By Charlie Johnston
Dallas, Texas – I am ashamed. I had a lovely, private group dinner meeting in Dallas on Thursday evening. The presentation went very well, very focused on key practical things people need to keep as priorities as we navigate the flood of disorder rising against us. Then, in the Question and Comment period, a fellow spoke of the idea floating around in some circles that, at the height of crisis, angels will visibly come and lead those of us of faith to safe refuges. I firmly and bluntly said that is not going to happen. He got angry. Then I got angry. We had, perhaps, five minutes of very combative discussion. I am primarily responsible for the combativeness.
On most exotic theories on signs and wonders I keep my peace. I think the overwhelming majority are in error, but I am content that God will correct all errors in His own time for people of good heart. But both the idea of the rapture and that of angels leading people to safe refuges while the battle rages on outside hit two very big hot buttons in me. In the first place, I think it involves a huge amount of vain presumption, for everyone who believes such things also believes they are certainly part of the select who will be taken. That, I think, is based on facts not in evidence. Few reading this article have ever intentionally attacked or sought to undermine the faith. But we sure have not defended it effectively. If we had, we would not find ourselves in the straits we are in. The unconscious arrogance underpinning such beliefs offends me. But that is not enough to set me off intemperately.
What trips my trigger is a deep fear. I do not just think these two beliefs are errant, but that they are so deadly dangerous that they are satanic deceptions and relatively recent ones at that. The idea of angels visibly taking you to refuge is only a few decades old. The idea of the rapture is barely 200 years old. The reason these scare me is that, if you set your certain hope in this, when the decisive moment comes and you are not taken you are liable to enter into mortal despair at the realization that you are not chosen, after all. I think this is a way the satan intends to glean a few more souls of otherwise faithful people at the very moment his gambits of the last century come crashing down on him.
I have come to a grudging internal peace with the reality that a multitude of people will never acknowledge God, no matter how bad they make things. I once foolishly hoped and thought that, once they saw what they had wrought, almost all would repent. One can see now that, in a crumbling polis, many are just doubling down on the hubris that has caused it to crumble. They are lost. But it inflames me still that otherwise faithful people could be gulled into a false hope that could easily lead them to the sin of existential despair at a critical, mortal moment. So I react badly to such talk.
Yet if it is that honorable fear that inflames me, my purpose should not be to enter into combat with those who espouse it, but to speak in a way that gives them reasonable pause, to simply hedge their bets on such things so that, when the critical moment comes and they are not taken, they do not enter into existential despair. That would accomplish my purpose effectively – and without fireworks. The benefit of this exchange is that it has caused me to survey all the hot buttons I can think of and consciously try to develop ways of acting so as to help build people up and prepare them for all eventualities instead of tearing into them.
I do not regret my sometimes combative nature. If someone is openly – or even furtively – attacking the faith or the faithful, I am glad to make my stand forcefully and determinedly. But when that honorable combativeness spills over onto those in our own ranks, I sin. I will find a Priest to make confession with this weekend and I ask each of you to pray that I will do a much better job of discerning when to fight and when to act with reserve.
*********
As we contemplate the things of God, all too often we mistake a legitimate insight for a schematic. I am always mildly annoyed when someone tells me they have divined precisely what a section of Scripture “means.” Scripture has great depth and many facets. The mind of God is like a great ocean – and we love to deceive ourselves that we can capture the fullness of it in a teacup of ocean water.
God forms each of us to, if we will, discern certain aspects of His reality. But even the best of us never get much more than a teacup of wisdom from the ocean of His being. That includes the saints. I sometimes get very uncomfortable when some people conclude that, because I discern some aspects well, that I am intimate with the reality of God. I just have my teacup. That being said, here is some of what I have gotten from the teacup of wisdom God has granted as my portion.
The thing that excites me is that when the Eternal Son took on our humanity, He became part of the family of man. He was no longer only our ruler; He is our very brother.
Through sin, death came into the world. It is banal to argue that God should not have allowed us to choose sin. Had He done that, we could have never been more than favored pets in His Kingdom. God made us in His image, in large part, by giving us moral agency. We could choose good or evil. That has a multitude of consequences: if we can choose to do evil to others, others can choose to do evil to us. It always bemuses me when people ask why a good God allows evil. It is because the alternative is to consign us to forever being pets rather than heirs and brothers. This question is enhanced by our very myopic view of what good and evil actually are. Most people confine their discussion of good and evil to events of this life. The reality is that this life is merely prelude to the fullness of our life in eternity. We are right when we denounce rape, torture and murder as evil – but they are not the ultimate in evil. The ultimate in evil is to forfeit our place in heaven. The overwhelming number of people who have been systematically murdered in the last century is a great evil. Greater still is the number of people whose souls have been lost to hell. Many of those who were murdered here are now in paradise advocating for us. Many of those who did the murdering are in hell. Read the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) while contemplating the deeper meaning of good and evil, tragedy and triumph.
I do not really understand, with any depth, the necessity of blood sacrifice of animals in the Old Testament. To me, the only blood sacrifice that was really necessary was that of Christ. So I tend to think of the old blood sacrifice as a foreshadowing of the necessary sacrifice of Christ – a way to prepare and accustom us to that profound event.
But why was that sacrifice necessary? Jesus did many wonderful things while He walked among us – and taught much of what the Father intends for us. But His primary mission was to conquer death. To do that, He had first to die. Further, to accomplish the possibility of redemption for us, He had to die as a Man. In taking on our humanity, the Lord became part of the very family of man. In rising from the dead, He invites each of us, His brothers, to become truly part of the family of God. Contrary to the sentimental dross that too many parrot, we are NOT all children of God. We are all created by God. But becoming a child of God is a choice on our part. The Bible says so quite emphatically. The Gospel of John notes that, by his sacrifice, Jesus gave each of us “power to become children of God.” (John 1:12). To exercise that power we must receive Him and believe in Him and follow Him. If we refuse we are still God’s creation, but we are not His children.
Further, I think people often err when the try to imitate Christ. None of us are Christ. His mission is not our mission. We can redeem no one by our death. So how do we properly and fruitfully imitate Christ?
God has given us each a unique and unrepeatable authentic personality. That personality and the skills He bequeaths us are geared to help us accomplish the unique and unrepeatable mission He has given us. Christ lived the mission He chose for Himself with undeviating fidelity. We properly imitate Him by accurately discerning and then living the mission He chose for us with the same undeviating fidelity.
Do not just cherish the skills and insights He has given you. Give thanks for the things He withholds from you, as well. Often, what you are lacking, you reach out for with greater attention and fervor. Both St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Mother Teresa said in their diaries that they could not feel the reality of heaven and the presence of God – and mightily pined for it. Critics suggested it as a mark against their cause for canonization. I considered some of the greatest evidence in their favor. As Jesus said to doubting Thomas after revealing His post-resurrection wounds, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29) To have lived the love that both St. Therese and St. Mother Teresa did without being able to feel the Divine Presence is blessed, indeed.
Some misuse snippets of Scripture to pretend Jesus scorns the rich, eschews all physical violence, and any number of other seemingly Christian tropes that do not stand up to examination. Men often cite Jesus saying it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God as proof that He hates the rich. But they neither read the rest of His statement nor know why it had such shocking power to those who heard Him. The disciples were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” At the time, wealth was considered a sign of God’s special favor. The disciples were asking, if the best of the best will have such a hard time, then how is there hope for any of us. Jesus was making the point that, without His leave, no one, not even the best of the best, can be saved. Those who try to style Jesus as the relentless pacifist always ignore Luke 22:35-40. Jesus instructs the disciples that He will soon depart and that after He is gone, any who do not have a sword should sell what they have in order to buy one. He lived undeviating fidelity to His mission, but made clear to His disciples that when He was gone they would need to carry out their mission in a different way than when He was with them.
Do not take snippets of Scripture out of context or without synthesizing them with the whole of Scripture to try to capture talking points. Seek what is true and what is just rather than just a snippet to support what you already want to believe. Then conform yourself as best you can to what is true. Pray for discernment for what your authentic mission is, then endeavor to live up to God’s expectations with your whole heart, mind and soul.
Jesus lived His mission with complete fidelity. Imitate Him by endeavoring to do the same with your mission.
*********
Kevin Wells, nephew of the late Msgr. Thomas Wells, writes brilliantly and concisely in Crisis Magazine about the heart of what ails the hierarchy of the Church. Until it is confronted boldly and candidly, we will continue to be rocked by scandal after scandal in all areas, on matters of doctrine, authority, sexuality, the nature of the family, and the sacrament of marriage. Wells has been on fire lately – and is well worth reading.
*********
Bari Weiss, the brilliant former New York Times reporter who quit because of the intolerance of free speech in the newsroom gave a bracing presentation to the Federalist Society. Her stand on principle for free speech is all the more notable because she is, otherwise, conventionally liberal. She is the sort of person I speak of when I say you do not have to agree with me to be my friend, only to respect my conscience as I respect yours. A powerful takeaway line from her speech was, “Our enemies failure is not assured and there is no cavalry coming. We are the cavalry. We are the last line of defense. Our civilization depends on us.”
This is, indeed, the hour of the ordinary man.
*********
Dallas was founded as a trading post in 1839. It took root and has grown robustly as a leading American center of industry, energy, real estate, and technology. Of course, Dallas looms large in American history and memory. I often think of it as the place where America lost its innocence with the assassination of President Kennedy. In many ways, that event foreshadowed the downward spiral of American culture and unity – with Dallas maintaining a healthy culture and unity, itself, as America has gone into its passion.
The first time I was ever in Dallas was during my pilgrimage. I was startled at how much smaller and more compact Dealy Plaza was than film makes it appear. I made camp in the woods of a little park just before the triple underpass on the north side one night. I did not get a good night’s sleep in the shadow of the assassination site. It felt haunted to me. I doubt it would have the same emotional impact on anyone who did not have vivid, living memories of that awful day. But it has that affect on me and it colored the rest of my time in the city.
Since then, I have come to love Dallas. I have many wonderful friends there – and I think that both it and Texas have a huge role to play in the renewal of America. But I still shudder every time I am near Dealy Plaza. For some reason, the old red County Courthouse along Houston Street, which dominates the east end of the plaza, always sets me to melancholy ruminations. It was, perhaps, the last notable landmark President Kennedy ever saw.
If communication goes out for any length of time, meet outside your local Church at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Tell friends at Church now in case you can’t then. CORAC teams will be out looking for people to gather in and work with.
Find me on Twitter at @JohnstonPilgrim
The Corps of Renewal and Charity (CORAC)
18208 Preston Rd., Ste. D9-552
Dallas, Texas 75252
A Sign of Hope 
Profound.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Charlie, I have argued this about the “rapture” and “refuges” myself. Just the other day my wife and I were discussing this after an advertisement for a new book by a protestant preacher named Dr. Jeremiah on Fox on the “Rapture.” When these people who have bought this yarn realize they are still here when all hell breaks loose, where will their faith be? It’s preying on the simple-minded and those looking for easy answers.
We have all the answers we need!
LikeLiked by 5 people
In retrospect David, those awaiting the Rapture will then never know the true signs of the times, having expected this one to be a great sign.
Similarly the Jews did not recognise the Messiah for the same reason. His expected return was supposed to be in triumph and the fall of all Israel’s enemies. When this did not happen they rejected He who they had most longed for!
This is the hubris Charlie is talking about when we expect great things we concoct ourselves but when they don’t happen leading us to then follow the crowds to say: “Crucify Him!”
LikeLiked by 6 people
It is tough stuff, David, and times are getting urgent. As St. Paul urged us, we must put away childish things and take on the full armor of God. And thanks for the very good work you do at Vox Cantoris.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Great insights Charlie. Thank you for posting. God bless you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hi Charlie…thank you for sending this one along….I found your thoughts and insights very useful and humbling….it was a welcomed read on this Saturday morning in the gray northeast corner of Vermont. I look forward to hearing your words of wisdom regularly, whether or not I think you’ve got it exactly right. Today’s piece is really spot on. I just wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated.
Be well and be with God.. Jack Donnelly Maidstone, VT
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Charlie!
LikeLiked by 3 people
As always, thank you, Charlie! I often wondered about the “God hates rich people” comments. Years ago, I read a book which I can’t remember the name of or the Catholic author, but in one chapter he wrote something like, “If God hated rich people, then why would he have entrusted his dead son’s body to a rich man (Joseph of Aramethea)”. That sentence blew me away.
LikeLiked by 4 people
If I remember correctly, a few decades ago, there was a popular rapture-theme series called ‘Left Behind’, by Tim Lahaye that seeped into catholic book clubs and clouded their beliefs.
Glad we can count on you, Charlie, to tell us true, hauntingly stark though it may be;
but you also remind us to be of good courage. Come Holy Spirit, give us your 7 gifts.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love it (not!) when a preacher says, “What Jesus is trying to say here….”. Or “what Jesus really means….”
LikeLiked by 4 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … Happy St Rose Day! 😉
https://mailchi.mp/jkmi/st-rose-philippine-duchesne-1068506
YEP!! – “Our enemies failure is not assured and there is no cavalry coming. We are the cavalry. We are the last line of defense. Our civilization depends on us.”
I doubt that Bari Weiss, former NYT reporter, and I would have agreed on much over the years but she, obviously, got a Wake-Up Call on 7 October!
I have NO doubt that Angels are With Us but their job is to nudge US to do The Lord’s Work with OUR minds, hands and assets …. as Always!
Ya ain’t gonna sit out The Storm in your easy chair, be dining on Angel delivered Care Packages or be defended by Death Ray armed Angels.
Time is Short … Be Prepared! …. YOU are The Calvary ….. Saddle-Up….. or Fix Bayonets and fight on foot!!!
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/synodality-and-strickland-case/
….. Well! Padre Souza be saying all the “Right Things” to keep the Vatican Mafia at bay ……… Up Bishop Strickland and his Truth to Power Movement … Pew Peons Unite!!
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/what-s-next-for-bishop-strickland
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/in-the-red-corner-has-cardinal-pierre
https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/11/16/faithful-catholic-colleges-see-unprecedented-enrollment-numbers-financial-support/
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256035/us-bishops-express-strong-support-for-proposal-to-name-newman-doctor-of-the-church
https://onepeterfive.com/most-unfortunate-pope/
… I can’t help but wonder if WE are stuck with the most unfortunate Pope for US!? …. and what has PF & his Vatican Mafia done, of substance, to address/fix The Scandals?
As Bishop Strickland pointed out this week, there are plenty of current Prelates with CLOSE ties to Pervert-n-Chief “Uncle Ted” McCarrick who are STILL Holding Office!! ;-(
https://knowingisdoing.org/blog/inviting-response-trust-god
https://www.foxnews.com/world/birthplace-jesus-dismantling-all-christmas-decorations-solidarity-our-people-gaza
https://www.thedailybs.com/news
https://newsbusters.org/
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/
https://www.zerohedge.com/
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 2 people
With regard to conversion Revelation gives 7 deals, 7 trumpets and 8 bowls of chastisement. The repentance rate is dismal.
Willingness to give up EVERYTHING for God is easy for no one. Think of something you treasure. Think of God asking you to give it up out of trust for Him. Your wealth? Your honor? Your safety? Your breath? Your heartbeat?
Trust Him with everything.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Charlie great piece per usual!!! I’m going to reread it again but I had to make a payment this morning to our lawn guy because we sent him the check but it came back undelivered 😂😂😂. So we decided to drop it off to Tim!!! Funny thing, Tim and I talk a lot! Turns out when he was a kid, his guardian Angel always appeared to him and he ended up calling him Fritz! He said as he got older, Fritz just stopped appearing to him😂. So when I told him about you, his ears perked up because I imagine he thought he was the only one this ever happened to😂. Tim Sanders is a strong Christian not catholic yet but I’m guessing someday he will be! Long story short…when I dropped the check off to his mailbox this morning I was greeted by this beautiful brown squirrel 🐿️ with an acorn in his mouth. I stopped. He stopped. We both just looked at each other for what was probably just a few seconds but it seemed like eternity to me as I thought about you and your guardian Angel and Tim and Fritz 😂😂🐿️🐿️👼👼. I told Tim about the squirrel 🐿️ incidence at his front doorstep and the significance of the squirrel 🐿️ and you and he replied that he will never again look at an ordinary squirrel 🐿️ again as just ordinary 😂😂😂. Yes, yes I explained how you said you chose squirrels as our mascot because there is no such thing as a squirrel proof bird feeder 😂😂😂🐿️🐿️🐿️👼👼🙏🙏🙏. Too cute a true story NOT to share 🥰. I hope it made you smile🥰
LikeLiked by 6 people
Thanks for this, Charlie. We all have moments we are not proud of and needed to go to confession. 🙄 I just keep praying, O dear God, let me think before I speak! Well, I’m 75 now and wondering if that prayer will ever take effect. I often pray, please let my crooked words lead them straight to You!
This is a good and nugget-filled piece and I will be reading it again!
Thank-you so much, katey in OR ✝️🙏🏽💜
Daily prayers for all here. ✝️🙏🏽💜
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks again Charley for a brilliant analysis and conclusions.
The idea of select individuals being taken away to safety by angels strikes me as too clumsy to be believable. God would not need angels for any such protection. And if God were in the protection business, then why has human history been blotted with so much evil by individual criminals and by evil nations, as you mentioned? The Israeli infant (an innocent being) that Hamas terrorists placed into a burning oven on Oct 7, with the parents made to witness before their heads were chopped off, was not rescued here by angels or God (although the child’s spirt was surely spared the pain of burning alive and its spirit was taken back to Heaven).
Life here is hard, because, as you point out, God has given us free will, which may be used for good or evil, and our lives on Earth are hard by the design of our mortal bodies, our stressful physical environment, and by the behavior of others. We are born here to experience a material life which provides opportunities for spiritual growth, or unfortunately misused in pursuit of Earthly rewards.
You made a profound reflection about knowledge to be gained from fragments, or even whole passages of biblical text. The knowledge that our minds are capable of understanding cannot possibly incorporate the infinite wisdom of our God Creator. How presumptuous it is it for ordinary folks, or even biblical scholars, to conclude they have fully comprehended God’s mind. We must surely strive for education, but never conclude that we know with certainty God’s intentions and will. Humility is here a high virtue (one my wife frequently reminds me that I lack).
LikeLiked by 4 people
“Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph 5:1-2)
“He passes from the old man to the new one…” The below passage is another form of the “cross” we will carry, as it is painful to “die unto self and become a new creation”.
“Wherever God opens a door of speech for proclaiming the mystery of Christ . . ., there is announced to all men. . . with confidence and constancy. . . the living God, and He Whom He has sent for the salvation of all, Jesus Christ. . . ., in order that non – Christians, when the Holy Spirit opens their heart (cf. Acts 16:14), may believe and be freely converted to the Lord, that they may cleave sincerely to Him Who, being the “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), fulfills all their spiritual expectations, and even infinitely surpasses them. This conversion must be taken as an initial one, yet sufficient to make a man realize that he has been snatched away from sin and led into the mystery of God’s love, who called him to enter into a personal relationship with Him in Christ. For, by the workings of divine grace, the new convert sets out on a spiritual journey, by means of which, already sharing through faith in the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, he passes from the old man to the new one, perfected in Christ.”
Missionary Activity of the Church: Ad Gentes (Col. 3:5-10; Eph. 4:20-24).
As far as fear of the future, this Saint reminds us of our Hope.
“The same Eternal Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all useless thoughts, all vain dreads and all anxious imaginations.”
(St. Francis De Sales).
LikeLiked by 4 people
Beautifully profound reflection, Charlie. Thank you. Much to reflect on, particularly on the true nature of the almost unbelievable gift of free will: “Contrary to the sentimental dross that too many parrot, we are NOT all children of God. We are all created by God. But becoming a child of God is a choice on our part”. This is one I’m going to keep and truly reflect on.
LikeLiked by 3 people
As refreshment, here’s a lovely piece by Anthony Esolen accompanied by lovely, uplifting music: https://anthonyesolen.substack.com/p/i-heard-the-voice-of-jesus-say
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
And he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk
Till traveling days are done.
LikeLiked by 4 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … PS:
https://onepeterfive.com/6th-sunday-remaining-after-epiphany-when-you-love-you-want-more/
I must say that Geo B. Shea’s Ol’ Time Protestant Hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” is a Good One for These-Days. The only time I ever heard, till I looked it up, was from the movie: “The Night of the Hunter”.
https://catholicvote.org/reading-rainbow-host-jokes-about-punching-moms-for-liberty/
https://www.declassified.live/p/time-for-truth-and-accountability
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/spiritual-abuse-in-the-heart-of-the-church
False Flag Events a brewing to disrupt Election 24 so THEY can continue THEIR dismantling of Constitution, Bill of Rights and OUR REPUBLIC!?
https://hotair.com/karen-townsend/2023/11/18/election-offices-are-stocking-up-on-naloxone-n593339
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very interesting points, Charlie. A couple observations or questions.
I’ve thought that the move to animal sacrifice by Abraham was the moment when God began to separate at least some people from the barbaric, evil practice of child sacrifice that characterized those who at the moment of that change, became the pagans. How do you stop human sacrifice cold turkey, so to speak? Better to provide a substitute practice that aids the transition which completed itself with Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross. I find it interesting that Christians no longer feel the need to engage in any blood sacrifices, of human or of animal. I’m not sure what, if anything, current-day Jews do about such sacrificing, so I can’t speculate there, but we do know that even today, those who reject Jesus and remain pagans seem to often either defend or engage in human sacrifice. So wouldn’t Abraham’s switch to animal sacrifice mark that transition away from paganism and allow blood sacrifice to continue without evil consequences until the substitution process could be completed in Jesus’s life?
On the idea of Mission, for a long time I didn’t know what to do with the phrase Jesus said, to “Take up your cross and follow Me.” It seemed that it meant I needed to do something unpleasant or painful or that involved intense suffering, just like Him. If my mission wasn’t intensely painful, it couldn’t be my actual mission, right? Eventually, I realized that His Mission was to teach, then to die upon the Cross and resurrect Himself, and then to teach again. His phrase was Him saying that each of us should find our Mission in Life and do it wholeheartedly, whether it was a pleasant task or a painful one. Upon finding one’s mission in Life, one has the opportunity to say yes or no to it. If you say no and turn away from your mission when it comes knocking on your door, your life loses its meaning. I’ve heard that people who for whatever reason say no to their mission are permanently deadened or dismayed. Those who find their mission and say yes to it will do whatever is needed to learn what they need to learn and do what they need to do in order to live up to that mission, whether it is being a mother or a father, or an accountant or fisherman or someone known to all like a Trump or a Musk. It’s all the same – they found their mission and paid and are paying the necessary price to complete that mission. Some people have a great time, and some people have to fight through massive limitation and struggle, but in every case, they feel *intrinsic* satisfaction and often are energized to carry that mission forward. Your Cross isn’t a literal cross or a promise of suffering or a demand to suffer. It’s simply your mission and it demands your commitment to pay whatever price is part of accomplishing your mission, and you pay that price willingly.
LikeLiked by 8 people
Excellent insights, Steve. I especially enjoyed your take on animal sacrifice, for it truly was a step away from human sacrifice. So, perhaps it is not God who demands blood sacrifice, but the dark heart of man.
LikeLiked by 5 people
“Excellent insights, Steve.” THIS is an excellent insight, Charlie. Not everyone can see and accept insights that they themselves did not recognise already.
File under “Why we follow Charlie.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
That rapture thinking seems to be akin to Muslim terrorists’ belief that dying while murdering infidels will grant them as a reward a multitude of virgins in paradise.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yeah… eternity for faithful Muslim chicks doesn’t sound like much fun.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thank you for writing this Charlie.
My uncle believes the angels will guide him to a safe place. That may be true but perhaps not the refuge he was planning on. A Protestant friend is planning on the rapture.
In the Bible it says the rain falls on the good and the evil alike. Managing expectations is essential in these times.
I’m grateful for your instruction. The clarification on the children of God is excellent.
LikeLiked by 4 people
“Most people confine their discussion of good and evil to events of this life. The reality is that this life is merely prelude to the fullness of our life in eternity.” (CJ).
This quote from Charlie is confirmed in Scripture: “Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him.” (Sirach 15:18)
And here:
“It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.” (Edmund Burke)
“It always bemuses me when people ask a good God allows evil.” (CJ).
“Why did God not create a world so perfect that no evil could exist in it? With infinite power God could always create something better. But with infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create a world “in a state of journeying” towards its ultimate perfection. God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of evil. He permits it, however, because he respects the freedom of his creatures and, mysteriously, knows how to derive good from it: For almighty God… because he is supremely good, would never allow any evil whatsoever to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and good as to cause good to emerge from evil itself. —(Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Here JPll discusses the freedom of will to choose good or evil.
“Evil is not some impersonal, deterministic force at work in the world. It is the result of human freedom. Freedom, which distinguishes human beings from every other creature on earth, is ever present at the heart of the drama of evil. Evil always has a name and a face: the name and face of those men and women who freely choose it.” —POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II.
As far as refuges, scripture tells us we may be “entertaining angels” (Hebrews 13:2) and not be aware of it.
Remember Tobit?
The literal idea of angels carrying us off to a refuge may very well be, but we should expect it to be in a more natural way since Tobit, though accompanied by Raphael, still made the journey with hardships to accomplish his mission.
The reality is God is our refuge and protection but our main desire should be to save our souls.
“Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32 6-7).
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
(1 Peter 1 )
LikeLiked by 4 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … Happy Day! 😉
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/11/19/sunday-november-19th-open-thread-2/
We don’t need more Stinkin’ SIGNS ….. ;-(
https://catholicvote.org/pentagon-fails-audit-sixth-straight-time/
I’ll say again! THEY will NOT allow a Fair Election 24. THEY know THEIR necks are in the noose… THEY are Evil, Rich, Powerful & Control DC Swamp Agencies & Media!
Brace Yourself For What’s Coming in 2024 – Victor Davis Hanson
Tucker – Jan 6
https://rumble.com/v3wllii-tucker-carlson-rails-against-j6-lies-with-russell-brand.html
https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/why-the-cia-no-longer-works-and-how-to-fix-it/
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/11/american_jews_are_stupid_in_almost_identical_proportion_to_gazastinians_being_evil.html
THEY are shoving IT down our Throats … which may have a Silver Lining ’cause it’s a Wake-Up Call and produces Cold Anger where it needs to be!
Nothing to see here! Movealong!! … The Enemy Within!
https://dailycaller.com/2023/11/15/wuhan-institute-virology-colorado-state-bat-ebola-nih-niaid-taxpayer-money/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12757711/Connecticut-multimillionaire-tech-mogul-activist-Palestinian-protests.html
https://www.thedailybs.com/news
https://www.frontpagemag.com/
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 2 people
The “anybody in his right mind…” speech given by Victor Davis Hanson in the above video (starts at 2:39)
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an irony. Pope Francis probably not too happy with the anti-abortion newly elected president of Argentina, fellow countryman of Bergolio…
LikeLiked by 2 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … Happy Day! 😉
https://westernrifleshooters.us/2023/11/20/prayer-request-2/
https://www.westernjournal.com/miracle-muslim-men-gaza-seek-christ-200-dream-jesus-night-report/
https://spiritdailyblog.com/archives/archives-real-love-knows-its-time
https://www.judicialwatch.org/fbi-targeting-of-catholics/
https://crisismagazine.com/podcast/catholic-life-in-tyler-texas-under-bishop-strickland-guest-deacon-keith-fournier
https://onepeterfive.com/the-russian-who-converted-me-from-orthodoxy-to-catholicism/
Does anyone know how/why The Jesuits became the Lavender Marxixt “Leadership” 0f The Church!??
https://www.catholicleague.org/jesuit-run-schools-still-lack-free-speech/
https://catholicvote.org/polish-archbishop-says-the-faithful-need-clarity-after-synod-on-synodality-dubia/
https://public.substack.com/p/why-democrats-became-the-totalitarians
Macgregor: Lots more than just Ukraine …Worth a Watch:
https://thezman.com/wordpress/?p=31162
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/11/20/with-trillions-at-stake-the-cleaving-is-becoming-tenuous/
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/study-reveals-most-common-chronic-symptoms-after-covid-19-vaccination
https://stream.org/category/us/
https://www.frontpagemag.com/
https://thefederalist.com/
https://justthenews.com/
https://www.newsmax.com/
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for finding and posting this beautiful and inspiring interview, CrewDog; I’m re-posting here to highlight it. Deacon Keith Fournier has worked closely with Bishop Strickland for years:
https://crisismagazine.com/podcast/catholic-life-in-tyler-texas-under-bishop-strickland-guest-deacon-keith-fournier
God bless and keep you, friends ~
Sister Bear
LikeLiked by 2 people
Charlie, about the camel passing through the eye of a needle: I remember reading or hearing something many years ago about this. I’m not sure if it’s true, but this is what I read/heard: The Eye of a Needle was one of the gates in the walls surrounding Jerusalem at the time of Christ. It was a large enough gate that a man could walk through it without difficulty. But beasts of burden and caravans that were trying to enter the city also would have to pass through the gate. My understanding is that for a camel to be able to pass through the gate, it would have to have all of its cargo unloaded; and the animal would have to crawl through the gate on its knees. Like I said, I’m not sure if it’s true; but in any event, this has given me much food for thought over the years.
LikeLiked by 4 people
That actually is true, Mick. I’m glad you know of it.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh Charlie, been there, done that. It always seems, however, that when I try to assert my take on a particular teaching (in my case, the last episode was on the theory of a “just war.”) someone will always report it to my boss, the pastor, and I have to take a heapin’ helpin’ of humble pie. The Lord allows it in my case, I think, because I have been too vain and too assured of my orthodoxy. This kind of episode allows one to go back to the teaching of the Church and reexamine it from the point of view of a child who has been corrected by a loving Father.
There is also the equal and opposite danger of receiving praise or acclamation as if it was deserved. After youth group last week, one of the teens expressed his fear of the End-of-the-World and, when I reassured him, he loudly expressed that this was the best answer he had ever heard and he will be coming back every week to the group. Pity the child if my poor offerings are the best he’s ever heard! All glory and honor to the Holy Spirit when He inspires us to speak well and “mea culpa” when I bring scandal. Indeed, it is the way of the ordinary man to fall into either trap. It is my hope to reset my path by following the sweet fragrance of the Immaculate Heart.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Marisa,
Even those who consider saints have trouble with everyday life.
St Lucia, the Fatima seer had a list of her most common faults:
Sister Lucia’s Incredible List Of What She Needed To Confess
Prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God Sister Lucia
“Many think Sister Lucia dos Santos of Fátima fame was a saint. In that, we concur. But she wasn’t a born one, and it wasn’t automatic due to the apparitions of an angel in 1916, the Blessed Mother to her in 1917, and appearances of Mary and Jesus in years after.
No question: she received extraordinary counsel — and predictions — from Heaven. We are releasing a book linking one of her revelations (in 1944) with current predictions and events (Future Events).
But again: that didn’t mean she lived a pitch-pure life in the convent. We all have to work every moment for Heaven, often in “minor” imperfections we rarely consider.
And so it was, as the Blue Army reminds us, and as the well-known chronicler of Fatima, Father Robert Fox, first revealed (in a book entitled The Intimate Life of Sister Lucia), that the all-but-certain future saint named Lucia once listed the imperfections she needed to take to the confessional.”
The list:
– Resentments which do not allow me to forget the defects of others.
– Faults against charity which these resentments lead me to.
– Egoism which leads me so many times to choose the best for myself.
– Self-love which leads me to have my view prevail.
– Excessive propensity to be grieved with trifles.
– To remain quiet many times in order not to have my opinion rejected with people who I know beforehand have to win the argument, even without good reason.
– Lack of respect and disdain for those who contradict me.
– Sadness and weariness produced by wounded self-love.
– Consenting to complaints of self-love.
– Concentrating on the faults of others without seeing my own.
– Curt replies to the Sisters.
– Not valuing the work of others.
– In my eyes I think my work better than others.
– To want others to esteem my work.
– Resistance to Grace.
– Distractions which diminish insights of faith and touches of grace.
– Curiosities.
– Useless words in moments of silence.
– Uncharitable thoughts and words.
– Omissions of charity.
– Carelessness in the practice of small sacrifices.
– Lack of patience in unforeseen events.
– Lack of an ability with others.
– Lack of respect for the opinion of others.
– Not valuing the others’ opinions.
– The difficulty in allowing others’ opinions to prevail.
– Allowing myself on many occasions to be very happy or very sad.
– Not being punctual enough.
– Not taking correction willingly.
– Unwillingly to assume my own feelings.
– Being rude to those who displease me.
– Failing of devotion in my spiritual duties and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
– Failing to be diligent in obedience.
– Failing to be pleasant with others.
– Failing to use ejaculatory prayers during the day to maintain my union with God.
– Failing to visit the Blessed Sacrament in my free time.
LikeLiked by 5 people
This is fantastic! I am glad to know of her everyday struggles because sometimes we of the laity romanticize what life on the “inside” is like, as in the cloister, convent or monastery. I’m sure most of us would have a list that mirrors hers quite closely. Thank you, Phillip, for taking the time to share this here! Pray for us, Holy Lucia.
LikeLiked by 3 people
“From Mary, we learn to love Christ her son, and the Son of God.” St. John Paul II
LikeLiked by 2 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … Happy Day! 😉
https://catholicexchange.com/the-power-of-a-lively-christian-hope/
https://catholicvote.org/ncsc-president-on-how-parishes-should-care-for-singles/
https://catholicexchange.com/st-stanislaw-kostka-a-parish-that-formed-saints/
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/i-had-the-best-day-with-you-today
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/welcome-to-muck-island
https://catholicvote.org/national-eucharistic-congress-expecting-80000-catholics-opens-scholarships/
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/a-kneeling-theology
https://www.thecollegefix.com/pro-life-groups-keep-pressure-on-u-pittsburgh-to-end-research-on-aborted-babies/
https://onepeterfive.com/peter-and-satan-the-two-names-of-the-pope/
https://religionunplugged.com/news/2023/11/20/anti-pope-candidate-javier-milei-elected-argentinas-president-everything-you-need-to-know-about-him
https://respectliferadio.podbean.com/e/kristen-van-uden-catholic-fight-against-communism/
https://catholicexchange.com/the-fiercest-battle-being-waged-in-our-country/
https://allenwest.substack.com/p/allen-west-steadfast-and-loyal-an#details
https://www.sydneycatholic.org/addresses-and-statements/2023/walking-together-in-communion-participation-and-mission-reflections-on-the-synod-on-synodality/
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/11/21/how-openais-ex-ceo-sam-altman-microsoft-and-other-controligarchs-are-weaponizing-ai-to-dominate-your-life-and-upend-capitalism
At the very least, it’s a dress rehearsal for The End! ;-(
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/11/20/munro-dhs-chief-mayorkas-warns-agents-not-misgender-border-crossers-ask-preferred-pronouns/
https://www.thefp.com/p/martin-gurri-when-things-fall-apart-october-7
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/11/20/former-troops-punished-over-bidens-vaccine-mandate-sue-for-billions-in-lost-wages/
https://www.zerohedge.com/
https://www.thedailybs.com/news
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 3 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … PS:
YEP! The Party of Death .. In-Action … Red/Blue State SPLIT appears to be only way for, at least, some of The Republic to survive! … Under The “Cloak” of Thanksgiving to New Year’s THEY will be VERY BUSY …… Be Aware! Be Prepared!!
https://www.wnd.com/2023/11/iq-gets-75-sell-senator-delivers-brutal-assessment-kamala/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/oregon-s-drug-decriminalization-law-faces-growing-pushback-amid-fentanyl-crisis/ar-AA1kc7Xb
https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2023/11/20/new-jersey-to-drop-basic-skills-test-for-teachers-n593710
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/11/20/legitimacy/
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/11/20/the-fall-of-minneapolis/
https://www.lifenews.com/2023/11/21/joe-biden-wants-to-ban-families-from-foster-care-if-they-dont-accept-lgbtq-ideology/
… One HUNDRED Pro-Abortion Groups!!?? … Come, Lord Jesus!!
https://www.lifenews.com/2023/11/20/100-pro-abortion-groups-demand-joe-biden-promote-killing-even-more-babies-in-abortions/
https://www.lifenews.com/2023/11/21/idaho-fights-joe-bidens-attempt-to-block-pro-life-law-protecting-women-and-babies-from-abortion/
https://floppingaces.net/2023/11/21/bidens-illegal-invasion-is-an-unfunded-mandate-killing-us-cities-and-hes-planning-to-expand-it/
https://thefederalist.com/2023/11/21/bidens-doj-tormented-these-four-j6-protesters-to-death/
https://floppingaces.net/most-wanted/washington-goes-to-war-against-twitter-and-free-speech/
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/11/mustsee_video_matt_walsh_perfectly_explains_the_war_on_elon_musk.html
Novena Prayer:
“Christ, our Savior and our King, renew in me allegiance to Your Kingship.
I pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things.
I pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority.
I pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your Kingdom in my family and community.
I pray that You will reign in my mind.
I pray that You will reign in my heart.
O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in my life and in the life of the world.
As I reflect on Your second, glorious coming and the judgment of all mankind, I beg You to show me mercy and give me the grace to become a great saint. I pray that not only will I spend eternity with You but that You may use me – a sinner – to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.
Christ the King, Your Kingdom come!” … & SOON … Please! 😉
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 2 people
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … 😉 PM
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256068/breaking-pope-francis-intervenes-with-german-synodal-way
Tucker:
https://revolver.news/2023/11/the-reason-why-ronna-mcdaniel-keeps-gop-debates-is-not-what-you-think/
https://justthenews.com/
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC ALL HERE!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Voris out as CEO at CM. I am striving for charity and working to avoid the schadenfreude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … Happy Day! 😉
https://mailchi.mp/jkmi/st-rose-philippine-duchesne-1068494
https://www.catholicleague.org/thanksgiving-tribute-to-families/
https://catholicexchange.com/to-be-rather-than-to-seem/
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/conversion-to-end-child-sacrifice-in-ancient-israel-and-now/
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-pink-synod
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ark-is-not-covenant/
Let’s Pray for MV and all of us that we may hear on our Last Day … Well …. “Ya did more good than harm.”
https://onepeterfive.com/michael-voris-repents/
https://www.newoxfordreview.org/documents/and-justice-for-some/
https://floppingaces.net/2023/11/22/why-we-hate-you-why-we-fight-you-a-jihadist-view-of-islam/
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20171/jihad-on-churches-france
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/21/target-reignites-boycott-calls-christmas-pride-lin/
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/rampant-transgender-propaganda-is-eroding-social-boundaries/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/internal-senate-memo-highlights-biden-admin-efforts-tie-highway-funding-woke-priorities
……… IDNA next! ;-(
https://www.richardcyoung.com/lifestyle/lifesaver/idna-its-like-mrna-but-on-steroids/
https://www.thedailybs.com/news
https://links.glennbeck.com/view/55d278157d0973635efe6258jx33v.1jqb/87183f72
https://www.zerohedge.com/
https://newsbusters.org/
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 1 person
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … PS:
Rush Limbaugh – THE TRUE STORY OF THANKSGIVING
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/11/24/never-forget-rush-limbaughs-final-true-story-thanksgiving/
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Charlie and the others who went to DC to see the Donald ~
Today’s “The Wire.” I think the man reports the news:
All who visited DC that day, and days around that day, are under surveillance by air marshals. 😳
Well, isn’t that just peachy. Yeesh. So flying is less safe.
It won’t let me paste the link, but The Wire is on YouTube under S2.
Blessed Thanksgiving to all! 🥧☕️😁
God bless us every one, katey in OR. ✝️🙏🏽💜
LikeLike
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! … Happy Thanksgiving Day! 😉
https://life-craft.org/the-challenge-of-thanksgiving-day/
Thanksgiving History: Plimoth Plantation
https://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/homework-help/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-history
Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day Address
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=69998
Roosevelt’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-2373-thanksgiving-day
43 Thanksgiving Day movies to watch after the big meal
https://www.today.com/popculture/movies/best-thanksgiving-movies-rcna43102
Sneak peek of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023: Blue Cat and Chugs, more new balloons
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2023/11/22/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-new-balloons-2023/71665627007/
GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!
LikeLike