I frankly think the new racism is more deadly and damaging than the old racism because it posits absolute helpless impotence on the part of black folks. Contrary to media narratives, honest black folks are STILL the primary target of the new-left racism. An anonymous black professor from the University of California at Berkeley explains lucidly why this is so deadly. I tell you, internalize the dictum that all men are created in God’s own image, abandoning all identity politics, and racism is impossible.

Confidence in law enforcement is at an all-time low. With the FBI and much of the federal Justice Dept., even after their efforts to frame innocent people for the crime of supporting Donald Trump have been revealed, they continue to shamelessly try to finish the frame. I could not sit on a jury and convict someone based on evidence provided by the FBI: I wouldn’t know whether it was real evidence or simply something manufactured to frame a disfavored person. Yeah, I know, the abuses all came from the top. Yet where were the resignations of honorable men and women in the ranks when the new director, Christopher Wray, chose not to reform the bureau, but to run the cover-up? The agency is completely politicized and corrupted.

Far too many local cops played eager toadies to leftist officials ordering the suspension of civil rights because of the Covid scare. You had visuals of SWAT teams taking down restaurant and bar owners for just being open; arresting lone surfers, families out playing in parks, and welding shut the gates around parks that Jews liked to play in in New York. In a way, the “defund the police” movement was a useful reminder to police officers around the nation that no matter how much they kowtow to leftist officials, those officials are coming for them, too.

Would that our religious leaders figure out the same thing. Many Ministers and Priests – and more than a few Bishops – busy themselves these days effectively arguing that sound doctrine is irrelevant and politics is everything, assuring the cultural vandals and visigoths with a knowing wink that, though they are religious, they are not so stupid as to take seriously the things that that archaic Jesus-guy and His Apostles taught. They still do not understand that the cultural division is NOT about ideology, but about power. Ideological nonsense is used as tools to confuse people and facilitate the seizure of power, but the leaders of the cultural vandals don’t care about the very ideological notions they publicly champion. It is only about power – and they will have no rivals. Religion is always a rival to temporal aspirants to power, even when it is timid and anemic – for those powermongers know it can flare up into real potency again. So to all religious leaders I say, no matter how much you pander, no matter how flagrantly you betray Christ, the cultural vandals are coming for you as soon as your idiocy is no longer useful or necessary to them.

Now the Supreme Court has entirely abandoned the law and started making it up as they go along. The leftist justices have long seen it as their job to torture the actual law to justify their own policy preferences. Now at least two of the supposed conservative justices, Chief John Roberts and Associate Neil Gorsuch are unashamedly doing the same thing. Early in the week, the court legislated that sexual orientation, including transgenderism is a protected category, even though the actual legislators never mentioned such a thing. This judicial fiat was written by Gorsuch. Later in the week, the Court acknowledged that Barack Obama’s executive order on DACA was unconstitutional, but ruled that Donald Trump cannot revoke it without the court’s permission. As Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) hilariously said after the ruling, “Five justices today held that it was illegal for the Trump administration to stop breaking the law.” The Supreme Court has, thus, taken to itself the role of imperial legislator from which there is no appeal, untethered to the Constitution. So much for Plato’s dream of a panel of philosopher kings.

Actually, there is a Constitutional remedy. The Congress may, if it thinks the courts have overstepped, remove a subject from jurisdiction by the courts (provided it is not among those areas of jurisdiction originally granted by the Constitution). Fat chance. The House is hopeless – and I lost almost all confidence in the Senate a few months ago when it was revealed that every Republican Senator knew by May of 2017 that the Russian collusion story was entirely a hoax. Every one of them. Yet while the Democrats leaked lies with impunity, not a single Republican leaked the truth – for fear of being targeted by Democrats and the media. But they knew. The only profile in courage here was Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), who did his dead-level best to find the truth and get it out to the public. For his efforts, he was stripped of his role as House Intelligence Committee Chairman by former Speaker Paul Ryan for a time (I once admired Ryan, but came to hold him in utter contempt for his failure to defend liberty or truth while he was Speaker).

So the law has been perverted to be just another partisan tool in the struggle for power; the police cannot or will not protect us, federal law enforcement has too often been co-opted as muscle for the progressive left, media – including social media – is trying to censor many of us rather than win the battle of ideas, and activists seek to destroy the lives and careers of those guilty of wrong-think. The Constitution has become irrelevant; like that of the old Soviet Union it is the showpiece to cover over the raw imposition of power from above. These elements are ever the ingredients which lead to violent strife and revolt.

I am not at all sanguine about the possible outcome. On the one hand, too many normal people have come to treat ritual self-abasement as a desirable, exotic delicacy. On the other hand, polling is useless. Even in normal times, polls were sometimes skewed by people fearful that the call was really coming from some political headquarters which would harass them if they answered wrongly. When those people fear that the call may be coming from activists that might torch their homes for a wrong answer, polls are completely useless except as a propaganda tool. It may be that the ugliness and violence that has been unleashed, the impotence and unwillingness of leftist officials to defend normal people, may result in a complete blowout at the polls against them this November. A shrewd fellow I know in law enforcement has said that what the disorders of the first half of this year have accomplished is to convince a lot of people who are non-political and just want to be left alone that they are going to have to push back hard for at least a time. Perhaps. That would be the best outcome. Even there, you would have violent pockets of revolt after the election that would have to be put down with vigor to get back to any semblance of normalcy.

Yet I also know that it is very rare for an authoritarian movement to come to power with majority support. It is a matter of will. The German industrial, mercantile and intellectual elite regarded Adolf Hitler as a clownish buffoon in the early 1930’s, thinking they could manipulate him to serve their purposes. Instead, he manipulated them – sending dissenters to prison or death. Most historians think the original Russian Revolution, fought out entirely in Moscow, had the active support of only about three percent of the population. Most Muscovites thought it was not their concern and would all eventually blow over anyway. Their lack of concern and will would cost about 60 million innocent Soviet citizens their lives over the next 70 years.

We have one political party that assaults ordinary Americans and is determined to revoke our freedom, along with fellow travelers in academia, the media, entertainment and even “woke” corporations (ha! Don’t get me started on how gleefully the mob will come for corporations no matter how woke they are) and religious authorities who are busy reassuring the mob that they stand with them, not that Jesus guy. On the other side, we have a political party that gives lip service to defending ordinary people, but never at the cost of getting itself into trouble. Timid religious leaders maintain a semblance of loyalty to Christ but urge us only to “turn the other cheek” (not knowing that in Jesus’ day to turn the other cheek instead of kneeling and begging pardon was an act of defiance, not submission – what cultural scholars we have running our religious institutions these days!). The only steadfast, reliable defender of ordinary people, of civil and religious liberties we have is Donald Trump. Yeah, I’m as surprised as many others are, but that is the way things have played out in this strange new world. We are on our own.

A lot of people are waiting to see whether there will have to be a fight or not. I am long past that. I have been spending a lot of my time lately putting together the beginnings of a means for the faithful to defend themselves and each other – to live solidarity with those who defend us and to refuse to submit to those who seek to subjugate us – while helping and connecting with each other to either defend our culture or to rebuild it after the vandals have burned their way through it (the monster these Frankensteins set loose always comes back to the burn the castle of its origin). The cavalry is not coming any time soon. If it does come, it will only be because it has been shamed into it by the spirited defense of ordinary people.

The ballad of the ordinary man is begun.

*********

In these troubled times, I urge you to stay away from panaceas – big theories that purport to explain everything or relate it back to a single plot of a dastardly person or group. It is a temptation that surfaces every time there is significant strife – and it is always wrong and superficial, even when there is a germ of truth to it. It leads people to errant assumptions in which they fight the wrong opponents and, sometimes, even commit grave atrocities. Back at the turn of the 20th century, as revolts swept the Arab world and rocked the Ottoman Empire, English grandees convinced themselves that Arab nationalist uprisings were a Jewish plot. I kid you not. This ridiculous error guided British Middle Eastern and Central Asian policy for about three decades. In the 1920’s and early 30’s, the German nation was reeling from economic collapse and punitive post-WWI dictates, leaving room for demagogues to blame it all on a vast conspiracy against the German people by, again, the Jews. This led, as you all know, to one of the greatest genocidal horrors in world history. For a good decade before the Rwandan genocide, both the government and the media in Rwanda had been scapegoating the Tutsi minority for every ill that befell that troubled and incompetent regime. Finally it exploded into one of the worst (but not the only) mass massacres of innocent scapegoats since World War II.

Sometimes, pathetic globalist conspirators even try to gain traction by vastly exaggerating their reach and prowess to their opponents. And yet, strategies geared against massive conspiring enemy masterminds are always errant and always go astray. When the air crackles with the portents of coming strife, once the strife arrives it always takes on a life of its own – and is never as people expect it to play out. So please, tread lightly with Agenda 21, the Bilderbergs, the Illuminati and such. These and other such entities are real, but they have far less influence than they wish and you fear. When you build them up as the masterminds behind all the ills that beset the world, you give them far more credit than they deserve and distract yourself from the real challenge before you: to acknowledge God, take the next right step and be a sign of hope. I have been approached twice that I know of by such secret societies in a recruitment effort – and it may be more. The initial probing can be quite subtle. It was rather reassuring. These guys aren’t masterminds: they are smugly self-satisfied wannabes and pathetic dweebs with delusions of grandeur. Don’t give them the grandeur they seek.

There is one enemy mastermind: the satan. With equal glee, he crushes both those who fear him inordinately and those who ally themselves to him in a reach for power after their usefulness to him has played its course. If you hold fast to Christ, he has no power whatsoever over you save that of tempting you to turn loose of Christ from fear, anger, or vanity to confront him alone or ally with him. What is the answer? Acknowledge God in every moment, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope. Do not seek after useless and false knowledge. Not only may it mislead you, it might just lead you to destruction.

Also, those who clear comments here have to watch the bulk of the videos that come across. We are getting more and more 90-minute or better videos purporting to explain everything in great detail. To lighten the load, no videos of more than 30 minutes will be allowed a direct link in the comments anymore, unless put there directly by a site administrator. You can certainly recommend sites to people in plain text if you so desire. But I tell you that such overheated fears are going to lead you astray. God intends that we all rely on him by taking the next right step and living our mission to be a sign of hope. He gives subtle foreshadowings of what we face, but not so much detailed information that we can kick Him to the curb and devise our own plan. Trust God. Take the next right step. Be a sign of hope.

375 thoughts on “The Mob Asserts Itself”

  1. Thank you, Charlie, for prodding all us ordinary ones to sing. Not to speak of what is before us amounts to burning up a lot of energy in avoiding the elephant in the room. We’re here. We knew this was coming in some fashion. We know it’s not going to get any easier for a while.

    I’ve read that folks from Washington State are fleeing to Idaho. There’s also news about lots of real estate on the market in Minneapolis. I cannot imagine anyone will want to buy the homes left behind. These people are refugees of a sort, refugees from our country, in our own country.

    Here’s some sobering analysis from a “religious liberty lawyer, a Christian man whose name you’ve never heard, but who is deeply involved in the legal fight and in political strategizing, at a very senior level” who was interviewed by Rod Dreher.

    We ARE on our own… with God upon Whom we rely and on Whose side we are on. Hopefully, prayerfully, such as this will rouse beau coup sleepers to pray and act.

    Love the closing paragraphs brimming with wisdom and wise counsel, Charlie!

    Liked by 13 people

    2. The Lord over the last forty years has led me simply to follow His inspirations as life goes on. I find it interesting in light of Beckita’s comment how I was led to buy 3 ten acre adjoining plots of forest land in Northern Idaho about 25 years ago (I too am living in Washington somewhat Southeast of Seattle) for simple reasons with something of a thought that it might become a place of refuge some day. Where are we going really? jas.

      Liked by 9 people

    3. What’s up with Idaho? I visited Boise ten years ago and a local was complaining about all the Californians moving in. You could tell them by the manner they drove in the snow… they couldn’t. I thought NYers too, riding in his car as velocity (well above normal limits- in my mind) and his cool demeanor seemed so out of place.

      I think it is called a comfort level. Troopers are quite comfortable driving at ninety to one hundred mph, so when they are pushing the envelope at 120 mph responding to a scene their body mechanics are receptive.

      What is our comfort level? 2017 I witnessed a Mexican political campaign in full swing. People were marching behind a banner, chanting, being very loud. My tour guide stated this was normal for the upcoming presidential election. I replied in the USA it was a protest.

      What is our comfort level? People here in nys still wear masks, walking alone outside & driving alone in a car. I think this is all a submission test.

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      1. Michael O’Brien has blessed us with his gifts. For those who may be interested, as J said, O’Brien has written a wonderful novel. If you’re looking to stoke hope, consider this brief description of Eclipse of the Sun.

        In this fast-paced, reflective novel, (the second in a trilogy following Strangers and Sojourners) Michael O’Brien presents the dramatic tale of a family that finds itself in the path of a totalitarian government. Set in the near future, the story describes the rise of a police state in North America in which every level of society is infected with propaganda, confusion and disinformation. Few people are equipped to recognize what is happening because the culture of the Western world has been deformed by a widespread undermining of moral absolutes.Against this background, the Delaney family of Swiftcreek, British Columbia, is struck a severe blow when the father of the family, the editor of a small newspaper which dares to speak the truth, is arrested by the dreaded Office of Internal Security. His older children flee into the forest of the northern interior, accompanied by their great-grandfather and an elderly priest, Father Andrei. Their little brother Arrow also becomes a fugitive as the government seeks to remove any witnesses, and eradicate all evidence of its ultimate goals.As O’Brien draws together the several strands of the story into a frightening yet moving climax, he explores the heart of growing darkness in North America, examining events which have already occurred. The reader will take away from this disturbing book a number of urgent questions: Are we living in the decisive moment of history? How dire is our situation? Do we live in pessimistic dread, or a Christian realism founded on hope? This is a tale about the victory of the weak over the powerful, courage over terror, good over evil, and, above all, the triumph of love.

        Liked by 9 people

        4. Sophia House by Michael O’Brien is REALLY REALLY good too!!!! I couldn’t put it down! Now I’m on the second book in that trilogy called “Fr Elijah!” There’s one more after that entitled, “Elijah in Jerusalem!”

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            2. The only thing I would recommend is that Sophia house should be read before Father Elijah because the young man in Sophia House BECOMES Father Elijah…don’t know why they put it out of order there? Perhaps a simple error…🤔

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        5. I read Michael O’Brien’s novels. Very interesting reads. Even more applicable now than when they first were published.

          Liked by 1 person

    5. Yes, I was also wondering about what Charlie said about “turning the other cheek” as Timothy mentioned. Need help with the history of this also.

      Liked by 5 people

    6. Beckita, Thanks for the link from Rod Dreher. It is indeed “sobering.” I believe I need to pull out his book again and take a look.
      As Charlie’s conclusion is for us to stay the course, we are finding new opportunities as our parishes open. As we are called, so we will follow with the next right step.
      …and we certainly do NOT want Oregon to be given away! Noooooo!
      Remembering us all in daily prayer,
      Katey in Oregon

      Liked by 5 people

    7. Since I live between New York and Philadelphia, I can tell you, New Yorkers have been fleeing the city for quite some time. Some continued to continue to work in the city and commute. In all honesty we cannot flee from the problem. Even though Trump won the election, we have a shadow government, that before they left office, they made sure, they placed Unelecteds in powerful positions, that would restrict the new President in powerful ways.. The worry is, are people paying attention or do they listen to fake news and believe it.
      Also who controlls the media, especially the Internet. Will elections be honest..
      I was wondering Charlie, you always said, you would March on Washington, I think we have missed the Boat.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. How it’s going, Theresa? Still praying for you.

        Actually, what Charlie said about the March was that he was asked to prepare for the possibility of one, which he did. It seems God has another idea now… or maybe He’ll call for a March… or maybe some other things will develop as we partner with Him.

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        1. For what it is worth, I prepare for a multitude of things that are not required. I think of them as exercises in obedience. (And privately, I have this low-level fear that if I ever durst NOT prepare for such a thing, that is precisely what would be required of me. So I think along two tracks…one, that I am preparing and two, that I am eliminating scary possibilities by my willingness to confront them.)

          Liked by 5 people

        2. I appreciate all that have prayed for me.. So the operation took place, and all cancer was removed along with all organs that may be cancerous in the future.. Radiation was scheduled, but after giving it some thought, if all cancer was removed, I did not think I needed invasive radiation.
          In July I will have another cat scan to see if the nodes on my lungs have grown.
          The cancer was stage 1 and early cancer, and I attribute that to all of the prayers said for me..
          The operation took place April 27th, it was robotic surgery, and really no pain was involved and went home the very same day. My children were with me, so that is one thing I will say about the pandemic, everyone was locked in and it made it easier for my daughter and son to be with me.. They do not live in the same area. God is good and he answers prayers.

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          1. Thank you for the update, Theresa. So glad that all the cancer was removed and also that your kids are with you. Keeping you in my prayers.

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            1. Mick Thank you for your prayers, and a reminder to me to pray for all on this website.. Life is sure getting hectic and Charlie is right, just live in the present moment.

              GOD BLESS ALL

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  3. Thanks, Charlie. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the “means for the faithful to defend themselves and each other – to live solidarity with those who defend us and to refuse to submit to those who seek to subjugate us – while helping and connecting with each other.”

    Liked by 7 people

  4. I know there are people out there waiting to see if a fight actually happens – who haven’t previously concluded such was at this point innevitable. Most of the Catholic men I know, who are now, say fifty or over – were resigned to the fact that there was ultimately no peaceful way out of this by somewhere between 2008 and 2012. The vast majority of them knew that a country which could elect an openly anti-God, anti-gun, anti-white, anti-almost-everything decent President was too far gone to be saved peacefully. In actuality,

    I know few men under fifty on a reasonably close basis such that such subjects can be comfortably held. Virtually all of the Catholic men I know who are fifty five or over were more or less convinced some years ago that the only thing which will stop such an out and out civil brawl here is some form of Divine Intervention. I do know men under say forty five years old who don’t seem to have any clue what is going on – or what the outcomes might be – are far from uncommon.

    Most Catholic women I’ve broached such a subject with of almost any age tend to ask you with their eyes if not their voices not to say such things. This is nothing new. In my personal opinion, if this planet did not have the gentling effect of most women I’ve known [i.e., if somehow there were only men here] most venues would sooner or later devolve into brawling of one kind or another. When it comes to physical fighting, more calming effect I’ve experienced came from women than men. So I’m not surprised that most women do not want to hear that at least a physical fight is inevitable.

    All my love in Christ

    Desmond

    Liked by 14 people

    1. I say this with a little smirk; clearly you have not watched the friday, saturday night boxing specials at Popeye’s Chicken establishments. It seems only women brawl while the men look on and record via smartphone.
      Interestingly, the Louisana Chicken joint’s name was changed in the early’70’s in honor of Popeye Doyle, a nyc cop known for his French Connection investigation.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Then, possibly, this thing of women not wanting physical fighting is also a generational thing. Perhaps it harkens back to a time when for the majority, certainly not for all, a time when the majority knew and appreciated what a Christian lady and a gentleman were.

        A gentleman never started a fight. But a gentleman encountering a scene of bullying or violence against the weak, defenseless, or toward any woman would not hesitate to jump in and stop it. He would never start a fight if reason could stop one. But if unjustly attacked he had no qualms about finishing said fight.

        This is not the culture at all I grew up in. I’ve tried to explain these things to seminarians over the years. They find it difficult to believe that there was even a time – in my lifetime – when the average men in general automatically opened a door for, or gave up their seat for any woman. In that day, the average woman would never ever use any kind of four letter words, and most certainly not any curse words. Now I hear girls and women using such language in public. It is almost physically painful to my ears to hear it. I’m not speaking of what we used to call, ‘street walkers’, but ordinary average looking girls and women.

        You know, just thinking about this has reminded me of why so many people my age or older are sometimes not all that unhappy to go.

        All my love in Christ

        Desmond

        Liked by 12 people

        1. Yes, Desmond, there has been a generational shift here. I don’t have the be all and end all thoughts on this but I do see how many families are fatherless and this surely contributes to women needing to step into the role of protector – albeit, the mama bear instinct, I think, is ingrained in motherhood and manifests in many forms and situations.

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          1. Ha, Beckita! When my son was a kid, he was playing shortstop at a junior high baseball game when a grounder took a bad hop and whacked him in the forehead. It knocked him back, but he had the presence of mind to grab the ball and still threw the batter out before falling out for a few moments on the field in pain. His teammates were admiring of the play and afterward I told him I was proud of how he handled it. He told me that a lot of his friends had single Moms – and they coddled the kids for every sniffle they had. “You, though, Dad, I think if I accidentally cut my foot off, you would just growl at me to ‘walk it off.” I wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad – and then he flashed me his patented, glorious Chaz grin and said, “Thanks for not letting me be a wimp, Dad!”

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            1. Love it, Charlie. I’m a both/and kinda’ mama bear. I’ll draw close, validate your feelings and cheer you on to the strength God gives if we but ask and then exercise it.

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              1. When my daughter & her friends would come to me to referee or start crying about something, my stock answer was “is there blood? If not, work it out.”

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            2. HahHa!!! My dad was such a rough neck!!! Grew me up around a bunch of drunken swearing sailors!!! Often I was the only girl! My sister Cindy later in life told me dad did that because he used me to attract big big crew men!!! Often well over 6 feet and big as a horse for good balance on those windward legs!!!Ha!!! I didn’t believe it though…he was very protective!!! But if you were sick in my family dads response was, “Go to bed! Take two aspirins and call me in the morning!” Hahahahaha 😂😂😂 gotta love rough neck dads!🤗❤️🙏

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        2. Dear All,

          It has been kindly called to my attention that there are women who do not turn become discomforted at the sound of the word ‘fight’, as in a physical fight or battle. I happen to be married to one of them. There are exceptions to what I discussed above. But that doesn’t mean my wife, Jean, isn’t also kind, caring, and nourishing. Also, usually, she is one of the first ‘peace makers’ on any scene. But she grew up in a troubled landscape [her fathers battles with uber left leaders of his day.] She grew up understanding that there are times when a fight cannot be avoided. She is still horrified by any unnecessary physical fighting which most men will shrug their shoulders at.

          Liked by 7 people

          1. Aquinas– I don’t like violence and fighting. The thought of hurting or killing someone horrifies me, but I know maternal instincts would kick in if any one threatened my loved ones, or even someone I happened to be around.

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            1. Yep, Kim… that’s what we do; that’s how we roll. And Aquinas/Desmond’s mighty wife would be leading the pack of us mama bears to beat the snot out of the offending perp. 🙂

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        1. Yes. The recording was done by a man who commented to another about the white woman burning Wendy’s and not stopping the arson. Nor did the video display the woman in better detail for future identification.

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    2. It will be interesting to see what happens post exit of Trump’s rally this evening in Tulsa. May it be peaceful even though there are rumors of otherwise.

      Liked by 5 people

    3. What a stupid thing to say about women. You obviously don’t know me or my two daughters well. Don’t you know the ages old saying, “Don’t get between a Mama Bear and her cubs”? I have never known our Lady to run from a fight, have you forgotten that Our Lady led and won the battle of Lapanto? The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was on the lead commanding ship. And how can you for get our dear patron St Joan of Arc- when all of the men of France had tired and crumpled into heaps of cowardness, the Lord lifted up a girl, A GIRL, to raise them up and lead them.

      Do not underestimate the gifts and power the Lord has given to women! Yes, women want to live in peace as all men do, but we will fight if and when called upon and you will be grateful to have them at your side.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Ha! Well, I know well that Lil’ Wild Rose is not the least afraid to use her thorns to best effect. Although I don’t disagree with Aquinas that many women DO prefer to avoid physical conflict at all costs, I know that is not the truth about Lil’ Wild Rose and her daughters. And amusingly – the two of you DO know and like each other (though I don’t think you know who is behind the moniker here).

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        1. My parents bought a house in the Adirondaks from a woman of grit. She was washing dishes, heard a commotion on the adjacent screened back porch. Investigating, she discovered a black bear on the steps, nose pressed to the screen door. She took her broom by the handle and pooped the bear in the nose. Needless to say, the bear toppled backwards off the steps, taking off into the woods.

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      2. Rose, my wife Jean also knows how to be a mama bear. And she is not surprised nor horrified at the idea that a physical broohaahaa is at this point avoidable. When we got married in 1969, even on our honeymoon we discussed whether there would be sufficient time for whatever children God gave us to grow up before ‘the feathers hit the fan.’ She grew up with her father battling the underground communist movement in California in the 1950’s. She grew up with battles all around her. And I have seen enough to know she would not hesitate to defend herself or our grandchildren with physical force if and when attacked.

        I’m simply saying that the vast majority of American Catholic women I’ve known have an innate instinct to avoid a physical battle at all costs – unless or until they or theirs are physically under threat. St. Thomas observes this same phenomenon in most women. And he does not consider it to be a bad thing. I recognized this is on of God’s balances in humankind to keep the average man from turning the world into a giant boar’s den.

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        1. I am a woman. Since 1976 or so, I have always been a pro-life pacifist. (I did NOT encourage my sons to join the military.) THEN, just about 2 years ago, my grandson asked me, what if they came for your grandchild. Oops! I bought a gun. I support our military and police. And last week, I thought about loading the gun and keeping it loaded. Then Monday’s readings…Now, I am again torn. IS it better just to love and be killed, or to fight? To be killed is no sweat off my back, Heaven is supposed to be really good, but my family? God’s will?

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        2. Aquinas41:That explains why Catholic soccer mom’s don’t get President Trump and will vote for Joe Biden? and don’t even understand what’s at stake? I think so.

          Like

        3. Jean sounds like an amazing amazing person!!! I feel like I sort of know her just from the beautiful things you’ve written about her Aquinas! I wonder if someday, she’ll write a little piece oh her mind! I’d bet she has some wisdom to share ❤️

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      3. Thanks for the observations. However, all men do not want to live in peace – as history confirms. Today, a large portion of men in my American culture have turned and gone from loving a good fight to loving brutality. Can I give an example? Oh yes. The ‘cage fighting’ craze is abominable. The manly art of self-defense is now considered relatively wimpy by a distressingly growing percentage of American men. But the utter brutality of ‘cage fighting’ is quite popular.

        I’ve found it interesting over the last four or five decades for as the hierarchy in the USA have gone to describing boxing as tawdry. At the same time, I’ve never heard even one of them denounce the absolutely evil level of violence in ‘cage fighting’.

        I recall an American Bishop whom in most cases I greatly admire, subtly apologizing for speaking well of the movie ‘Cinderella Man’ due to the boxing central theme. It is the totally true story of the very Catholic aging amateur boxer, the prize fighter James Braddock. He was an exemplarily good family man who was down and out during the Great Depression. He returned to boxing as a professional at an advanced age for a boxer. He did so in order to simply feed his family during the Depression. His equally very good Catholic wife was horrified, and wanted him to quit the ring. One of his greatest trials was that he never had the support of his wife through all this.

        She was understandably upset in particular when Braddock was scheduled to fight Max Bear for the title. Bear had already killed a man in the ring with a single punch.

        The point is, it didn’t make his wife a wimp just because she was virulently resistant to her husband being a professional boxer – which can be a violent sport – definitely involves physical fighting.

        There is a real observable difference between the attitudes of many men and women about what they view as unnecessary or avoidable physical battles – as Thomas Aquinas explains so well.

        All my love in Christ

        Desmond

        Liked by 8 people

        1. Desmond, I generally am not a fan of boxing; but “Cinderella Man” was an incredible movie. You’ve inspired me: I think I’ll rent it tonight an watch it with my oldest son (we watched Rocky I and Rocky II last month… don’t know why I’ve been on a boxing-movie binge lately).

          And James Braddock was a good man, and an inspiration to many.

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          1. Great story and movie! I always loved the analogy to life, when it knocks you down, you just have to get back up and fight for something greater than yourself, your family. When our family went through a very difficult layoff during the 2008-2009 recession, we watched this movie a few times and felt like we could at least better understand the range of emotions and decisions they had to make. Each of the parents (James and his wife) fought for their families in different but important ways. They seemed like a great team.

            Didn’t James Braddock go onto serve in WWII?

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            2. Yes, Braddock did serve in WW II. And when he was too old to fight, be became a steel worker, even working on the construction of one of the major New York bridges. Walked the walk many hundreds of feet over the water on many a day. What a man!

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            3. Yes, DMG, he did serve in WWII. He enlisted at the age of 37. This is from Wiki: “Braddock enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and became a first lieutenant. He served in the Pacific theater on the island of Saipan, where he trained enlisted men in hand-to-hand combat.”

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          2. I agree with you. James J. (Jim) Braddock was a Catholic man’s man par excellence. My father began teaching me the manly art of self defense at around the age of six – in the Spring of 1947 if I remember correctly. He bought me my first pair of boxing gloves (little boys size) then.

            As I grew older, I never started a fistfight. [My father would have been ashamed and hided me for it if I ever had.] However I did finish a number of those started by big bullies who thought they could easily bully me as I was nowhere near their size. I never had one of them come after me more than once.

            But in our generally limp-wristed society today — I’ve had many [especially women] look at me with horror when they heard I had been a boxer. Why not? I had both my dad and Jim Braddock in my corner every time. 🙂

            All my love in Christ

            Desmond

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            1. The all-boys Catholic high school my brother went to had the Mission Bouts each year. It was a huge event. It was to raise funds for the Basilians. It is no longer an all boys Catholic school, but I believe the school still holds the bouts each year.

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            2. Desmond, God bless your father for teaching you to box. When I was a little girl, my brothers had some boxing gloves, although I don’t recall ever seeing them box. My dad loved boxing, maybe because his uncle (who had the same first name as he did) was a Golden Glove boxer in Illinois when he was 16 (which was the year before he lied about his age so that he could join the Army and fight in WWII). I remember watching a lot of boxing with my dad and my brothers when I was a kid.

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              1. Men, having a big dose of testosterone, can’t help but feel competitive. This hormone is what drives boys to compete, wrestle, explore, hunt, fish, play sports and have incredible energy.
                God bless mothers who have to levin behavior of their sons!
                I was particularly irrasible being hyperactive and gave my mother a subliminal despair of me. Later she apologized for her feelings and for my condition having found out how artificial colors can cause hyperactivity. (Yep, I drank the coolaid!)
                This hormone is the main reason why boys are different than girls in thier aggressivness and highly active lifestyles.

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  5. I like the additional meaningful phrase “in every moment”
    “Acknowledge God in every moment, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope.”

    Liked by 8 people

  6. Wow! You really struck a home run on this one! I think this is your best political analysis to date. I will be rereading this for some time. Thanks Charlie!

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  7. Interesting observations, Desmond. I don’t know if Midwestern women are atypical or what. Or maybe it’s that women from the country or from small (or smallish) towns are atypical. But anyhow, our local Storm group consists mostly of women; and regarding the idea that there’s no way to get to the Era of Peace without a physical fight, we’re like, “Bring it then.” It’s not like we’re warmongers or anything. But all of us are mothers. And just as we know that one can’t birth a child without the physical fight of labor, we are resigned to the fact that we can’t get to the other side of this current madness without going through a physical fight with those who would burn everything to the ground rather than leave us be.

    May God help us all to be faithful and to stand firm during this fight.

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        1. Ah Mick!!! I was telling Mike last night how much I love you!!! I told him I feel like I’ve found my long lost childhood friend again!!! You and I are like sisters already and we both like to goof off and laugh A LOT!!!😂😂😂 So happy you’re in my life homegirl🤗❤️🙏😘🌹🐐🐑

          Ps!!! Loved your 🐑 sheep and 🐐 goat story yesterday!!! Could you tell everyone here??? Lol

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    2. HI, Mick. I know that what I’m described above is not applicable to all women. As mentioned in a post above, I know women who do not shrink from the idea of an inevitable even physical fight. I’m married to one of them. It is also true that – as Charlie pointed out – most women will avoid a physical fight at all costs. I added, and Aquinas says that isn’t a bad thing. It is part of God’s balancing act to see the the men don’t turn this world into one large continuous brawl. I was speaking of the average Catholic woman I’ve happened to discuss this with. And of course if they or theirs are physically attacked they will defend. On average they – in my experience – simply don’t reconcile as easily as to the idea of a future physical brawl as the average man can. And thank God fo that balancing. The average woman of my generation – in my experience – is more likely to try to stop an unnecessary physical fight than the average man is.

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      1. Desmond, I agree with you wholeheartedly and think that your above comments are quite insightful. It may just be that the women with whom I’m friends are an exception to the general rule. Or it could be that (most of) my female friends and I are tomboys who grew up with older brothers. 🙂

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      2. I love how one of my cousins describes a photo of one of our Chinook ancestresses (1830-1924):

        “Not unpleasant, but not to be tangled with, either.”

        That is so true. The family stories are well recorded. She was the fiercely loving mother of 12 (or more) and a great adventuress during historic and sometimes dangerous times.

        I think that description holds for many of us here at ASOH.

        Blessings, friends ~
        Sister Bear

        Liked by 5 people

    4. Hi Mick, I was raised in the suburbs of NY and cannot recall even play fighting with anyone. I don’t even like to argue! In my neighborhood I walk and pray the rosary for peace, cooperation among neighbors, and the safety of people, pets and property. And yet most of my life, some people have found me intimidating because I am tall. Perhaps my height will be an advantage should a physical fight be necessary. Long arms may come in handy! My husband is tall, too, so watch out! 🙂

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      1. Ha, we were a squabbling bunch! Five boys and a girl in my family. Once, we somehow irritated a bunch of bigger boys in the neighborhood who decided to teach us a lesson. A friend of ours, named Ronnie, was with them and he urged them, fearfully, not to tangle with us. The boys noted that we weren’t all that big, so what was the problem. “You don’t understand,” he said, “they think fighting is just good fun. They will compliment you on getting in a good lick, but they don’t go down.” Our friend understood us well.

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        1. Ha!!! I can picture you boys roughing around a bit!!! 😂😂😂 I can also picture mom, aka Laura, aka Tootie, aka Tootie-bug giving you all a little lecture?🤔

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      2. Ha, Marie! My brothers are 6 and 7 years older than I am; and I used to play-fight with them. Ever heard of slap-boxing? It looks like this:

        https://giphy.com/gifs/funny-lol-wtf-1n3Icv3iptOCmN7uYh

        I was only ever in one real fight. I was 7. I didn’t start it, but I finished it. 🙂

        I’m not very tall. Nobody really finds me intimidating. Most people think I’m kind of a goofball (which is true). As Linda mentioned, I love to laugh and goof around.

        But I am deadly serious about what is coming down the pike at us all, and about what is already here. And I’m deadly serious about being prepared for the use of force–even deadly force–against unjust aggressors who may threaten my family or other defenseless people.

        I pray to God that I never have to point a firearm at a human being. Like Timothy, I rescue struggling earthworms off of the pavement after a heavy rain. I take harmless little bugs out of my house and release them outside (NOT spiders, though; my sons kill those for me). But if I ever do need to use a gun against a perp, I pray that I not hesitate; and I pray that my aim be true.

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  8. Great post Charlie.
    Just ruminating on how a Christian pushback/Joan of Arc fight would look today. The politicians should fear us more than the flying monkeys of death. Their reflex “Oh-no it’s the Christians again !” should maybe be our goal. Now what in concrete actions does this mean?

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  9. The mob action against police in all jurisdictions that need police protection the most, e.g., Chicago, Baltimore, NYC…) need not go so far as to actually reduce police budgets, much less defund them entirely, because the Ferguson Effect is already making bad worse for crime ridden communities.

    One may hope that in these Democrat run cities, folks would catch on and vote them out of office. However, history implies the worse it gets, the more they blame everyone else except themselves and their political hustlers. But, as Charlie pondered about the potential educational value of standing by while the anarchists, progressive idealists,and crass Democrat politicians command areas, such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, NYC, and now add Atlanta, the average citizen, including especially minorities, might eventually realize the need for change.

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  10. I have complete faith and hope that God will overcome the madness in the end, but in all honesty, I’m finding it almost impossible to believe it will be anytime soon, perhaps not even in my lifetime. It feels like we’re on a collision course to total chaos. We’re in desperate need for real and courageous leadership. Would someone please help me to know “how” to be a source of hope when all hope seems lost?

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    1. Tricia, we’re all in the right place – A Sign of Hope community – to kindle hope, within ourselves, our families and the world around us. I don’t know how old you are, but next year I’ll be 70 and I expect to be alive for these things to come to conclusion… unless God calls me home in the midst of it all. I’m ready for whatever He wants from me. We are on God’s side here. He has raised up a leader in Charlie who has the incredible ability to lead and to walk in solidairty with those willing to partner with God as we make our way through this transition, drawing on the strengths of those who are ALL IN for God’s Way out of this mess. I’ve got more to say about Hope but will save it for after running a few errands.

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Adding here a simple thought to create hope as we see how bad times are across our country (and across the world, and historically how people have suffered): we know God always has control, so it will never get worse than we can handle with trust in our Salvation. I must admit too, that at 82, I have the hope that I personally may not see the worst of it from this side.

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        1. Amen, Jack. So many scriptures assure us God is in control AND He is always with us. They really are promises… just one for now: Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. (Romans 5:20) Of course, God ALONE knows all the details, including the time line, of this final confrontation yet we know the chaos, driven by the enemy of our souls, will exhaust itself. As in childbirth, I keep my focus on each contraction, striving to do what God is asking of me, while also holding in my heart the promise of Rescue via the full Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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      3. Thanks for saying this Beckita. I’ve been struggling with hopelessness and despair for a few weeks now. The hatred , divisiveness, and anger that we are seeing in our country is also being played out within our family. I don’t see a way out, but your words give me a tiny bit of hope.

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        1. Blessedly, this phase of incredible division, anger, chaos and confusion is not a permanent condition. I continue to connect, spiritually, with the Cloud of Witnesses who have gone before us, clinging to Hope Himself and living the faith with fortitude and fidelity. We follow in their footsteps.

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      4. Yes, Beckita, I am 71 and I am grateful for Charlie’s analysis because I would rather hear a painful truth over a sweet lie. Here in old Oregon our Senators just pat us on the head. Would love to know how to change their hearts – continuous prayer is what I’m doing. “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do…” and if they DO know what they’re doing then bang their heads together! ..uh, please. Amen. katey in OR

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        2. “[A]nd if they DO know what they’re doing then bang their heads together! ..uh, please. Amen.” Laughing myself silly, Katey! 🙂

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      5. I’m 63 and I also hope to live long enough see the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary! But what about the prophecies, especially Akita, that say that right after the chastisement the living will envy the dead? Something to think about.

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        1. Surely OLA did forewarn of that possibility of envying the dead. As it is, we’re not going to get out of suffering… but then, neither did our ancestors in faith who traversed harsh times. So, we can either dwell on the possible misery to come or we can dwell on how to love no matter the cost. Many a saint recounts experiences of joy in the midst of intense suffering. The grace we need each day is there. God is Love and though we may feel like He’s hiding, our faith tells us He is intimately with us in the darkest nights.

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        2. Dear Jean, this is why I urge such caution when dealing with any prophecy. In their raw form, they encompass things that are literal and things that are metaphorical – and are presented in a fashion if there is no mitigation at all. Most prophecy is conditional – and the dire ones that aren’t are still subject to the mitigation of its intensity and circumstances. That is the case with fully approved private revelation. I often do not understand what is being projected in authentic prophecy and I will NOT build my life around it, even my own. Some of it sounds and seems terrifying – and most of us have lived through some terrifying things.

          What I know is to NEVER underestimate the mercy of God. Thus, I work to do all I can in the little ways I can, trusting that God will do things that are good for me even if they are not fun or comfortable for me. What else can I do? So how do I do that? Very simply: I acknowledge God, take the next right step, and try to be a sign of hope – and trust to God for the rest.

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        3. Jean Marie, I covered those prophecies of S. Agnes in TTT back in 1996. From the context, I always understood that the comments about the living envying the dead being during the early period of a time of recovery – rather than something ongoing.

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        4. I expect that we all think a bit about that statement , Jean Marie. Concentrate on Psalm 91. I much prefer the promises of the Pslam.

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  11. Thank you Charlie. I have to admit that the allure of Q and all the One World Order theories attract me like a June bug to a light… and I thank God I was exposed to TNRS and ASOH some years ago!!! I’ve been trying hard to pray and expose my family and friends to the ASOH line of thinking… it can be confusing to those that don’t have this type of community to be with though. To tell them to trust in God, defend the faith, be a sign of hope to others, and to take the next right step while also trying to subtly prepare for potential physical altercations and trials is a challenge. Like Mick, our small towns and villages seem insulated a tad, but I also know the satan has tentacles everywhere… please keep sharing your analysis Charlie and Desmond…. you provide great perspective that is different than the panacea narrative. I also believe there is an obvious coup and conspiracy against us now, and I guess you can tie it to one mastermind evil villan… the evil one… thank God we are on the winning team with Jesus and we have a truly amazing Faith! Happy Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (and first day of summer)!

    Liked by 8 people

    1. I’m glad you mentioned Q again, Billbad. I followed it – from a distance, meaning reading some cliff note versions – at the beginning and then got fed up with the constant promises, since the fall of 2017, that “next week” or “next month” or “soon” thus and such was coming down. So, I just quit reading anything related to Q… until a few months ago when some people I had been working with brought Q up and I started, at that time, to pray like: “OK, Lord… if this is something You’re allowing within Your Plan then let it flourish for good.” Then, several weeks ago came, from a friend who was close to a priest who’s been following Q, the big forewarning to pray much because something big was happening that weekend in DC. Well, once again it didn’t. From what I can see, nothing substantial from the volumes of Q promises ever has fully come to pass. How many thousands of times have the drops, analyses and commentary repeated the exhortation: Trust the plan?

      I get the attraction to it all. We want God and His Goodness to win. We want this nightmare to be over. In truth, the real Plan to follow is God’s and, at the moment, we’re yet in the strategizing stages of how we will rise up to partner with Him for this stage of His Plan unfolding. And so it shall be, just as Charlie has urged us to mentally prepare, we’ll come to know our part in God’s Plan one blessed step at a time, IF we remain connected to Him, acknowledge Him and take those sometimes risky next right steps – never losing sight of the reality that we’re not going to be able to see much further ahead than the current NRS in which we’re engaged. Honestly, knowing from the outset of Charlie’s writing, that three of the purposes of this Storm are: 1. That we rely c.o.m.p.l.e.t.e.l.y. on God 2. That we get, deep down in our souls, the truth that ALL good has God at the core and “is” because of HIS generous grace 3. That God will burn every iota of vanity out of each one of us… well, it makes commensurate good sense that no human, long range plan (addendum, I cleared this too soon.) will work. Even when we’re acknowledging God, if we haven’t actually checked in with Him as to what our next right step should be, we could well be surging ahead without Him.

      Praying much now about what is transpiring as Charlie gathers our Gideon Army. Remeber how Charlie has written of us as likened to our ancestors in faith, Gideon and his troops? We may be small in numbers at this point, yet, it’s another way all will know GOD is the Victor and never-ending Savior of His people and that His Mother, and ours, wil soon – and very soon, intense as thisis now – be known as The One who rescued God’s People when all seemed lost. Blessed be God forever! Ave Maria Stella Maris eternally!

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          1. I have come to believe that the only real authority on “prophecy” is the Church. Most mystics are given visions that may or may not come true and a lot is negotiable through prayers and penance so we do not know how the prophecy is mitigated, changed or ended by this.
            The real message is for us to look just at ourselves in the light given us through the messages. Very often, we are outside the stories main influence but as the Body of Christ, we can effect change by our intercessory prayers so knowledge of these things can lead us to effective “steps” through each one’s unique walk. I do not know my role in this time, but I do know we win. Because of this, I am confident in my prayers for this purpose and I do not pretend that somehow I made some effect by my prayers but God did by His power allocated through my openness towards His will.
            And that is satisfying.
            As a construction worker, I recognise the benefit of the proper tool. The genius of its creation benefits me tremendously and there are things I could not do without the right tool. But the tool can do nothing on its own, it is my power and skill working with it that gives it the proper purpose and effect.
            And likewise we too we are most properly effective with God.

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            1. Definitely, Phil, the real authority is the Church. This is is our Catholic teaching. That said, we’ve had a period with a plethora of prophetic messages in a time when it seems most in the hierarchy have dismissed prophetic utterances. Granted, the enemy goes after the business of prompting false prophecy as a diversion from the authentic. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, our Bishops have not catechized the flock in the area of mystical messages. This has resulted in a lot of confused laity working things out on their own. Nevertheless, many are they who deepened their efforts in conversion and who took up the cause of praying for others because they were deeply touched by a prophetic message. were this not so, this Storm would have been much longer and even more intense.

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      2. Thank you! As a newbie to Q, everything you wrote hit the nail straight-on, connected all the dots. Because I lack patience (oh the opportunity for penance!) this big-promise-failing hit me fairly quickly.

        I have no Hope to waste on a cavalry that isn’t coming 😉

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    2. “I have to admit that the allure of Q and all the One World Order theories attract me like a June bug to a light… and I thank God I was exposed to TNRS and ASOH some years ago!!! ”

      Yepyep! LOL 😀

      Liked by 6 people

  12. Amen Charlie!!! Great piece per usual!!!

    I really like this paragraph:

    “There is one enemy mastermind: the satan. With equal glee, he crushes both those who fear him inordinately and those who ally themselves to him in a reach for power after their usefulness to him has played its course. If you hold fast to Christ, he has no power whatsoever over you save that of tempting you to turn loose of Christ from fear, anger, or vanity to confront him alone or ally with him. What is the answer? Acknowledge God in every moment, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope. Do not seek after useless and false knowledge. Not only may it mislead you, it might just lead you to destruction.”

    Btw mike and I are people of good will; we used to keep our doors unlocked, etc…these days (last Saturday) we went and bought each other a shiny new smith and Wesson revolver! Never in a million years did I think we’d ever do that!!!

    Mike said, “Linda, with the way the world is getting, and their shutting down the police, I think it’s time we have a little protection for ourselves or for our fellows!”

    The nice fellow who sold us our guns said there was a RECORD TWO WEEKS GOING ON RIGHT NOW of ordinary folk who never owned a gun before!!!

    Told our kids…”Well, you know it’s Armageddon when mom & dad buy a gun!”

    Ha!!! Now to learn how to use it!!😬

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    1. Due to living out in the country and having the local sheriff take 45 minutes to respond we realized we needed to better able to protect ourselves & others who depended on us. If you watched old time westerns the old ladies on the porch had a shotgun. You don’t have to be a good aim. Cocking it and pointing it in the general direction will suffice. BUT don’t pick it up unless you are absolutely sure you will use it. Otherwise it will be used against you. Take Lessons to practice.
      The conversation about arming teachers came up in the staff lounge one afternoon. People were taken aback when I said I would absolutely be supportive of it. I’m a mother, I would fight like a mama bear to protect my young-I would do it for yours, too. Once I explained it like that to the rest of the crew, the mothers in the group agreed. God gave us maternal instincts for a reason-it is our duty to hone them-IMHO.
      The rosary is a shell with 50 BB’s.

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      1. That is awesome advice handtotheplow!!! I know!!! At first I felt like I had done something naughty because I’ve never had a gun before😩 but the more we discussed it, it seemed the most logical thing to do in view of these angry mob times! I remember Charlie saying long ago there would be roving gangs… we are a little out of the way too but ya never know what will happen as we go forward in this storm!

        Your sentence, “BUT don’t pick it up unless you are absolutely sure you will use it. Otherwise it will be used against you. “ made a lot of sense to me and I’m going to remember that forever!!! Thanks for the tip! 🤗❤️🙏🌹😘✝️😇

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        1. Linda, do you and Mike have someplace close by (and open) where you could take a gun course and maybe even get your concealed-pistol licenses (or whatever they call it in Ohio)?

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          1. Yes..we have the phone number of a place here in Norwalk hubby/wife team I guess and just need to call them! Lol probably call on Monday to set up…took a week just to digest it all😂🤗😂

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      2. I use a rosary as my “weapon”, but a friend of mine considered a shotgun for defense within her home. However, her husband is opposed to having a gun. So my friend ordered a slingshot of the sort that is legal in her state, thinking she would practice and learn to use it for defense. Although amazon.com marked the delivery as “left in a safe place,” the slingshot was never found. My friend read this as a sign that God did not want her to have a slingshot to use as a weapon…Thoughts?

        Like

        1. I don’t know, Marie. Once, Amazon noted that they’d delivered a book to our house, when in fact it was delivered to a house almost a mile dead north of us (the other family kindly put it in our mailbox later). If I were in your friend’s shoes, I’d be praying thusly: “God, if you want me to have a shotgun, then please change my husband’s heart; if not, then please change mine.” Then I’d bring it up to my husband again in a couple of weeks.

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        3. Marie B, I’ve given a lot of thought to weapons and fighting. I always come back to the problems I have with guns. You have to be very careful with them, with handling and locking them away, with straying into gun-free zones and getting cited, not generally packing while at home. Guns have a real place but I find most people go to a gun and then think they’re done. What happens if someone breaks into your house and your gun is in another room or in a gunsafe because it’s unsafe to have them openly lying around? So I think it’s better to think the way a rocket scientist I know thought about pencils and paper. Whenever he had an idea and went to write it down, he couldn’t find paper and pencil. Very frustrating. So he went out and bought a couple reams of paper and several boxes of pencils and put batches of paper and pencils all over his apartment and work space, so he could lay his hands on paper and pencil without any delay any time he had an idea. I’ve come to think of defense the same way.

          1) You always have your body with you, so train it to be a weapon. I think the best for that is Target Focus Training, which you can learn the basics to in less than a week using their at-home training methods (I unfortunately have the material but have not used it yet).
          https://www.targetfocustraining.com

          2) Have weapons everywhere in your house, weapons that aren’t obviously weapons. Buy 10′ or 12′ long thick-walled PVC piping and cut the pipes into 2-3′ sections with canted ends that are like little pungee sticks or spears, duct-tape the flat end handles, and put them all around the house or car – cheap, plentiful and safe (and you can make your attacker very uncomfortable by staining the business end brown, so if he stops to talk, you can tell him you dipped the end in dog poop). Get some small supersoakers and fill them with bleach (at least if you miss, the house will be cleaner). Put several very bright flashlights around and in your car or home (a two-fer: blind your attacker and stay safe in a blackout). Buy a bunch of tactical pens and spread them around. If you have rusty bladed tools, like an old manual hedge trimmer, take them apart into the two halves and use as short-swords (no attacker will fail to cringe seeing a rusty blade coming at them and thus be distracted). Use intense noise makers like airhorns to startle home invaders (it is said that loud noises will cause burglars to flee). Buy some tactical knives, and so on. Fill your house and cars with weapons nobody will see as weapons and that won’t hurt anyone or need to be locked away for safety and place them everywhere so that you can always grab one or two instantly no matter where you are in your home or car or office. If you want to go out with a weapon, think about getting a very heavy, short metal rod and put it somehow in your pants, practice throwing it so you can be able to have a good chance of hitting an attacker if you’re in a mall – one throw might work and can’t hurt to have available.

          3) Only after doing 1 and 2 would I do big things not easy to duplicate around the house or car. Obviously, that includes guns, but (1) and (2) may be enough in your mind. A non-gun one-off that I like is a 40v battery powered Ryobi chainsaw. If you feel threatened, put it on your living room coffee table or next to your bed so you can grab it and attack. Believe me, if you head for a bad guy with a whirring electric chainsaw, you will provoke visceral fear, and when you don’t need them, they store quietly and safely next to you. And you can use it to trim trees or clean up after storms.

          My philosophy is to always have a weapon within easy reach. That means body training, safe weapons *everywhere*, and a few big ones, including chainsaws and maybe even guns. And then pray like crazy to be spared the need to use them. I’ve got some of these materials already. Now that things are turning south in a big way, I’m slowly implementing them.

          Liked by 9 people

              1. MP and Mick, I am laughing so hard! Thanks, I needed that! 🙂

                And Steve, wow, you’ve really thought this through! I did have to chuckle about the chainsaw, but, hey, if it works for you, why not?

                Love you guys, you are all great!

                Liked by 3 people

          2. Wow, Steve! These are excellent suggestions! I will print them out and take action. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. You are a blessing to this community in so many ways!

            Liked by 5 people

          3. Steve BC: Those high intensity bulb flashlights will stop attackers in their tracks. When t v commercials for them start I have to quickly change channels because even from the t v the light is so intense it hurts my eyes. Ditto for the strobing ones too. We live in what I described as almost country. Woods everywhere. Even a bear was videotaped during the day in a neighborhood @ 3 miles away last week. Ever since the lockdown it has become real evident that the woods are teaming with life. Never go out back at night without a high intensity flash light to scan it before entering or in the past leaving our little dog out because she would make a tasty meal. A darn chicken hawk loved to sit on the roof of the house behind us and watch her every move assessing what? Hmmmm! Can I lift off with her in my clutches?

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            1. I will say that when I was walking, when ever I was in bear country, I made sure to have a high-intensity strobing LED set of lights. Bears have very sensitive eyes. The other critters, well, we just got along. Shoot, in truth, I got along with the bears pretty well, too. But some of that good cheer was probably due to my confidence in having a high-intensity strobing LED light in my pocket. As they said about the old west (where crime and murder rates were actually lower than in modern times), a well-armed society is a polite society.

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                2. Well, I know in the mountains – and generally in bear territory – there are many of them in every outdoors store I have ever been to. I got my best one in such a store just east of Estes Park, Colorado. Don’t remember what brand it was – but dang, I made sure too have it turned away from me when I tested it, because those things hurt MY eyes.

                  Liked by 4 people

                  1. Pro tip: When shopping for tactical flashlights in person, the safest way to compare intensity is to shine the light on the palm of your hand. The difference between two different lights shows up amazingly well. DO NOT look directly into one! Trust me on that. Anything over 600 lumens will leave an attacker blinded for a minute or more even with just a quick direct eye contact. Plenty of time to get away or at least get the upper hand in a confrontation. Plan on spending around 50 bucks for a reasonably decent one. Several of the high end lights will run well over a $100 but those are for the taclight purists. A few years ago I bought a 3-pack for $30 at a gun show. I think they’re 800 lumens +/- and have 3 modes. Low-High-Strobe. I love ’em! One hanging by our back door, one in the bedroom and one in my backpack. Super bright and quite a long throw (for the money). I use my ‘backdoor’ light all the time for all kinds of stuff. It runs on 3 AAA batteries and I only recall changing batteries once so far.

                    If anyone is serious about buying one, don’t be overwhelmed by the massive selection out there. Virtually any CREE LED light in the 600-800 lumen range will suit most needs just fine and be a great addition to your nonlethal weapon stash.

                    Hope this helps.

                    Liked by 4 people

                    3. Oops! Correction to my above post. My 3 gun show lights are only 250 lumens. When I posted 800L I was confusing them with a weapon mounted light I have. Foggy memory from several years ago. In any case, this just shows how even a modest & cheap light can be very bright and functional. Adjust your shopping discernment accordingly. 🙂

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                    5. I love that, Christopher J! ❤

                      My husband is a flashlight fanatic. Piggybacking on your pro-tip and SteveBC’s fantastic defensive suggestions, in 2017, our Christmas gift giving theme was non and potentially lethal protective gear. We exchanged, high beamed flash lights, some with tasers, green laser beam penlights (which also servers to provide hours of pet entertainment) that are blinding, however the red beam from a distance could be mistaken for a snipers target and put the fear of God in an aggressor, and a blue one that I just learned about, actually starts fires. Back to our goodies list, we got archery sets, slingshots, pepper spray (which I subsequently learned is easy to make at home and that also a can of wasp spray and a lighted flame when used together is another great deterrent), and high pitched sirens/whistles. Years ago, I felt prompted to purchased a carton of *strike anywhere* matches, while it was still legal to buy them online. At the time I think it was not legal to sell in my state. Imagine that! I handed out boxes of them at our Storm Group gathering meetings. 🙂

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                    6. Oh Jen, I am laughing aloud at your Christmas theme. It reminds me of the Liturgy of the Hours. This is a joint prayer time with Father which I delight in every day. As he has aged and his eyes are sometimes tired, I usually read and I read with prosody and plenty of expressive, intepretative voice which delights the Padre though he has read these readings for nearly 70 years now. And every time we get to an Old Testament reading with a passage which often ends with gory details and I say: “The Word of the Lord.” Then I cannot contain my giggle as Father dutifully responds with, “Thanks be to God.” Just by way of example, at the end of a reading from the Book of Judges, the story ends with: “But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.” Yup. Thanks be to God. 😉

                      Liked by 2 people

                    7. I love that, Beckita! ❤ Thank you for the giggles. ;-D

                      Last Christmas, our theme was holistic heath. Notice a survival pattern of sorts? 😉

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                  2. Hey, Christopher, would these do?

                    Or would these be better enough to justify the extra money?

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                    5. Beckita, how come all I can see is pictures and not links? And why, when I click on the pictures, does nothing happen? Argh! I give up. 🙂

                      Thanks for putting up the links where I can see them.

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              2. It has been a crazy year for wildlife. Last week I was working on some shrubbery at my mothers home, the old homestead, in sylvatic suburban Ct. Shared an ice tea and short conversation in her kitchen then went out back to check out her roses and vegetable garden. As I returned to the house I caught some motion in my peripheral field of vision and turned to see a large black bear about 35 feet from me. I was gobsmacked and unsure but quickly decided to continue my slow steady walk to the backdoor. He was headed the opposite way and though he looked in my direction, he kept going also.
                Glory be to God! It was 4 in the afternoon.

                Two weeks ago at 6 am on a Sunday morning I heard a ruckus in the neighbors back yard and thought the coyotes had come for their beagle. I ran out to save him and found myself confronted by a fox and bobcat in a standoff. That was also a first for me. What in the world is going on?

                Liked by 2 people

                2. LukeMichael,

                  Yes, critter crazy here in Michigan as well…. though no bears in my backyard (yet), there have been a couple spotted to the east of where I live (I am well below the 45th parallel!)… but here, just last week, had the cutest mink on our back porch! Little guy (probably a baby), just checking us out. I didn’t feel threatened thankfully, so gun and strobe lights all stayed put! 😉

                  Bill

                  Liked by 1 person

          4. Steve many good tips on weapons.. Since I live alone and I do own a chain saw, which I keep in the shed outside.. Perhaps I should move it to the bedroom.. I do recall while using it, since it is electric I cut the cord many times. Never thought of it as a weapon. The strobe light is something I will be purchasing. Amazon has everything.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Theresa, I had to laugh at your cutting of the cord, b/c I did the exact same thing with a hedge trimmer, more than once! Our heavy duty extension cord is patched with electrical tape. 🙂 Didn’t cut it all the way through, just nicked it. That was years ago and my husband still teases me about it every time we see the cord! OK, no smart remarks from the men. 🙂

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            2. Well, Theresa, when I mentioned chain saws, I meant *only* 40v battery-driven saws, not corded saws. The battery ones start almost as soon as you can put your hands on them and will scare the absolute *whatever* out of anyone coming at you in your home. Nothing with cords, though!

              And if it doesn’t match your decor, you can either change your decor, or put it in a decorative box that is easy to open, or you can do what Mick recommends and paint it pink and put a Hello Kitty decal on it. 😀

              Liked by 2 people

  13. If that’s how the things work, perhaps all believing Christians should protest in millions around abortions clinics, doing it ‘Wendy’s-style’ and rendering them useless…

    Liked by 5 people

  14. JESUS = GOOD NEWS 😉

    https://www.catholicleague.org/congress-must-act-on-religious-institutions/

    It’s all about Power & Control …. and Evil Intentions … methinks.
    https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/contact-tracing-vs-rights-faithful/

    https://stream.org/no-one-will-tell-me-what-i-must-and-must-not-say/

    The Coup (plotters) to Take-Out Trump and his supporters are being exposed and they will become more dangerous in months to come.
    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/06/20/attorney-general-bill-barr-removes-sdny-attorney-geoffrey-berman/

    https://stream.org/strategy-one-against-the-lunacy-protecting-our-loved-ones/

    I hope & Pray that Kerry gets his “Revolution” after a Trump win in November and that the 2nd American Revolution is a Big Win for 21st Century Minutemen Patriots just as with those of 1776. Please God!!
    I know that this might upset some but St John Paul and many others have warned US about a Final Confrontation that was near. There is Bitter Division in our USA (EU) NOW. Whatever happens in November, that Bitter Division will, no doubt, be intensified. ;-(
    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/06/john-kerry-warns-revolution-trump-re-elected/

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/06/19/its_time_to_bench_fauci_143492.html

    https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gop-senator-quotes-j-k-rowling-while-blocking-vote-lgbtq-n1231569

    https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/06/18/28-congressional-dems-sign-letter-demanding-dept-of-education-allow-biological-males-in-girls-sports-936093

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    Liked by 5 people

  15. Well, Charlie, we have agreed with you for a long time…However, we have to ask, straight-out, for your meaning of “fight”. The nonsense going on in our country, today, is only a fraction of what we can expect after the Election. The gangs of looters know that they are free to do whatever, without any judicial penalty. The violent protesters, and the politicians, are the “mob”. Police are powerless, victims of years of Leftist policies, and abuse. So, what do we do…Prayer works, but, not enough to stop the pillage, looting, beatings, and deaths, that we are now seeing. So, give us a straight answer, please. Please…

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Robert, as we traverse through this more difficult stage of the Storm, I remind us all that we’ve been told how God’s Plan will unfold one step at a time and that Charlie has reiterated, in many ways, numerous times, the truth that he was shown there will be a time when Charlie, himself, will only be able to see one step ahead through the darkness. God Alone knows in detail what the “fight” will look like and Charlie has been designated as God’s chosen vessel to lead. We continue to trust in God completely while honoring Charlie’s leadership among us. Too, Charlie has made it clear, we will be in solidaity as we determine next right steps together. And I note for all of us, it is wise to reread such consequential news as Charlie describes in this piece. Notice the way this idea is an actively developing response to the current scene.

      I have been spending a lot of my time lately putting together the beginnings of a means for the faithful to defend themselves and each other – to live solidarity with those who defend us and to refuse to submit to those who seek to subjugate us – while helping and connecting with each other to either defend our culture or to rebuild it after the vandals have burned their way through it.
      .

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    2. I have a few doubts that you have been reading for as long as you say. When I started writing of these things over seven years ago, I made very clear that I was not just being euphemistic about fighting – that while we should not initiate physical conflict, neither should we hesitate to engage in physical defense of our fellow. I have repeated that consistently, so only one who is relatively new here could be unclear on that.

      Here is a brief excerpt from a note I sent to the team a few days ago: “What we are seeing right now are the death throes of a satanic power that is in decline. The more it declines, the MORE violent it will get. Understand and internalize that. While we want to work together to build each other up, when I give the dictum “defend the faithful” I mean it quite literally as well as figuratively. We must never initiate conflict, but we must be prepared to vigorously defend our fellows, both spiritually and physically from the assaults that will come from the devil’s ever diminishing but ever more fearsome minions. There will be bands of marauding violent predators, even as they are perishing – and we must be prepared to protect and defend our fellows…”

      So if you really have been unclear as to my meaning, you have not been paying attention.

      Liked by 11 people

      1. Charlie, I appreciate you sharing the note you sent the team a few days ago. I think that’s what Robert needed to hear, as well as myself, even though I’ve been here from the beginning. Thank you.

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    3. Robert. A pump action shot gun works quite well and delivers a powerful message.

      First, you have to be willing to use it. Don’t display unless you are willing.
      Second, understand your rights in defense of life and property.
      Third, momentum. Wait for momentum, don’t act on your own. Make friends with neighbors and start a ‘what if’ game plan.

      The problem is not police. The issue is Public resolve. Policing exists in law abiding communities. The gangs of looters are NOT free and are being arrested, charged with high crimes. These ‘young adults’ (usefull idiots) are caught up in the moment and will be looking at ten to twenty years in a Federal Prison. When all is said and done, in my opinion the charge of Sedition will be imposed on a great many people.

      In today’s society, most everyone owns a cellular telephone. They carry it 24/7. everywhere. They record their thoughts via text message, email and blogs (such as ASOH) Every data point is recorded, including VOIP.

      Nothing nefarious, just the telecommunications company doing due diligence on their product and clients (you- the cell phone carrier). A properly ordered subpoena of an area in turmoil, case in point the riot area of Minneapolis-St Paul; chaz of Seattle; Wendy’s of Atlanta via triangulation of cell phone towers requesting user date prior and post event. Out of area cell codes and zipcodes would be an easy search. Other technology devices known as ‘stinger’ minmick cell towers and grab every cell in an area.

      This is occurring now. Trump delegated ALL Federal resources to investigate, collaborate and address this problem. Case in point last week a Mineapolis protestor was arrested in Denver.

      Liked by 5 people

    4. I will speak plainly here.

      I am the guy who rescues the earthworms struggling on the sidewalk after the rain.

      My thoughts have turned to killing the people doing this to us.

      I have noticed a fierce anger in me that I have never experienced before; i think it is a reaction to the evil spirits at work.

      I will never move until the Holy Spirit gives the unmistakeable word to go and frankly, i welcome God nuking this evil out if existence.

      Liked by 7 people

      1. Good, Timothy, you are thinking seriously on these things. This is why I so value the example of St. Joan of Arc and of Abraham Lincoln. Neither fought out of furious feelings of vengeance, but neither let their ample compassion keep them from fighting on for the sake of a noble cause. St. Joan would typically plead with the English for an hour or better to quit the field, oblivious to their mocking insults. After this time of mercy and pleas, she was all hammer and tongs – until the English did quit the field. And then she would generally let them flee. Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural is the most amazing and unique speech by a war-time leader ever. He acknowledged the humanity of the enemy, noted the faults of his own side, and yet galvanized the people to press on to victory in this noble cause – a victory “with malice towards none and charity towards all.” This is to what we are called.

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          1. Isn’t it amazing? I have looked over the years, but I have never found a war leader speech handled the way he handled it that, indeed, inspired people to press on to victory.

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      2. I can relate, having worn out brake pads and nearly lost control of the vehicle on more than a few occasions in an effort to avoid deer, families of quail, field mice and whatnot. Just happens, with no time to think and little time to react. Habit I suppose, but if the habit helps us defend the orphan and widow. we’re on a good path. There’s a real need for wisdom. If thinking about those scenarios too much starts to smack of obsessing… we’ve gotten off trail. Appears CJ is trying to get everyone focused on doing practical stuff. Plenty of armor to hammer out, many an arrow in need of fletching, cows needs milking, socks need darning. St. Joan de Arc wasn’t alone in that field.

        BTW, I don’t swerve or stop for snakes, and Doug isn’t too fond of crows.

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          1. Patrick, I saw my first bald eagle about a month ago, when my elder daughter and I were tooling along some back roads in central Indiana. It was amazing! I’ve always wanted to see a bald eagle, and now I have. It may sound strange, but it gave me hope that these United States are gonna make it.

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            2. Mick, we have them near our st. capital between the I-91 N and I-84 E interchange, on the Charter Oak bridge. They have a nest on top of some high tension power lines, of all places! I’ve seen them along other interstates, too. RI has platforms in salt water marshes near Misquamicuit St. Beach for eagles and sometimes they do nest there. We’ve seen them elsewhere about these parts, but I can’t exactly recall where. It is lovely to see them.

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    5. Actually, Robert, your question here kind of cheered me. At the beginning, I told people they needed to get past some of formulaic sterile pities they mouth and start thinking about what they would really do under genuinely extreme circumstances. People who think they would never actually fight because they think (in our previously sheltered situation) that trusting God means that God would never actually let a fight come to us, often react very badly and with way too much hysterical violence and bitterness when the reality hits them. Early on, I received a lot of criticism for being way too martial in my approach. Yours was the second time in a week someone has checked to make sure I was not just speaking euphemistically. I am heartened that people are thinking of these moral questions seriously now rather than just mouthing presumptuous, pious-sounding platitudes.

      I noted early on a statement that St. Joan of Arc had made at her first formal examination (before she took the field at all). She was asked, if God wanted to preserve France, why He did not just do it without her. She said that it was God’s will that the “soldiers will fight the battle and God will give the victory.”

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      2. Several years ago I gave my son the money to buy a rifle. I told him that someday we might need it for hunting and survival. He has friends that shoot and he was a quick learner. He also bought a handgun. He knows how to use it and has explained it to me. I hope to never use them for anything. The rosary is my weapon of choice, but St. Joan’s words ring true.

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    1. He will, Becky; count on it.

      And he’s helping us even now through this ASOH family. It is so en-couraging to know that God’s got this, and that we’ve got each other’s backs. With the help of God and of each other, we will be more than conquerors. And MAN, what a party we’re gonna have on the other side! 🙂

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Mick, we have each other’s backs as we pray and encourage each other, but what worries me is not being physically close to people such as you and all here. There is one dream that the Lord gave me over 30 yrs. ago that has not come true, and it was about fleeing. (Many other dreams have come to pass and were accurate.) The dream about fleeing scared the dickens out of me, but when I awoke I knew it was from God (as with others, they are just that powerful and make a strong, lasting impression). I can’t imagine going through that, fleeing for our lives. We’re not young any more either!

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        1. Annie, in prophetic dreams images can be symbolic, metaphorical. Fleeing in these days may not be accomplished on foot or in a vehicle. It can readily be an image representing another kind of flight. As I see it, we are making a contemporary Exodus and our Promised Land is the full Triumph of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart with the launching of that period of Peace which she promised.

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        2. Annie, I agree with what Beckita and MP said about fleeing and that it could be metaphorical. And boy, do I understand about being scared. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t at all scared about where we are and what’s coming down the pike. But for the past several years, God has been drilling into my thick skull that I need to radically trust Him. I’m kind of a slow learner, so He’s had to beat me over the head a bit… ha! But I’ve often heard it said that the safest place to be is smack-dab in the middle of God’s will. If you and your husband, and my husband and I, and everybody here commit to following the TNRS game plan, we’ll be OK. We’ll be better than OK; we’ll be golden!

          And we won’t be alone, even if we can’t be together either in physically or via the website here. If we are where we’re supposed to be, God will be with us; the Blessed Mother will be with us; the whole heavenly cohort of saints and angels will be with us. And God will bring into our lives those with whom He wants us to ride out and labor through the Storm. And, last but not least, our ASOH family will always be buoying up all our members by means of our prayers and sacrifices.

          Do you a Divine Mercy picture or holy card that you can keep handy? When our youngest was hospitalized for a month at birth and then for several days as an infant, I stayed with her at the hospital. I had with me a Divine Mercy holy card in a very small picture frame. I put it where it was easy to see it from anywhere in the hospital room, and I must’ve looked at it dozens of times every day. When I was too tired or too worried or too whatever to pray any other prayer, I would simply read “Jesus, I trust in You” on the little picture. That picture and that prayer calmed me down, brought me peace, and gave me courage. Perhaps they could do the same for you?

          There were also two verses that got me through that time. The first is 1 Corinthians 10:13–“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps His promise: He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm. At the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out.” The other is Romans 14:8–“If we live, it is for the Lord that we live; and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

          So, bottom line: He’s got this; He’s got us; and we’ve got each other. Now and forever, as long as we Trust-Do-Love.

          God bless you and yours, Annie. 🙂

          Liked by 11 people

          1. Mick: Father Goring has asked us to put the Divine Mercy image of Jesus on our front door. I added the IHM. It’s a good idea.

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            1. Joanne, I’ve never heard of Fr. Goring (sorry); but I know that the Marians in Stockbridge put out a video near the beginning of the lockdowns, which video encouraged people to “seal their doorposts” by placing a Divine Mercy image on their front doors. I think it was Fr. Chris Alar in the video. Great idea about the IHM.

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              1. Mick, Father Mark Goring is a member of the Companions of the Cross a relatively new order of priests
                based in Ottawa, Canada. He produces an almost weekly short (usually around 3 minutes) video addressing contemporary issues as related to the church and Christ. He has a Facebook account too.
                I get his video emailed to me. I deleted my Facebook account a long time ago. He may have gotten the idea from the Marians of Stockbridge. You can look him up but I would search on Duck Duck Go apt rather than Google considering the Google’s emerging reputation. Duck Duck Go does not keep history of on line searches.

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              2. I’ve sealed ours with the image near our front door once Fr. Alar suggested it. Also blessed threasholds with Holy Salt and Holy Water. I like to think of our home as a church away from Church (and hopefully some day it won’t have to be….). I really want to ask our priest to come and bless our home soon (I hope)… 😉

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                1. Knowing what I do about your pastor, Billbad, I bet he’d jump at the chance to bless your home. I was at your parish for the Vigil Mass for Corpus Christi, and your pastor gave one of the best homilies I’ve ever heard. Y’all are blessed to have him.

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          2. Mick, bless your heart!! What you said is so lovely that it made me cry.

            It reminds me of being a child and being comforted by my father, which made me cry because of his love. Someone once told me my father’s love and tenderness (though he was tough as nails, a strong senior military man), was why I could relate to Abba Daddy’s love (my name for the Father).

            Your love comes through in your words, Mick and Beckita!

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            1. So does your love come shining through, Annie… and from those in this community. May it continue to flow in abundance among us the better to express it in the world around us.

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            2. Thank you for your kind words, Annie.

              Sounds like you had an amazing father. I wish I could’ve met him here below, but I look forward to meeting him on the other side. Put in a good word for me, would you please? 🙂

              By the way, I have a little something that I’d like to send to you. If you’re up for it, please send me a note at tnrs.answers@gmail.com and I’ll tell you about it (it’s no big deal; it’s just something really small).

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  17. “not knowing that in Jesus’ day to turn the other cheek instead of kneeling and begging pardon was an act of defiance, not submission – ”
    If anybody can point me towards the source if thus, U will be adding it to my rhetorical and dialectical arsenal.

    This is hugely important for motivating the troops. Thx

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Hi Timothy. I don’t have a specific citation at hand. But anyone who has expertise or extensive reading (I DO have the latter) about the culture of Roman-occupied Jerusalem 2,000 years ago knows it was a commonplace. The prescribed way for a common person to respond to a slap from a Roman was to kneel and ask pardon. If the slap came from a Jewish religious authority, you were to kneel, touch your forehead to the ground, and beg pardon. The misunderstanding of this and two other dictums with it has long been a pet peeve of mine. The other two?

      All of these come from Matthew 5:39-42…and it is about maintaining dignity while keeping peace. “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Again, a commonplace of that culture. The Romans often had shortages of pack animals – and had the legal right to order a Jew to carry some of their equipment and supplies for up to a mile. This dictum made such a Jew a philanthropist instead of a victim. And the last is in a similar vein: “If anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well.” Again, intentional philanthropist instead of unwilling victim. All of these prescribed actions are passively defiant.

      If you have a university near you with a department of ancient historical studies focusing on the Mideast, any competent professor can confirm these commonplaces of that culture for you.

      Liked by 11 people

      2. Charlie, WHY are these important biblical themes NOT EXPLAINED by priests at the pulpit? Leaving them unexplained is the equivalent of causing confusion and a degree of untruth.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. “This dictum made such a Jew a philanthropist instead of a victim. All of these prescribed actions are passively defiant.”
        I also understand this to be how Jesus taught us to convert evil into actions of grace, both for the victim and the persecutor. Thus we are helping Him to place evil “under His feat” by defeating it with the love mentioned in the Our Father to “forgive those who trespass against us”, not with defiance but by taking these unjust actions and converting them into a form of surrender to the cross we carry as the Body of Christ.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Thank you for this information about culture in the time of Our Lord, Charlie. Our Bible Study leader passed on early this year and, in addition to solid catechesis, he would pass along these types of insights. I also get these “tidbits” listening to Fr. Mitch on EWTN and Fr. Simon on Relevant Radio. They’re just a couple sentences, but they explain so much. Scripture is so deep and we need each other in the Church — guided by the Spirit — to learn from each other and take the next step forward. Sorry to ramble, but I really do appreciate these things. God bless.

        Liked by 3 people

  18. As I sit here on a beautiful Saturday morning reading your latest post Charlie, I have a quiet resolve in my heart knowing such a fight must come. Growing up my Father was Air Force and both parents were from Rhode Island,and I was raised Jewish.We were raised to be hard workers to never lie and to always respect all people and all other faiths. In fact we had a table top book from Life or Look “The worlds Great Religions”and I loved reading about the different faiths.Prejudice has never been a part of me,although as a little girl I heard on occasion dirty Jew..my mom would tell me to ignore these people they were ignorant.We lived some years in Georgia at a base in Macon and I witnessed the different drinking fountains and bathrooms for blacks and whites and even though I was so young it sickened me. I have always had a heart filled with Love for God and my family and a deep love for my country. When I was young people would sometimes ask the question often asked to children..What do you want to do when you grow up? My answer..I want to help people. The years passed I married a Catholic man who believed but had long since fallen away.. I had also longed to be a mother and loved kids and couldn’t wait to have a family..GOD had other plans for me..I had been in a relationship with a musician ,I got caught up in the culture of partying etc ..always working hard and always knowing in my heart I was doing wrong..it ended with a choice I will live with the rest of my life..abortion. After marrying I went on to suffer 6 miscarriages in 7 years..GOD literally brought me to my knees and one day after another I looked up sobbing and cried “Lord I can do no more it is up to you”..My entire life changed after time he blessed me with 2 beautiful sons whom I love beyond..but He blessed me again..with HIS SON..JESUS. And so began a journey of faith which has grown and overwhelms my heart with love and gratitude. After 9/11 my closest friend on Orthodox spent a week in Michigan at a Monastery in Jackson taking a class in Iconography ,a woman actually from Russia told her about a book she needed to read “Terrorist Hunter” the true story of a woman from Iraq and Jewish during the time of Sadamn Huessins (sp) rule..she ends up immigrating to Israel after her father is executed by the regime for supposedly being a Jewish spy..Later she immigrates to America and goes to work for a think tank deciphering Arab documents and becomes more deeply involved dressing in a burka going into mosques with a tape recorder taped to her pregnant belly.My friend and I after reading this had our eyes opened and we began reading and studying everything we could about the subversion of our country.. Through the many years since 9/11 we have tried unceasingly to inform others and as hairstylist we have a pretty large audience.We also had a great prayer group and prayed and are praying ..now begging people to see this is not a political battle..it is a huge spiritual war.. I have gone on for awhile not intending to talk about me so much but to show my heart for GOD and to say I love my life I am so grateful for GOD and CHRIST he is my life..yet I understand what is to come must come..for as an article I read a few years back stated “the world cannot right itself it has gone to far without a great intercession from GOD.” So as I sit on this beautiful Saturday morning in the country on our 13 acres in Ohio watching the deer roam in such a peaceful setting ..in my heart I know much is to come.. I am trying to bea sign of hope yet I want to sob for what we have been given for what could be if only people would simply turn their hearts to our Heavenly Father in love and gratitude..to be all we were called to be while still in the womb. In closing I would like to say to Mick..I like you are a mother and as a mother grizzly don’t ever come between me and my sons..I pray and ask GOD to close my mouth fill me with your Holy Spirit and send me out to speak your Truth and to be your soldier in whatever my mission shall be.. Here I am Lord ..use me. Ps Thankyou FATHER for sending the TRUMPINATOR!!

    Liked by 14 people

    2. What a profound and thought-provoking comment, Robin; thank you.

      PS: I know exactly where that monastery is, since Jackson is my hometown. If your friend or you ever happen to be up this way again, you are welcome to come for a visit to our little farm.

      PPS: Roughly which part of Ohio are you from (north, east, central, etc.)? I lived in Columbus many years ago, and I really liked the area.

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Robin, I should know you! I am also an AF “brat,” although I prefer “fledgling.” Our lives have been similar although my parents were from Oregon. Very. Similar. Always respectful.
      God bless us all,
      katey in OR

      Liked by 2 people

  19. One more thought I would like to add. Although we have certainly seen our share of problems in our great country what Icannot fathom is the depth of evil that has infiltrated all our institutions and the outright lies and deceit and people actually eat it up.BLM what a vicious hate group and so laughable my question is “ specifically what lack lives matter” for that I am sure I could loose my life. And antifa? Pure demonic along with the despicable lying democrats and add in the spineless republicans?? Again GOD bless and keep the TRUMPINATOR safe.. please St. Michael Help us 🙏🏻🙏🏻 The evil is overwhelming

    Liked by 8 people

  20. “Trust God. Take the next right step. Be a sign of hope.”, trying, and being tried. Thanks Charlie, you are a sign of hope. Pray for the southeast, getting clobbered. Happy feastday of the Immaculate Heart, Mama Mary, pray for us!

    Liked by 5 people

  22. Thanks, Charlie!!

    I am Also Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the “means for the faithful to defend themselves and each other – to live solidarity with those who defend us and to refuse to submit to those who seek to subjugate us – while helping and connecting with each other.”

    I really, really need this kind of instruction. I don’t want to go around fearing everyone or being angry. I need away to discern friend or foe.

    Thanks again Charlie!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. So sorry to hear this news, our dear Scot. Praying for Pam to experience relief, strength and consolation. Praying for you too, Scotty! ( Hope you don’t mind the affectionate name. You’re such a faithful presence and intercessor here.)

      Liked by 6 people

  25. So, we are at war. This is uglier than I imagined but sure fits the prophetic description….and we have not seen anything yet.

    How can I oil my gun to make it impervious to shrapnel?

    Friends, so sorry for the absence. Actually you have my sincere apology because it was quite inconsiderate of me to fall off the radar like that. There have been some challenging struggles going on since starting this job in Montana (lame excuse). Also, I’ve been unable to log-in to WordPress with my iPad for some reason and my phone is too small to write much on (even more lame), plus I’ve been too sad and preoccupied to try very hard anyway (ah, there it is….the truth). I wrote this in an email, sent it to myself and then copied into ASOH on my phone which is the only device that lets me submit a post.

    I’m doing well now, for those who are curious. I will give a rundown on what’s been going on in the Prayer Requests section because that is what I need more than anything (don’t we all?)…although I know so many of you have kept me in your prayers as you have been in mine.

    Thank you Charlie for keeping us focused on the straight path and our mission at hand.

    Patrick

    Liked by 12 people

  26. Charlie, I don’t have much confidence that a free and fair election will even be possible this November. So many people have made leftism, rather than democracy, into their governmental summum bonum that it is not difficult to imagine that November will bring a degree of fraud and electoral dispute not seen since the 1870s. What happens after that, God alone knows, but I don’t trust the political process to help us anymore. I agree wholeheartedly with Desmond that some sort of Divine Intervention will be our only way out of this. I’m also continually grateful for the message of this blog not to wait passively for that Divine help, but to cooperate with God’s grace each day, no matter how insignificant our efforts may seem. You once said we would come to days in which we would have only enough light to take the step in front of us. We have arrived.

    Liked by 12 people

    1. “What happens after that, God alone knows, but I don’t trust the political process to help us anymore.”

      Zombie loads and slugs!!! 😀

      p.s. said tongue-in-cheek, to stop my knees from knockin’ I am a markswoman only in my dreams. Guess it’ll be The Rosary for me!

      Liked by 6 people

    2. Victura, Re this lament, ” I agree wholeheartedly with Desmond that some sort of Divine Intervention will be our only way out of this. ” I too have the hope that God will do this– but without any observable fanfare. How did Trump on his first run in politics get elected the first time? Do you ever find yourself with an idea coming to mind, and then wondering about where it came from. In my latter years at work, and especially as I worked on understanding the nature of consciousness and God’s Creation, ideas would come flowing, and then after writing in a flourish I would reflect –where did that come from?

      Here is an example from a few days ago. Out of the blue, I suddenly imagined a metal post extending from the legbone of a soldier whose leg was blown away; this metal post was anchored in bone using titanium screws, as has been done for decades to securely mount teeth and dental bridges (titanium is accepted by the body without any irritation, and the surface of titanium fuses with bone). Currently, prosthetics are mounted over soft tissues, skin which lacks stable support and may produce irritation. Direct metallic mounting of prosthetics to bone could magnify the utility of prosthetics. I then wrote to Pres Trump thru the White House contact site asking that the idea be pursued for the medical research. I had never thought about this topic, and was not at the time the idea came.

      So, I have faith we all are whispered to, and without any commotion or drama. As it suits God, voters will “again” be whispered to about how to vote.

      Liked by 7 people

      1. I likewise am whispered to sometimes even quasi shouted to. As the word tells us, the knowledge of God is written in the hearts of all men. This is part of the natural law Paul describes.

        Liked by 5 people

  27. Charlie, I most interested in this below.

    “A lot of people are waiting to see whether there will have to be a fight or not. I am long past that. I have been spending a lot of my time lately putting together the beginnings of a means for the faithful to defend themselves and each other – to live solidarity with those who defend us and to refuse to submit to those who seek to subjugate us – while helping and connecting with each other to either defend our culture or to rebuild it after the vandals have burned their way through it (the monster these Frankensteins set loose always comes back to the burn the castle of its origin). The cavalry is not coming any time soon. If it does come, it will only be because it has been shamed into it by the spirited defense of ordinary people.”

    Another tnrs’ commented about being drawn to theories like a junebug to a light (that made me laugh). Oh, there is me! I am grateful that I know this about myself, and in the lethargy of the lockdown I got up-to-date on the “Q” and the agenda 21 stuff. I went down into the rabbit hole, looked around, remembered the reason why I swore-off rabbit holes, and with the grace of God, climbed out.

    Then some amazing things happened. A friend gifted us with a farmshare. We found a faith community were all are truly welcomed. Other doors opening even as some, sadly, are slamming shut. It is painting a picture for me, that drives home the truth. God has this, every single detail. My constant prayers to Him to remember us all are being answered in real-time. He even has given me the eyes to see this.

    I’m the biggest scaredy-cat out there. I don’t want to think too much. Over thinking for me is my temptation (see rabbit hole). Beckita’s posting of Anne’s writings has been the most helpful for me. I am so grateful. I sure hope this fire time passes quickly, and I, us all, pass His test. 🙂

    Liked by 10 people

  29. Mick I live pretty much in between Wilmington and Waynesville near Ceaser Creek Lake. I have stayed at the Monestary in Jackson it is beautiful, my friend goes a week a year to do Iconography. Unfortunately it is doubtful they will have the classes this year because of Covid. Now that many restrictions are being lifted If there is anyone that is a part of this site that lives near Scranton Pa. I would highly recommend visiting St. George’s Russian Carpathian Orthodox Church. My husband and I and my Orthodox friends attended a magnificent service to the Virgin Mary on a Wednesday evening..I sincerely hope I don’t offend anyone here when I say.. It was so beautiful and holy I sobbed almost the entire time and felt like I was truly in the presence of GOD.The Icon of The Tender Heart has been POURING Myrrh for almost 9 years ..There were 6 Priests that night and after one of the Priest carried the Icon around the church and poured the myrrh into our hands. Each year before the Orthodox Easter she begins to dry up and at the bottom of the Icon there are white marks which appear resembling torn flesh.. At the Easter Vigil service the Priest carries the Icon around the outside of the church..walks to the door cries out “ Christ has risen!” and The Blessed Mother begins to gush myrrh again.This year she never stopped it was continuous . Many miracles have come from her..While there we also visited the Holy Protection Monestary in White Haven,a young Nun showed us around..It is in the mountains and very beautiful..she told us the Priest took the Icon to a hospital to bless a woman who was very ill with cancer..while he was there a room down the hall had an oily substance comming out of a vent and it smelled like flowers..roses. It of course was myrrh. During these dark times with evil so prevalent we must hold our heads high raised to heaven .,remember these miracles and ALWAYS know GOD is with us.. JESUS will never leave us and Blessed Momma is Also loving and praying for us.. Onward into the battle we must go 🙏🏻✝️

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Robin, I’m Catholic and certainly the founder of this site. But I have maintained for a long time that all who authentically call on the name of the Lord are full and equal partners in the work before us. I have also said several times that the fundamental division in Christianity is no longer between Catholics and Protestants – or Orthodox, but between those who truly believe God IS and that His Word is binding (even if we are sometimes not in agreement in interpreting it) and those who only give lip service to it. Thus, from the start, we have a lot of Protestants, Orthodox and more than a few Jews. While I am completely Catholic, this site is home for all who are true believers. So to offend us, you would have to speak admiringly of a homosexual Mass or some other such thing done “in Jesus’ name” that Jesus forbade.

      Liked by 13 people

    2. Dear Robin: My grandfather was Greek Orthodox and my grandmother, his wife, Irish Catholic. When my grandmother’s 2 sisters arrived from Ireland, they married my grandfather’s best friends both Greek Orthodox men. My grandfather did convert to Catholicism and received his “first” Communion along with his son at his First Communion. When he converted, it was a short process because of his Orthodox knowledge of Christ. A whole part of our family remained Orthodox. Never stopped us from loving one another. The Pope is St. Peter, the Patriarch, St. Paul. I think Peter and Paul would be embarrassed that there is a split. Love your story and your faith.

      Liked by 3 people

  30. Ted Cruz’s statement re the Supreme Court decision is both the saddest and the funniest I have seen recently. And yet true!

    May Christ have mercy on us all!

    Liked by 7 people

  31. I would agree, Desmond, that most women aren’t looking for a physical fight but if one breaks out threatening faith, family and home that “gentling effect” goes out the window! I think by nature, females are more territorial. When that which we have nurtured is in danger of being destroyed, we will fight and fight hard. For women of faith, prayer has always been our weapon and will continue to be our weapon but these times may very well call for the sword too.

    I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. Even Jesus, in the garden, was scared, but He showed us that trust in the Father will see us through the worst hours. Our Blessed Mother showed us the same thing. Right at this time, I am imagining my worst hours to be when family members choose different sides of the battle line. I must remember that God saved souls beyond our comprehension during those worst hours.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Amen, 1005. And it is the very purpose of this Storm to save souls. Our Lady said too many souls go to hell because people are not praying for them. Well, many of us have been praying long and hard for family members. Thanks be to God for His Mercy!

      Liked by 6 people

    2. We are not in disagreement on anything you said. The point I’ve been trying to make since the beginning of this thread, is that before a physical attack or battle breaks out, the women by nature tend to hold out some kind of hope ‘for another way’ – hold out till most of men have concluded peace talk is no longer worth the effort – that a physical battle is unavoidable. That was what Jim Braddock’s wife kept saying to him, ‘there has to be another way’.

      Sometimes there is, and sometimes there isn’t. In my experience [which may not match those of others] women tend to hold out hope and look for a peaceful solution after most all the men are already putting on the gloves. [As Aquinas observed, that is a good thing in the women.]

      All my love in Christ

      Desmond

      Liked by 7 people

  32. Desmond posted this a few days back and if it’s ok, I’d like to repost it here since not everyone is on fb!!! It’s too good not to share if I’m allowed to:

    BROTHERS AND SISTERS, this piece is the first step overview in our discussion of how we got to the overall multitude of messes in which we find ourselves today.

    Is it safe for me to conclude for almost all of you by now, today, you have figured out that our world is changing rapidly and drastically – and not for the better?

    Have you already concluded by yourself that the world you grew up in, almost no matter what your age, is gone and will not return? While this is always true to one degree or another, there are certain BENCHMARK EVENTS in salvation history which stand out as major changes in our world.

    WHETHER WE UNDERSTAND IT OR NOT, WE MAY BE RIGHT NOW LIVING THROUGH ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BENCHMARK EVENTS IN SALVATION HISTORY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ONE IS ‘PURIFICATION’.

    I will now list what I consider to be the most important previous ones;

    1. The creation of the world and our first parents, Adam and Eve.

    2. The fall of man and expulsion of our first parents from the garden.

    3. God’s revelation of himself to Noah – the building of the Ark and the flood.

    4. God’s Self-revelation to Abraham – and Abraham’s ‘Yes’ response and walk in faith – the highlight of which is his faith, his willingness at the word of God to sacrifice his son Isaac. This is the beginning of God’s Covenant with Israel.

    5. Of course the granddaddy event of them all is the arrival and Revelation of Jesus Christ ‘in the fullness of time’. With His passion, death and resurrection, and establishment of His Church, we have the New Covenant, the New Israel. The world has never been the same since.

    6. Then there was the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D., signed by the two Roman Emperors [Western and Eastern], Constantine and Licinius. That document officially freed the Christians in the primarily pagan Roman Empire from persecution and legally freed them to practice their faith and to evangelize in the name of Jesus Christ.

    7. As the next major such event, I pick the schism of the Eastern Orthodox in 1054 A.D. That tragic split still exists and is an open wound in the Body of Christ.

    8. Next is the continuing development, during the late Middle Ages, of the extension of the popularity of the philosophy of the Greek philosopher, Plato. This philosophy espoused that the world and its things do not represent any true reality. True reality exists only in the non-material world of ideas, concepts, ‘forms’. Essentially, Plato taught that truth is not found in anything material. i.e., Men do not discover any truth from the world within with which their senses are in contact. [If you wish for an explanation of this ludicrous idea read the following paragraph.]

    Example: Put crassly, little children do not learn about true and false from the forms of roundness, squareness, two, three, four, etc. (number), parents, children, life, death, suffering, pain, joy, sadness, humanity, God, etc., from observations of the world around them. Their concept of divinity, humanity, good, bad, life, death, etc., is derived from some kind of giant immaterial hopper of ideas or forms (in the sky?). When they see three grasshoppers on the ground, three apples on a plate, three puppies playing at their feet, their mind doesn’t abstractly conclude a concept of ‘threeness’. According to Plato, their mind doesn’t see a commonality of ‘threeness’ in them. According to Plato, and his many look alikes, the little child’s soul instead sees or knows the concept of three, recognizes it from somewhere in an immaterial hopper of forms, somewhere outside of them. The three puppies, apples, etc., only somehow bring to their mind this eternal form or idea of ‘threeness’ from that hopper. And it does not exist in those examples universally, but only in each one individually. Anyone who has brought up children and watched how they learn should be able to see through the error in that theory in a New York minute.

    9. As the intellectual confusion of Plato’s ideas spread during the Middle Ages, the English philosopher, William of Occam [1287-1347 A.D.] comes along and expounds a philosophy called Nominalism. Accordingly in Occam, there are no universals such as roundness, squareness, greenness, redness, triangleness, maleness, femaleness, humanness, life death, etc. to be found in nature. E.g., there is no universal commonality in the ’roundness’ seen in tree trunks. Those are only names we apply to individual material things. [Philosophy has been in a downhill plunge of denying absolute truth in the existence of universalities in the material world ever since.]

    10. The Renaissance. At this stage, due to various forms of philosophy stemming from Plato, man concludes that “man is the measure of all things.” Prior to that in Christendom, Christians considered God their Creator to be the measure of all things. That was a stark perversion which is still alive and well today.

    11. Evolution of Protestantism – the Church now had geater apparent lack of unity than when there were only the two division of Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

    12. The Enlightenment –basically, in the midst of more developments and refinements of a denial of the reality to be found around us in the material world, enters Immanuel Kant and the umbilical cord is cut with any vestige of truth to be found in universals. His phenomenalism teaches Universal and completely necessary representations of things have nothing to do with anything outside our own mind, since those universals are produced exclusively by the structural functions (the a priori forms) of our mind. [Thomas Aquinas had previously destroyed this selfsame argument. There is neither room nor time to develop this here, but that destruction is a historical fact.] St. Thomas greatest achievement was the intellectual resolution of Faith and Reason.

    13. The Industrial Revolution. Took the common man out of the country and towns and jammed him into the growing industrial cities throughout Western Europe. He there worked in those giant factories with their mindless jobs “where morality withers and disappears”.

    14. Modernism/Relativism

    15. Post-Modernism – total relativism pretends to have suppressed any absolute truth. Pope Benedict XVI calls this, ‘The Dictatorship of Relativism’.

    16. USA AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEST TODAY. To use computer language equivalents, the system in most all of its aspects, social, political, moral, philosophical, and familial, is in the process of crashing. In large part, it is crashing because this system’s source code (Christian faith and morals, belief in objective truth) has been corrupted within that system – except for a minority core of believing Christians. Even the approach to life of Classical Graeco-Roman culture is gone.

    In the computer world when a system is crashing, if it isn’t a terminal/crash without a solution, the programmer will order the operator to shut the system down. Then, the Programmer will bring the system back up in ‘safe mode’ – step by step – by clearing the corrupted parts out of the source code and, by then, reloading all its cleaned essential parts back into the system.

    In our case, the Programmer, God, is either allowing or causing the system to shut down, in order to to do a ‘reset’ of the system.

    I believe that is where we are right now in our civilization, our families, our Church, our philosophy, our theology, our virtual total culture, and especially in the reality of its peoples’ relationship with our God and with each other.

    He did the same thing in the original fall of man – his expulsion from the garden, in handling the corruption of the world at the time of Noah, in revealing himself to Abraham, and, most especiall,y in the arrival of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the fullness of time.

    I believe we are, today, at a juncture somewhat similarly stark to that in the Garden, the time of Noah, of Abraham, and at the First Coming of Jesus Christ ‘in the fullness of time’.

    This piece is the first step overview in our discussion of how we got to the overall multitude of messes in which we find ourselves today. Questions are welcome here.

    All my love in Christ

    Desmond

    Liked by 9 people

    1. Linda and Desmond, The accounting of major events strikes me as well thought out. But I do believe that Plato and Kant were not appreciated. When I was an undergrad and read about their ideas, I thought them silly. However, after my decade of research on the Near Death Experience with a focus on its associated Out of Body experience (the matter of near death is really unimportant as the OBE may be induced by meditation or drugs, and also occurs spontaneously), I discovered that both presented accurate analysis on the nature of perception (my PhD is in psychology), on the nature of the objects we cannot know directly by perception (e.g., Kant’s distinction between phenomenon and noumenon), and on Plato’s concept of universals vs material knowledge (e.g., the geometric circles we may produce of perceive inherently lack the perfection of the mathematically defined circle). The chapter in my book (chap 10) on the nature of knowledge and how it is acquired differently by learning and by mind covers this topic extensively.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Thanks for the comments. I’m familiar with Plato and Kant. I taught a course in historic Neoplatonism a couple of years ago. It was well-received. But I also introduces them to the Metaphysics of both Aristotle and Aquinas at the same time. As both JP II and Benedict XVI opined, the majority of the modern intellectual dilemma’s will not be resolved till a return is made to the Metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas.

        Liked by 6 people

        1. That is what Dr Anthony Rizzi, the author of The Science Before Science is always trying to say on EWTN. It seems the concept is very hard to get across!

          Like

      2. Hi, Jack! Sorry to say I still have not read your book, just too busy. But rest assured that you are in good company, as I have not read Desmond’s book yet, either! 😀

        When I was a freshman in college, I had three roommates, all of us in bunk beds (crowded, to say the least). One of my roommates was waaayyy into computers, math and software (this was 1969-70). Twice during the year, he woke me up by talking in his sleep. In my half-awake state, I found my mind filled with perfect geometric figures, absolutely beautiful, and I had no doubt then that the experience came from me tuning in somehow to him or more likely him broadcasting his perception of these perfect solids to my half-awake self.

        It wasn’t until later that I read about Plato and his world of Ideal Forms but instantly recognized those two half-awake experiences as a direct perception of that world. I have always considered myself blessed to have had those experiences because otherwise I would never have believed that Plato was talking about something real. I’ve often wondered what this man’s perception of life was like.

        Liked by 6 people

        1. His perception of life was that there is no reality in our material world or experience therein.

          You know, one time in philosphy class, we were studying the modern versions of Plato – and at that point we were dealing with Barkley Locke, Hume, etc. I noticed that these men all denied that reality can come from our perceptions of the physical world (just as Plato had done).

          I asked the Prof, ‘All these guys were studying right now are philosophical relativists, right? He responded that,’is obviously so.’ So then I asked him, ‘Then how can they all be absolutist black and whiters in their political views, their political philosophies? How and why is that so?’

          He responded, “That is because they have to live with government, Desmond. They don’t have to live their philosophy. That is why they can be relativists in their general philosophy – but absolutists in their political views and philosophy.”

          In further discussions, pretty much the whole class came to the conclusion that the big danger in philosophy is that men see no immediate danger in coming up with theories which don’t jibe with the real world around us. But when it comes down to being politically free versus a slave of some despot, they are forced to deal with the physical and material realities around us. They are thereby forced to come down to reality when dealing with government/politics.

          All my love in Christ

          Desmond

          Liked by 7 people

          1. Aquinas and Steve,

            The Out of Body Experiences (OBEs) reliably report that their consciousness of reality is far, far greater than perception in the normal bodily state (e.g., colors are far brighter with a greater range of hues, and details are vivid), so in this sense it may be said that our material reality provides but a dim view of the true reality, as proposed by Plato.

            Note that above I did not characterize perception during the Out of Body Experience of reality as “perception,” but as consciousness of the environment. For example, when in our bodily state, the eyes receive light reflected off of objects which our neural system processes to achieve vision. But when in the Out of Body state, our consciousness is an integral part of a field of consciousness; this was well described by Eben Alexander in his first book describing his NDE. For completeness here, I will also point out that our normal perception is not actually of the brain, but of its personal consciousness or soul. and that is how I was able to propose a solution to the problem of qualia, how we are able to “see” different colors, hears sounds, and sense fragrances, despite the fact that their are no differential brain structures or neural processing to account for these different qualities of experience.

            Steve, re your dream experience, I have my own war story. Circa thirty years ago, as I was slowly coming out of sleep while next to my wife, I suddenly saw in my mind my wife adorned with a huge black handlebar mustache– the picture was so funny, I burst out laughing, loud enough to wake her up.
            After just a few seconds, she asked if I thought that she was getting a mustache. When I asked where her question came from, she said that she was dreaming about that when I woke her up. I had no explanation then, but now I would theorize that our separate consciousness in the normal state loses its barriers when freed of body attachment to exist in the universal field of consciousness.

            Liked by 3 people

          2. Sorry, Dez, but I don’t follow where you’re going with this comment.

            First, I wasn’t saying Plato was right in what he said about this experience, only that his comments about an Ideal Form plane helped me make sense of what I experienced those two times. That *is* what I experienced, a world of Ideal Forms. You weren’t there with me, so I can understand that you might be skeptical. If I had not had these two experiences, I would have just filed Plato’s comments in my “Yeah, sure, prove it” file folder.

            Second, I read a lot of Western and some Greek philosophy in my salad days, until I eventually concluded that pretty much every one of these guys started by making an assumption and then building their ideas. In many cases the assumptions were just made up and in some cases the assumptions were warped. I eventually concluded that Europe became the mess it is today either because these philosophers poisoned it or because they merely reflected the society’s increasingly poisoned thinking as a whole. I gave up most of it as bad or even sick. The only exception was the line of thought that grew into the Founders’ approach to governing ourselves. The rest was muck with an occasional minor jewel, best ignored. Note that I have not read Thomas Aquinas or Robert Bellarmine, nor have I read the works of that small group of monk scholars in the (I think) northwest corner of Spain in the 1600s which appear to have worked out property and other issues for a free economy (which info apparently found its way to England and then to the budding USA). I missed all of that because of the siren song of the much more promoted “great western philosophers”. Makes me a little angry, actually, but I guess I was simply young and stupid.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Where I’m going with it, is that those philosophers who claimed there is no reality in this world – they all had to deny that claim in the way they lived their lives. They claimed that people did not abstract concepts from the physical sensations around them, that physical stimulation of the senses had nothing to do with truth. They all claim in one way or another the the sensations they receive have no relationship to reality – that somehow – all the concepts, ideas, definitions which came into their brain from some ethereal source of ideas.

              But when it came to staying alive, and or living well, or especially being free versus a political and economic slave to some despot, that they immediately leave behind that imagined world of ideas which emanate from the sky.

              When it comes to life, it is not irrelevant whether or not they have enough material physical air to breath, water to drink, good food to eat, friend/real flesh and blood people to talk to in order to keep from going insane with loneliness, etc., etc.

              They give up the sophistries, such as thinking that just because they cannot draw a perfect circle or triangle, the understanding of which their mind has abstracted from a myriad of material things which come close to perfect circles, etc., – that doesn’t mean that they got the idea of a circle from some imagined hopper of ideas and concepts and qualities.

              The sounds you head from one of your room mates, how did that lead to some intellectual understanding in any way different from the child who learns from the idea of round or circle from tree trunks which are imperfectly round?

              Plato and his imitators would deny that Aristotle could conclude from the order of this world, and the fact that every material thing has a cause – cannot be explained by an infinite series of causes. They all would deny that he could learn from God’s creation that there has to be a First Cause, a Supreme Being. That was just an idea that Aristotle got from the hopper? Riiiight.

              The Metaphysics of Aristotle, later polished by Thomas Aquinas, understands that there is a bridge in the mind of man which allows him to do things the other animals cannot do. The human being can reason. And his reason, his intellect, is born with the need for inquiry. When children first begin this process, they can drive their parents crazy with interminable questions to mommy and daddy about; What that is, why is it, what it is for, when does it happen, why did the puppy stop breathing, why did he have to die, why do I hurt for puppy?

              God created man – different from all the other animals – with a rational soul. Aristotle deduced this from simply analyzing the world around us. Children demonstrate another faculty quite early on, the power to imagine things, imaginary friends, monsters, animals, etc. The other animals do not possess any of these things.

              How do you know the sounds you heard from your roommate did not simply trigger in you that imagination which we all possess?

              There is no hopper in the sky. There is a rational animal which God created, man! His intellect is diminished since the fall, but he still has the intellect to look, listen to, feel things which are similar or dissimilar and come to accurate conclusions about them. That, and our imagination, is where our ideas come from.

              All my love in Christ

              Desmond

              Liked by 2 people

              1. Ha! Plato is a philosopher who is commonly celebrated who I hold in contempt. The only supposedly serious philosopher I dislike more is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Even in college, when I first read Rousseau, I wondered how anyone could take the guy seriously. I had to read him again just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. Plato is the prototype of the authoritarian socialist – and his work is filled with straw men and glib evasions.

                Liked by 3 people

                1. That is a great condensation of the teachings of a long line of Popes – who clearly state tbe vast superiority of Aristotle as found in Thomas Aquinas over Plato. BOTH JP II & Benedict specifically teach that the view of reality beginning with the world around us Is vital to our mental and moral sanity. That is a virtual denial of any serious value in Plato’s Metaphysics – Plato’s view of our world and our relationship with it.

                  Liked by 2 people

                2. Rousseau is the start of a lot of bad things. I agree, Charlie. And Plato did impress me as the authoritarian you say he was.

                  Dez, we will have to wait until after death to resolve many things. All I can say is that my roommate was in fact talking unintelligible words in his sleep and I had two experiences which themselves had as much sense of reality to me as I have now while writing to you. Honestly, I don’t know how to explain it, but I will say that nothing you say will cause me to lose my memory of the reality of those two experiences. I think you would be willing to assume there are worlds for everything in God’s mind, so why not a world of Ideal Forms? I guess we will have to take up the matter on The Other Side. 🙂

                  On the other hand, I’m *totally* on board with your statements that many philosophers play games unless they are forced to deal with the real world and the vast majority of such works are not only useless but can be actively dangerous to entertain in one’s mind. I wasted some time on it all before I realized what the problem with it was and tossed my books in the trash. That they are taught as serious works in our higher academic institutions is just another travesty, but they help the indoctrination process along, so there is the reason.

                  Like

        2. Steve, Please see my response to your note here as posted for “Aquinas and Steve.”
          Also, if you might be interested in a grand unified theory of physics based on extension of the Maxwell’s equations proposed by Dr. Randell Mills, send an email to me at jh7138@gmail.com and I’ll forward info.

          Liked by 1 person

    2. I appreciate your re-posting of this Linda, as I didn’t see it before. Can you tell me exactly what day Desmond posted this? I would like to see any discussion that may have followed his original post. Thank you!

      Liked by 2 people

  33. I just listened to Glenn Beck’s “You will not silence my voice” radio monolog. It is about 17 minutes long, you can go to “glennbeck.com” and search for the above. I won’t link it here, since I know the team has lots to do. It is a wonderful complement to Charlie’s post. Also, Fr. Heilman also had a similar post on Facebook (link to his Roman Catholic Man website) calling to build an army of spiritual warriors starting with a get together on St. John’s Eve, for any men willing to go to his parish rectory. Similar to other’s, I am afraid, mostly that I will fail our Lord and deny him. I have always been someone to afraid to fight.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Barb,

      We are called to fight with rosaries daily and support those who actually go into battle. Think sustenance and healing/caring. Keeping the faith and being a sign of hope.

      Look at your gifts and strengths and you will see where you are most needed in battle. God gave us each gifts just for this reason.

      Our Mantra “Jesus I Trust in You!”

      I’m afraid to fail Our Lord too. I have to trust He will give us both the Grace and strength to do His Will.

      Liked by 7 people

  34. So, I have been contemplating how to discern friend or foe.

    My mind keeps coming back to abortion. The killing of innocents. That would be a big indicator of friend if they are against abortion.

    But what of those in my parish who are protesting BLM and those who support LGBTQ and such?

    Two things I recently learned.

    1. BLM supports abortion. Crazy! 51% of black pregnancies end in abortion😢. In NYC more black babies are killed than are born right now😢😢😢.

    2. Planned Parenthood not only provides abortion. It provides services ( counselling/support groups) for youth in LGBTQ.

    It isn’t always easy to know where people stand on these issues. Political correctness etc. A lot of people on the fence perhaps.

    I learned a long time ago that you can call yourself Catholic/Christian but your actions sure tell another story. Myself included. That is why I don’t want to fail the Lord now, in these times.

    There is strength in groups that is for sure. Isolation weakens a person.

    Liked by 7 people

  35. Charlie, I would like to know if you, like Mark Mallett, consider the United States to be “Mystery Babylon”? There is so much evil everywhere in the world and yet he seems to single out the United States as the most evil. I find this hard to accept.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Actually, I take the words from Our Lady of the Americas more to heart, Judith. I know that they are approved for private devotion, but not as private revelation. There was a time when I was despondent on how far America has fallen – and it is FAR. But I realized a couple of years ago that as far as we are down, we are probably the healthiest western nation in existence. I put a huge focus on righting America, because I believe that America is called to help lead the world back to good health – a reasonable extrapolation from the OL of America meditations.

      Mark has a perfectly reasonable interpretation, particularly given the centrality of America to world commerce. But it is not the same as my interpretation.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. I have read Mark Mallett’s take on this several times. I have never written him about it before. But today I wrote to him: “It is very difficult to hear you say that the United States is Mystery Babylon. I expect the Free Masonry is all over Europe: and even in the Vatican.

        Europe has always shown more sexual freedom and acceptance of all perversions before the United States. We were always considered somewhat puritanical by Europeans. I also think abortion has been more widely accepted there than it was in the United States. Certainly Russia and China are centers for abortion. Having said that, I know the USA is responsible, through “progressives” for funding abortion around the world. However, as a single citizen, I can do nothing about that but vote and pray.

        There is so much evil everywhere in the world. I am not sure you can point to one country and then say that it is the center of evil.

        I have read this passage before. I think you single this country out. So many of us are still fighting. And yet, reading your writing, it seems like we have already lost and are doomed to a singular and harsh punishment, though other nations have largely swallowed and fully digested the progressive agenda, though they have also been well versed in Christian principles and traditions.

        These are my thoughts and I felt I had to share them.”

        Yes, Charlie, in many ways I think that the USA is the healthiest western nation in existence because we are still fighting, unlike Canada and Western Europe which have ,mostly succumbed to the leftist, ant-God agenda. ….. I am heartened to hear that you have a different interpretation. If we are, indeed, entering the Tribulations, I think all nations will feel the pain of chastisement, and the USA will not be spared, though it could continue to be the center of the fight… I am going to have to research the words of the Lady of the Americas. She is our patroness. ….. I read Mark with respect, but there is evil everywhere. If we are the center of commerce, we are also the nation that saved all of Europe from the Nazi scourge. I remember all those young boys and men that we slaughtered on the beaches or Normandy and think of their sacrifices and other sacrifices average Americans have made to the world. We have also been extremely generous in times of world distress . I do not see how these things do not matter, especially since at least half (or somewhere in that range) of the nation still seeks to discern and live the teachings of our Judeo-Christian God during these confusing and distressful times.

        Liked by 9 people

        3. One more thought: I used to have a German friend. Born in Germany and educated here because the German schools would not allow her to pursue higher education due to her hearing defect. She became a great teacher of the deaf after she graduated from a university….Once she said to me: You know, when the troops marched into Germany at the end of WWII, the American soldiers were the only ones who did not rape women.. Her mother, who lived through that period, told her this….There has been good shown by the United States for many years. Even though slavery was horrible, it went on for centuries in all parts of the world and with many, many peoples who were enslaved. The U.S. was one of the first places where it was finally rejected. …. Yes, every nation has its sins. The U.S. is not what is used to be, but we are still fighting, and there are many who will not give up this fight. May Jesus and Our Blessed mother enlighten us lead us to the very best version of ourselves!

          Liked by 6 people

          1. Wonderful! I too have trouble with Mark Mallett. I use to be a follower of his – not anymore. I think “Babylon” is the Masonic/Financial system that has enslaved the western world and will soon collapse. If God had given up on us, then he would have let Hillary Clinton win.

            Liked by 4 people

            1. Agree with you, Jean, on the source of the problem here in our country. While Freemasons have been in our government since its inception, the enemy has been able to gain strongholds, over the years, because too many Christians no longer live the Gospel. I think Archbishop Viganó has spoken well to these problems.

              Liked by 5 people

              1. Relevant radio was playing Archbishop Sheen today.
                He said there were 3 things. He was running out of time so he only had time for the first,ie,when the Supreme Court outlawed prayer in the schools.

                Liked by 3 people

    2. Judith, I’ve often wondered about this myself. I have come to think that the prophecies may be talking about two different USAs. One is filled with God-fearing patriots in a lineage from our Founders. The other is The System placed on top of that base and designed to suffocate the base. I don’t know about you, but I think the people and businesses and political institutions of our country are in the process of splitting into two groups, one supported by Mary and Jesus and the other supported by the satan. It’s my thinking that The USA System is Mystery Babylon, not the original base, which I believe will survive and thrive as a core part of what is coming after the Storm.

      But I could be wrong! It’s just a thought.

      Liked by 5 people

      1. SteveBC, I think most systems of the world are like this. I think Canada and all of Western Europe are like this and I think the Vatican is full of the smoke of the satan. The Russian Orthodox church is controlled by the state , catholic bishops in China are controlled by the state (thanks to our pope), the M.E. has been persecuting Christians for years and beating its people into submission, etc. So, it is just hard for me to see the U.S. singled out as THE Mystery Babylon. These days the bankers are international and they control many strings. The U.N. is international (and Pres. Trump,please stop funding it!) I accept the the US has been corrupted, but the rest of the world is also the same way. I do not think I am being patriotic. I think I am realistic. Yes, we could all be wrong about our thinking. But there is so much sin and blame to go around!

        Liked by 6 people

  36. I made many calls and visited with people to send Ted Cruz to Congress and met him; hopefully he will be a S. Court Judge sometime. Charlie. I could see you running for Congress! Thank you for the knowledge you and Beckita share with us.

    A person who lives in Uptown Dallas watched the looting on the weekend of May 30 and said 500 vandalized City Hall; he saw bricks being dropped off and heard the looters say to those watching from windows “we will r— you white bitches”. A policeman said the looters had chains and brass on their hands along with incendiary devices; they gave the QVC code to have money go to ‘B.L.M.”. The District Attorney has said it is o.k. to rob if it is less than — so people are feeling free to steal.
    Such nullification of our laws by Democrats given money by George Soros. If only our A. G. could trace the money to him for all the destruction of the far left.

    Never has it been so dangerous to be a person who speaks out when confronted with hostility!
    I know some Democrats whom I used to think would stand up for me since we have been campaigning at the same places for years; one even wanted me to come to a lunch he was having but I declined- now I know I will have to be more careful than before when all I had to say was ” I have the right to be here also so you can’t chase me away”.

    God, give us all the strength to speak out and carry the message you want and protect us all along the way. Blessed Virgin, thank you for your help also!

    Liked by 5 people

  38. For the first time, I am starting to lose hope. Empty seats at the Trump rally. Mark Mallet writing that the fall of America is near, and Charlie you all but saying we are going to fight.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. God bless you, and us all, Patricia. I think it’s normal to be tempted to lose hope. It IS a sobering landscape, yet, we were created for a time such as this and Charlie’s writing (along with the praying, discussions and fellowship we have here as well as with our personal connections) has prepared us for where we find ourselves and what is to come. Since God has called us to this work, He is equipping us, day by day, with each next right step we take and I am so grateful for this place where we can build each other up. I cannot fully imagine how frightened and weary are those who don’t have a place of sanity, such as ASOH, to find refreshment and recharge the better to engage in the work of being God’s instruments in these times.

      Liked by 6 people

        1. Isn’t that often the way, Patricia? The heaviness is real and then, by the grace of God, it lifts. Thanks for sharing this good news! {{{{{{Patricia}}}}}}

          Liked by 3 people

    2. This from the NYPost link from CrewDog below:
      Political strategist and avowed Trump opponent Steve Schmidt claimed his 16-year-old daughter and her pals together purchased “hundreds of tickets.”

      “I’m dead serious when I say this. The teens of America have struck a savage blow against @realDonaldTrump,” Schmidt tweeted.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’ve read there were a lot of adults who thoroughly enjoyed joining their teens in this effort. Think of it: they hate Trump so much, they’re willing to throw their countrymen under the bus and in absolute idiocy be part of destroying, not only ours, but their own freedoms. Oh yes, the very powers theses foolish people support in this evil exercise will have no trouble naming them deplorables and permanently locking them down as well.

        Liked by 2 people

  40. The Tulsa rally was solid.

    With all the organized Marxist violence that’s going on around our country, with the silence and betrayal of the Right, and that many don’t feel free to speak out for fear of violent verbal or physical reprisal….

    Trump cruised into Tulsa, USA, and simply picked up where he left off from his previous rallies: he filled the faithful attendees and us with patriotism, encouragement, and hope. He told us truthfully that he is on our side. He was almost dismissive of what the Left is doing to their own cities, which I thought was brilliant, but promised he’d correct things swiftly and forcefully if necessary. He was comfortable, he was funny, he showed he was one of us: someone who loves our country and will fight for its flag, its citizens including the unborn, and its greatness every day of his presidency. I’m not saying he will succeed, but I’m glad we’ve got him in office to try.

    Great to see you in action again, DJT!

    🇺🇸 God bless America. 🇺🇸

    Liked by 12 people

  41. Happy Father’s Day Charlie and all the Holy Father’s on this site!!! Happy Father’s Day, God our Father and Saint Joseph and all the Great Fathers of the church!!!!

    Liked by 7 people

  42. JESUS = GOOD NEWS 😉

    https://stream.org/martin-luther-writes-against-the-robbing-and-murdering-hordes-of-antifa/

    https://thefederalist.com/2020/06/20/our-pain-in-isolation-presents-a-chance-for-spiritual-re-awakening/

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/court-prevents-hospice-from-voting-to-become-christian-avoid-euthanasia

    https://townhall.com/columnists/wayneallynroot/2020/06/21/is-america-starting-down-the-path-of-nazi-germany-n2570979

    http://www.michellesmirror.com/2020/06/next-they-came-for-colinizers.html#.Xu9diJpKiot

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/06/republicans_must_understand_we_are_at_war.html

    Meanwhile in ChiTown .. NO BLM OUTRAGE .. “cause …. Ya Know! …. ;-(
    https://heyjackass.com/

    Any & Every Dirty Trick in de Book will be used to Take-Out Trump/Supporters!
    https://nypost.com/2020/06/21/tiktok-campaigns-ensure-hundreds-of-unused-seats-at-trump-tulsa-rally/

    https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2020/06/20/disruptive-protesters-at-trump-rally-force-campaign-to-cancel-outdoor-speeches-n2571011

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    Liked by 6 people

  43. If there’s a answer, Mystic Maria Esperanza may have alluded to the answer “do not give up your freedom”.

    Adding more security & rules to makes society feel safe reduces freedom, and imposing other’s “rights” (like leftist special rights pro-sin groups) upon society also robs society of freedom. More thoughts on what constitutes a genuine freedom without violating another’s freedom should be pondered carefully.

    Liked by 6 people

  44. JESUS = GOOD NEWS …. PM 😉

    https://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2018/08/far-greater-than-these-music-video.html?m=0

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/06/an_uncivil_war.html

    https://ricochet.com/770479/i-am-not-your-slave/

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/06/who_owns_the_streets.html

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/06/americas_nest_in_the_gale.html

    I’m thinking that “Climate Change” has destroyed most of Creepy Joe’s Gray Matter.
    https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2020/06/20/pro-abortion-biden-says-climate-change-damaging-unborn-children-n556978

    https://www.newsmax.com/headline/minneapolis-shooting-11-people-wounded-1/2020/06/21/id/973288/

    https://www.newsmax.com/headline/syracuse-shooting-9-people/2020/06/21/id/973287/

    https://pjmedia.com/columns/stacey-lennox/2020/06/20/what-if-i-trust-science-and-dont-trust-dr-fauci-n551584

    https://nypost.com/2020/06/20/muhammad-alis-son-says-he-wouldve-hated-black-lives-matters/

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    Liked by 5 people

  45. Please remember that whatever the Devil throws against us, Jesus Himself has promised both you and me that nothing we encounter in this world will be able to separate us from His love.

    “𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝.” Rom. 8:37-39

    In my opinion, the events that we’re witnessing, such as Covid-19, media/BLM/Antifa initiated protests and riots, the CHOP zone in Seattle, police resignations, defunding proposals, none of them have come about by mere chance. All of them have been initiated to destabilize the USA along with the rest of the world. The current name of the group behind these disruptions is the World Economic Forum (WEF) (1), although they are known by other names such as the Bilderberg Group (2).

    The WEF’s goal is to use these crises to establish a Global Government, aka One World Government, New World Order, etc. They are calling for a solution that will supposedly give us the “Peace and Safety” that we all yearn for. I say “supposedly” because they are liars, thieves and in bed with Satan, The WEF’s version of peace and safety would involve them taking control, politically, economically and militarily through the UN. There will yet be Blue Hats on every street and corner., restoring “order”.

    As of now, for propaganda purposes, the globalist plan is called a “𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁” and/or the “𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻”. Here’s one of their propaganda videos (runs 1 minute);

    (1). A link to the WEF’s website; https://www.weforum.org/focus/globalization-4-0
    (2). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bilderberg_participants

    Liked by 5 people

  46. My oldest son Jerry Jr died yesterday at 59 1/5. He had type 2 diabetes and his body was shutting down and failing. About a month ago, his doctor told him he had about six months left to live. I guessed maybe three. I helped him to accept and find peace of mind. He was ready and died peacefully at one month, somewhat quickly. He left behind four boys and two girls, two brothers and a sister, a mother and father, and lots of cousins and nieces and nephews. Please pray for the repose of his soul. Thank you all in advance. jas

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of your son, jas. Praying for the repose of your dear son’s soul. Prayin, too, for his family, for you and all your family, has. How beautifully holy that you nurtured your son to be at peace. May your Jerry pray for us all as we continue make by our way through these days. God bless you, jas.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I reminded my son of the scriptural passage of the time when the living will envy the dead in the time of tribulation that we are traveling toward and that he will be spared from the full force. He also was a follower of ASOH. May God continue to bless and guide all. jas

        Liked by 4 people

    8. I offer my heartfelt sympathy to you, jas and your family. I have prayed for the repose of your dear son Jerry’s soul and for the consolation for all who love him. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

    12. Praying now for the repose of Jerry’s soul, Jas, and asking the Blessed Mother to console all Jerry’s family🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

      Liked by 1 person

    16. JAS, I join all here in prayers for the repose of your dear son and for comfort and healing of your hearts. I am so sorry for your loss.

      Like

    17. So nice to have a saint named after you.
      Just watched on EWTN about a mother having a dream about her child that died.
      Jesus told her that her child was in His Heart, perfect for Jerry being called to heaven in June.

      Like

  47. I recently spoke with a friend who has lived in a good-sized city in California for decades. The last time I spoke with her, about two months ago, she thought that the governor was handling COVID-19 well and reasonably.

    Things changed when the “murder hornets” came to town ~ just not the ones we joked about a month or so ago.

    Certainly in downtown, but even in her relatively quiet neighborhood several miles from downtown, stores were being looted (not many in her neighborhood) ~ and those responsible for keeping citizens safe, including the governor, were not stopping it. Finally ~ after several days ~ the National Guard was called in and did stop it. Why did the governor wait so long? Why did he decide, finally, to call for the National Guard?

    My friend’s takeaway was, “We were on our own. It was frightening. I realized that I didn’t have any weapons with which to defend myself.” I could hear the fear in her voice, which I had never heard over the years.

    After the National Guard was called in, my friend took a drive from downtown toward her place several miles out. A main downtown street, she said, was like a war zone, with block after block of buildings with smashed windows. National Guard members were posted on every block.

    What is going on here?

    She is a woman of faith; an intelligent, observant person. This is unlike anything she has experienced.

    Liked by 7 people

  48. JESUS = GOOD NEWS! 😉

    When is the “Pressure Cooker” gonna blow?

    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/the-lockdown-forty-nine

    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/its-time-to-re-mythologize-the-gospel

    https://stream.org/cancel-culture-comes-for-junipero-serra-heres-his-real-legacy/

    https://stream.org/stand-up-for-something/

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/06/thoughtcrimes_now_prosecuted_in_the_land_of_the_free.html#ixzz6Q5n5SoZV

    https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2020/06/22/the-elites-are-revolting-n2571007

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/06/22/2010-arab-spring-common-connections-to-the-2020-black-lives-matter-movement/

    https://www.foxnews.com/us/deadly-weekend-in-seattle-chicago-minneapolis-as-new-york-city-reports-uptick-in-shootings

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/06/white-people-may-die-black-communities-made-whole-far-left-uga-teaching-assistant-black-lives-matter-movement/

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/06/21/jerry-nadler-says-impeaching-bill-barr-would-be-a-waste-of-time-instead-will-do-what-we-have-to-do/

    https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2020/06/22/be-careful-who-you-call-a-white-supremacist-n2571043

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    Liked by 4 people

  49. 14 people murdered in Chicago Father’s day weekend and where is BLM when we need them to defend all black lives. Seems like they are only concerned when white folks can be blamed in some way.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. We have the same B.S. coming from China with them claiming racism of all S.E. Asians.

      It’s easy to stoke the fires of hatred when your victim can’t fight back out fear of retribution of more hatred.

      I don’t see any of these leftist rights groups as authentic humanitarians, it’s just more hatred reconfigured & focused on a different scapegoat.

      If you love freedom, then you don’t violate another person’s freedom to get what you want. You do as the second part of “The Great Commandment” says: Treat others the way you like be treated. Leftist rights nowadays are mainly used to violate another person’s freedoms, which pushes everyone further away from God.

      Liked by 4 people

    1. It happens, when you have lots on your mind and the mind get bored of thinking about the same mystery all the time.

      I find it helpful to draw upon the Gospels for extra insights into the points we’re to meditate on on each decade of the Rosary. The Great Commandment, sermon on the mount, Mary’s Magnify the Lord, etc…

      Liked by 3 people

        1. That will do it. If the gospel aren’t enough, look into the materials of Sister Faustina, Padre Pio, and other saints for those meditations, the extra insights should help.

          Liked by 2 people

            1. I like to think of the Rosary as a prayer that we actively participate in the present. The mysteries are more than historical memories that took place a long time ago, we are living those mysteries everyday of our lives and should reflect on our failues to live up to these mysteries.

              The sorrowful mysteries:

              Agony in the Garden, sorrow for sins. Material that examine our condcience before confession can be helpful, as Jesus suffered for our sins as well.

              Scourging at the pillar, mortification. What things do wevdeny ourselves? Have we any fastings & sufferings to offer up?

              The crowning with thorns, moral courage. What have we done to proclaim Jesus Christ & the Good News? Or have we stayed quiet and avoided speaking up?

              The carrying of the cross, patience. The lack of patience comes from a lack of humility, lack of charity, and to believe & desire to be above others. Where have we failed at patience?

              The Crucifixion, final perseverance. The ability to see our daily faith through all obstacles & opposition. We have to keep up the good fight of faith till the day we die. Where have we given up in faith, hope & charity?

              The stations of the cross may have common meditations with the Rosary’s Sorrowful Mystery.

              Liked by 4 people

              1. Al!!! You are a GENIOUS!!! Thank you so much for this spiritual direction! I’m going to print this out so I can use it daily!!! Just splendid advice! Thank you for taking this time with me and “us” here for surely many will benefit from this if they read it! God bless, Al🤗❤️🌹✝️😇

                Liked by 2 people

          1. Oh thank you so much naisy! There are so many wonderful spiritual directors here!!! I’ll add this to my home screen! Thank you so much!❤️🌹🙏

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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.