Saturday, 15 February 2014
Open Letter to The Laity
Dear Lay Friends/Readers,
This is an open letter to you all. The time for taking a leap is now. What is the leap? There are four areas where one must "leap". The first is that one must believe in the coming persecution of Catholics. No longer can anyone pretend that there will be a Church Triumphant in our lifetimes. Follow this blog on persecution and community tags.
The second leap is to stop pretending that the Catholic Church will be there for your support. God told us through the Church 50 years ago that this is the age of the laity. Why? Because God knew, of course, that the laity would be the main group to carry on the Faith into the next generation. Stop blaming priests and bishops for the weakness in the Church. The weakness in your house and mine is our own fault. We have all the information we need to become orthodox and the only way to become a saint is to begin with orthodoxy.
Stop relying on the clergy and rely on your daily relationship with God.
The third leap is to train your children to be saints and martyrs. Even as early as 2003, I was telling high school students that they were the age of the martyrs. About half believed this. The other half most likely decided not to prepare themselves for a real decision for Christ and for His Church. Part of being a martyr is not only dying for Christ, but for His Church, as did SS. John Fisher, Thomas More, Margaret Clitherow and her baby, and so on. If you are not training your children in the virtues, they will not be able to withstand the coming difficulties. Parents, it is part of your duty to train your children to be saints, now.
The fourth leap is to create community now, and the series I wrote is there for you. I shall not keep writing about these points, as you have enough information with which to work at this juncture. You do not have time to mull over this but need to act now. Do not, again, pretend that you be able to move. You may have restrictions on gasoline, mileage in your cars, or be under curfews.
I write this after four discussions in the past several days. Two with couples who understand and are on board with the real signs of the times, and two who refuse to look at these signs. We are not children. We are adults. And God has given us to grace to withstand these times.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
Dear Lay Friends/Readers,
This is an open letter to you all. The time for taking a leap is now. What is the leap? There are four areas where one must "leap". The first is that one must believe in the coming persecution of Catholics. No longer can anyone pretend that there will be a Church Triumphant in our lifetimes. Follow this blog on persecution and community tags.
The second leap is to stop pretending that the Catholic Church will be there for your support. God told us through the Church 50 years ago that this is the age of the laity. Why? Because God knew, of course, that the laity would be the main group to carry on the Faith into the next generation. Stop blaming priests and bishops for the weakness in the Church. The weakness in your house and mine is our own fault. We have all the information we need to become orthodox and the only way to become a saint is to begin with orthodoxy.
Stop relying on the clergy and rely on your daily relationship with God.
The third leap is to train your children to be saints and martyrs. Even as early as 2003, I was telling high school students that they were the age of the martyrs. About half believed this. The other half most likely decided not to prepare themselves for a real decision for Christ and for His Church. Part of being a martyr is not only dying for Christ, but for His Church, as did SS. John Fisher, Thomas More, Margaret Clitherow and her baby, and so on. If you are not training your children in the virtues, they will not be able to withstand the coming difficulties. Parents, it is part of your duty to train your children to be saints, now.
The fourth leap is to create community now, and the series I wrote is there for you. I shall not keep writing about these points, as you have enough information with which to work at this juncture. You do not have time to mull over this but need to act now. Do not, again, pretend that you be able to move. You may have restrictions on gasoline, mileage in your cars, or be under curfews.
I write this after four discussions in the past several days. Two with couples who understand and are on board with the real signs of the times, and two who refuse to look at these signs. We are not children. We are adults. And God has given us to grace to withstand these times.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
This is an open letter to you all. The time for taking a leap is now. What is the leap? There are four areas where one must "leap". The first is that one must believe in the coming persecution of Catholics. No longer can anyone pretend that there will be a Church Triumphant in our lifetimes. Follow this blog on persecution and community tags.
The second leap is to stop pretending that the Catholic Church will be there for your support. God told us through the Church 50 years ago that this is the age of the laity. Why? Because God knew, of course, that the laity would be the main group to carry on the Faith into the next generation. Stop blaming priests and bishops for the weakness in the Church. The weakness in your house and mine is our own fault. We have all the information we need to become orthodox and the only way to become a saint is to begin with orthodoxy.
Stop relying on the clergy and rely on your daily relationship with God.
The third leap is to train your children to be saints and martyrs. Even as early as 2003, I was telling high school students that they were the age of the martyrs. About half believed this. The other half most likely decided not to prepare themselves for a real decision for Christ and for His Church. Part of being a martyr is not only dying for Christ, but for His Church, as did SS. John Fisher, Thomas More, Margaret Clitherow and her baby, and so on. If you are not training your children in the virtues, they will not be able to withstand the coming difficulties. Parents, it is part of your duty to train your children to be saints, now.
The fourth leap is to create community now, and the series I wrote is there for you. I shall not keep writing about these points, as you have enough information with which to work at this juncture. You do not have time to mull over this but need to act now. Do not, again, pretend that you be able to move. You may have restrictions on gasoline, mileage in your cars, or be under curfews.
I write this after four discussions in the past several days. Two with couples who understand and are on board with the real signs of the times, and two who refuse to look at these signs. We are not children. We are adults. And God has given us to grace to withstand these times.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
We are the generation who must persevere in a time of darkness. Even the ancient desert fathers prophesied about our generation. If we persevere, we shall be the greatest generation of all Catholics.
From Palestine, Abba Hilarion went to the mountain to Abba Anthony. AbbaAnthony said to him, 'You are welcome, torch which awakens the day.' Abba
Hilarion said, 'Peace to you, pillar of light, giving light to the world.'
The holy Fathers were making predictions about the last generation. They said
'What have we ourselves done?' One of them, the great abba Ischyrion replied,
'We ourselves have fulfilled the commandments of God.' (and done great works against the devil).
The others replied,
'And those who come after us, what will they do?' He said, 'They will struggle
to achieve half our works.' (but they will spread the Gospel throughout the world) They said, 'And to those who come after them, what will happen?' He said, 'THE MEN OF THAT GENERATION WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH ANY WORKS AT ALL AND TEMPTATION WILL COME UPON THEM; (but they will persevere) AND THOSE WHO WILL BE APPROVED IN THAT DAY WILL BE GREATER THAN EITHER US OR OUR FATHERS.'
Abba Copres said, 'blessed is he who bears affliction with thankfulness.'
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
We are the generation who must persevere in a time of darkness. Even the ancient desert fathers prophesied about our generation. If we persevere, we shall be the greatest generation of all Catholics.
From Palestine, Abba Hilarion went to the mountain to Abba Anthony. AbbaAnthony said to him, 'You are welcome, torch which awakens the day.' Abba Hilarion said, 'Peace to you, pillar of light, giving light to the world.' The holy Fathers were making predictions about the last generation. They said 'What have we ourselves done?' One of them, the great abba Ischyrion replied, 'We ourselves have fulfilled the commandments of God.' (and done great works against the devil).
The others replied, 'And those who come after us, what will they do?' He said, 'They will struggle to achieve half our works.' (but they will spread the Gospel throughout the world) They said, 'And to those who come after them, what will happen?' He said, 'THE MEN OF THAT GENERATION WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH ANY WORKS AT ALL AND TEMPTATION WILL COME UPON THEM; (but they will persevere) AND THOSE WHO WILL BE APPROVED IN THAT DAY WILL BE GREATER THAN EITHER US OR OUR FATHERS.' Abba Copres said, 'blessed is he who bears affliction with thankfulness.'
Friday, 14 March 2014
The Life of No Sacraments Looms
I am almost at the end of my efforts to help others see the need for communities in America, Great Britain and Ireland. I have written much on this subject and am personally grieved that people simply do not see the need for contacts based on love and knowledge.
No one talked about "community" until it no longer existed. Real Catholic communities have been destroyed in Europe by war, socialism, communism and the death of Christendom. In other words, there exists a vacuum where overlapping ideal formerly brought people together in the past.
In the States, because of distances and a huge, false ideal of "rugged individualism", communities hardly can be discussed among even traditional Catholics.
Too many priests and too many lay people believe that the older forms for creating community still work.
These do not. Altar and Rosary societies, Knight of Columbus, Cursio, and so on never discuss the coming upheaval of the Church. Why people in these groups cannot see the impending loss of the sacramental life of the Church, and the serious curtailing of religious freedoms continues to baffle me.
In one diocese, eight sems for one half of a State; in another two sems, for 100,000 people; in another, 42 priests for 100,000 people; in another,one sem.
Do people want a life without the Mass? Communities would encourage vocations and the parents who have children would be encouraged by an intense, shared faith.
To pretend families will be able to "go it alone" reveals a naivete and a lack of historical perspective.
Can I keep writing and talking about this when few, very few respond?
Men must take the lead and pray about communities in their areas.
Do they want to stand back and watch the imprisonment and death of their priests?
Having safe havens for priests will be a necessity. Read my novellas.
Get passed the stage of denial and comfort.
The old groupings miss the point and are not forward looking, but backward looking.
Do not look back, plan for the future. You children's faith life is at stake, as well as the continuance of the Catholic Church in your area.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2014/02/why-catholic-cannot-discern.html
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
I am almost at the end of my efforts to help others see the need for communities in America, Great Britain and Ireland. I have written much on this subject and am personally grieved that people simply do not see the need for contacts based on love and knowledge. No one talked about "community" until it no longer existed. Real Catholic communities have been destroyed in Europe by war, socialism, communism and the death of Christendom. In other words, there exists a vacuum where overlapping ideal formerly brought people together in the past. In the States, because of distances and a huge, false ideal of "rugged individualism", communities hardly can be discussed among even traditional Catholics. Too many priests and too many lay people believe that the older forms for creating community still work. These do not. Altar and Rosary societies, Knight of Columbus, Cursio, and so on never discuss the coming upheaval of the Church. Why people in these groups cannot see the impending loss of the sacramental life of the Church, and the serious curtailing of religious freedoms continues to baffle me. In one diocese, eight sems for one half of a State; in another two sems, for 100,000 people; in another, 42 priests for 100,000 people; in another,one sem. Do people want a life without the Mass? Communities would encourage vocations and the parents who have children would be encouraged by an intense, shared faith. To pretend families will be able to "go it alone" reveals a naivete and a lack of historical perspective. Can I keep writing and talking about this when few, very few respond? Men must take the lead and pray about communities in their areas. Do they want to stand back and watch the imprisonment and death of their priests? Having safe havens for priests will be a necessity. Read my novellas. Get passed the stage of denial and comfort. The old groupings miss the point and are not forward looking, but backward looking. Do not look back, plan for the future. You children's faith life is at stake, as well as the continuance of the Catholic Church in your area. http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2014/02/why-catholic-cannot-discern.html
Why Persecution? Why Tribulation?
Since 2007, I have written about the coming persecution of real Catholics. One can follow the tags.
Here is one post.
I have also written that persecution is for the purification of the elect, which may be clarified by reading the long series on Predestination.
But, one thing is clear. Persecution creates heroes and this world is in great need of heroes.
Saints are heroes.
Our children need heroes, need models of grace and courage.
Adults need heroes to spur them on and continue the fight against evil.
We are not living in a time of heroes, but a time which glorifies anti-heroes. This was clear even in the depiction of Aragorn in LOTR movies, when Jackson missed the chance to really explore and understand the ideal of kingship, which Tolkien understood and revealed in his books.
Persecution forces the mediocre to make decisions. No one can be an existentialist in a time of tribulation. Persecution forces the good to become excellent, as the good are made pure of heart, mind and soul in persecution.
Persecution clarifies what is heresy and what is truth in the Church. We are seeing that already, clearly.
Persecution causes men and women to convert, to see the truth and choose it. People more easily convert when they can see from what they are turning and what they are embracing.
However, there is something which escapes most Catholics, a small truth which can change history. And, it is this. If we cooperated with God daily in being purified, we would not need a time of tribulation.
Persecution creates saints, but so do daily decisions for Christ and for his Church. If Catholics got up early or went to Mass after work daily, if Catholics went to Confession regularly and attended Adoration whenever it was offered, if Catholics stood up for the truth in the market-place, making the reign of Christ real in the world, if Catholics took on mortification and penance, we would not need persecution.
Christ desires as many people as possible to go to heaven. Persecution allows evil to be seen clearly, helping some convert, and the good to rise to the level of perfection.
But, if we prayed and cooperated with grace now, daily, these times will be shortened.
The times of purification have begun. For some, persecution is part of daily life.
Pray to become a hero now, to become a saint now.
Then, one can evangelize others with real authority and power.
Then, the time of persecution could be lessened.
Since 2007, I have written about the coming persecution of real Catholics. One can follow the tags.
Here is one post.
I have also written that persecution is for the purification of the elect, which may be clarified by reading the long series on Predestination.
But, one thing is clear. Persecution creates heroes and this world is in great need of heroes.
Saints are heroes.
Our children need heroes, need models of grace and courage.
Adults need heroes to spur them on and continue the fight against evil.
We are not living in a time of heroes, but a time which glorifies anti-heroes. This was clear even in the depiction of Aragorn in LOTR movies, when Jackson missed the chance to really explore and understand the ideal of kingship, which Tolkien understood and revealed in his books.
Persecution forces the mediocre to make decisions. No one can be an existentialist in a time of tribulation. Persecution forces the good to become excellent, as the good are made pure of heart, mind and soul in persecution.
Persecution clarifies what is heresy and what is truth in the Church. We are seeing that already, clearly.
Persecution causes men and women to convert, to see the truth and choose it. People more easily convert when they can see from what they are turning and what they are embracing.
However, there is something which escapes most Catholics, a small truth which can change history. And, it is this. If we cooperated with God daily in being purified, we would not need a time of tribulation.
Persecution creates saints, but so do daily decisions for Christ and for his Church. If Catholics got up early or went to Mass after work daily, if Catholics went to Confession regularly and attended Adoration whenever it was offered, if Catholics stood up for the truth in the market-place, making the reign of Christ real in the world, if Catholics took on mortification and penance, we would not need persecution.
Christ desires as many people as possible to go to heaven. Persecution allows evil to be seen clearly, helping some convert, and the good to rise to the level of perfection.
But, if we prayed and cooperated with grace now, daily, these times will be shortened.
The times of purification have begun. For some, persecution is part of daily life.
Pray to become a hero now, to become a saint now.
Then, one can evangelize others with real authority and power.
Then, the time of persecution could be lessened.
Saturday, 15 November 2014
On The Apocalyptic Scriptures
As the Liturgical Year comes to an end, something is noticeable in the readings on Sunday and during the week. The reading become centered on three themes.
These are the days of tribulation and persecution; the end of the world and the final judgement; and the need for penance.
Advent continues with the call to repentance, especially in the words of St. John the Baptist.
But, in the weeks running up to Advent, we see the persistent themes noted above.
Why?
The end of the Liturgical Year is an appropriate time for reminders of the final judgement, end times, tribulation, persecution and penance. As the season of Autumn become more wintry, as cold and darkness set in, we are reminded of death, our death and the death of all mankind. We are reminded of our particular judgement and the final judgement.
Readings from Luke remind us of Christ's words on the end times.
Readings from the Apocalypse remind us of judgement.
Readings from the prophets warn us of the truths of Revelation that we shall be persecuted and judged.
These themes are not merely in this year of Luke, but are also found in the years of Mark and Matthew. The Church has always reminded us of persecution, judgment and death at this time of year, even in the Tridentine Calendar.
Indeed, as we move towards the great feast of Christ the King, this year on November 23rd, the last Sunday of the Church Year, we see this movement towards His Reign.
We are being asked to get prepared for the Kingdom of God. We are being asked to get ready for persecution, trials, the end of the world, the final judgement.
Get ready.
Saturday, 17 January 2015
As the Liturgical Year comes to an end, something is noticeable in the readings on Sunday and during the week. The reading become centered on three themes.
These are the days of tribulation and persecution; the end of the world and the final judgement; and the need for penance.
Advent continues with the call to repentance, especially in the words of St. John the Baptist.
But, in the weeks running up to Advent, we see the persistent themes noted above.
Why?
The end of the Liturgical Year is an appropriate time for reminders of the final judgement, end times, tribulation, persecution and penance. As the season of Autumn become more wintry, as cold and darkness set in, we are reminded of death, our death and the death of all mankind. We are reminded of our particular judgement and the final judgement.
Readings from Luke remind us of Christ's words on the end times.
Readings from the Apocalypse remind us of judgement.
Readings from the prophets warn us of the truths of Revelation that we shall be persecuted and judged.
These themes are not merely in this year of Luke, but are also found in the years of Mark and Matthew. The Church has always reminded us of persecution, judgment and death at this time of year, even in the Tridentine Calendar.
Indeed, as we move towards the great feast of Christ the King, this year on November 23rd, the last Sunday of the Church Year, we see this movement towards His Reign.
We are being asked to get prepared for the Kingdom of God. We are being asked to get ready for persecution, trials, the end of the world, the final judgement.
Get ready.
Saturday, 17 January 2015
Why The Church Will Be Persecuted
_-_Alexandre-Gabriel_Decamps_-_overall.jpg)
Persecution will come and is coming soon. For more people than you realize, it is happening already.
Most Catholics think that persecution hits the Catholic Church because of politics, or doctrine, or dogma.
Those issues are only part of persecution. But, as I wrote last year in the series on Rome, linked at the bottom of this post, the real reasons have to do with one fact.
Empires do not understand simplicity.
Global governments cannot tolerate innocence.
Large political entities, whether the EU, or Russia, or the US cannot abide or even understand the unique individual who does not fit into a box.
If a person is honest, innocence, without gall, those who work for governments who train their workers to sniff out evil and who concentrate on evil will never understand those who are good.
In times of chaos, governments look out for those who are "different" and Catholics who are living their Faith are and should stand out as "different".
Being outwardly Catholic will become more and more dangerous.
Being outwardly Catholic causes marginalization and ridicule, both of which I have experienced in one week.
Being sincere cannot be appreciated by the paranoid or the fixated.
We are and shall be persecuted because we first of all belong to the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church; for those of us who take this seriously, we shall be set aside as outsiders.
It has all happened before and is happening now. All the laws are in place or shortly will be for gross persecution.
I have pleaded for help without any response. If I could share with you what I have endured in the past three days, and I cannot online, you may be more aware of my real needs.
I have written before, that I am a bell wether. If I end up in prison, you will end up in prison...it is just a matter of time.
Daily, armies and government officials are being trained to spot those who work outside the system.
They are trained to bully the individual, the non-conformist, the non-secular.
Catholics see things in a completely different light than the vast majority of those who do not know the Indwelling of the Trinity.
Pay attention. Please pay attention. If you are complacent, you will either lose your faith, side with those who hate the Church, or despair.
We shall be persecuted and what is happening is not so subtle anymore. Saints are never conformists and never able to be put into a box.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.ie/2014/02/new-series-this-week-february-24-303.html
Catholics forget that twice Our Lady, who is all perfect, had to flee her home country because of persecution. The first time was in the Flight into Egypt. The second time was when St. John took her to Ephesus, to flee the Jerusalem persecution.
Learn to be holy; learn poverty of heart and purity of heart. Those virtues will get you through what will happen. And, as an addendum, I think we shall see the closing of some borders in the EU.
Monday, 1 September 2014
Persecution will come and is coming soon. For more people than you realize, it is happening already.
Most Catholics think that persecution hits the Catholic Church because of politics, or doctrine, or dogma.
Those issues are only part of persecution. But, as I wrote last year in the series on Rome, linked at the bottom of this post, the real reasons have to do with one fact.
Empires do not understand simplicity.
Global governments cannot tolerate innocence.
Large political entities, whether the EU, or Russia, or the US cannot abide or even understand the unique individual who does not fit into a box.
If a person is honest, innocence, without gall, those who work for governments who train their workers to sniff out evil and who concentrate on evil will never understand those who are good.
In times of chaos, governments look out for those who are "different" and Catholics who are living their Faith are and should stand out as "different".
Being outwardly Catholic will become more and more dangerous.
Being outwardly Catholic causes marginalization and ridicule, both of which I have experienced in one week.
Being sincere cannot be appreciated by the paranoid or the fixated.
We are and shall be persecuted because we first of all belong to the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church; for those of us who take this seriously, we shall be set aside as outsiders.
It has all happened before and is happening now. All the laws are in place or shortly will be for gross persecution.
I have pleaded for help without any response. If I could share with you what I have endured in the past three days, and I cannot online, you may be more aware of my real needs.
I have written before, that I am a bell wether. If I end up in prison, you will end up in prison...it is just a matter of time.
Daily, armies and government officials are being trained to spot those who work outside the system.
They are trained to bully the individual, the non-conformist, the non-secular.
Catholics see things in a completely different light than the vast majority of those who do not know the Indwelling of the Trinity.
Pay attention. Please pay attention. If you are complacent, you will either lose your faith, side with those who hate the Church, or despair.
We shall be persecuted and what is happening is not so subtle anymore. Saints are never conformists and never able to be put into a box.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.ie/2014/02/new-series-this-week-february-24-303.html
Catholics forget that twice Our Lady, who is all perfect, had to flee her home country because of persecution. The first time was in the Flight into Egypt. The second time was when St. John took her to Ephesus, to flee the Jerusalem persecution.
Learn to be holy; learn poverty of heart and purity of heart. Those virtues will get you through what will happen. And, as an addendum, I think we shall see the closing of some borders in the EU.
Doctors of The Church for September; John Chrysostom
An important homily for our times of great suffering in the Church is this one from John Chrysostom, one of the September Doctors of The Church. I have posted the entire homily here as it is so timely
Homily II.
Acts I. 6
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
When the disciples intend to ask anything, they approach Him together, that by dint of numbers they may abash Him into compliance. They well knew that in what He had said previously, “Of that day knoweth no man” (Matt. xxiv. 36), He had merely declined telling them: therefore they again drew near, and put the question. They would not have put it had they been truly satisfied with that answer. For having heard that they were about to receive the Holy Ghost, they, as being now worthy of instruction, desired to learn. Also they were quite ready for freedom: for they had no mind to address themselves to danger; what they wished was to breathe freely again; for they were no light matters that had happened to them, but the utmost peril had impended over them. And without saying any thing to Him of the Holy Ghost, they put this question: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” They did not ask, when? but whether “at this time.” So eager were they for that day. Indeed, to me it appears that they had not any clear notion of the nature of that kingdom; for the Spirit had not yet instructed them.30 And they do not say, When shall these things be? but they approach Him with greater honour, saying, “Wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom,” as being now already fallen. For there they were still affected towards sensible objects, seeing they were not yet become better than those who were before them; here they have henceforth high conceptions concerning Christ. Since then their minds are elevated, He also speaks to them in a higher strain. For He no longer tells them, “Of that day not even the Son of Man knoweth” (Mark xiii. 32); but He says, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power (Acts i. 7.) Ye ask things greater than your capacity, He would say. And yet even now they learned things that were much greater than this. And that you may see that this is strictly the case, look how many things I shall enumerate. What, I pray you, was greater than their having learned what they did learn? Thus, they learned that there is a Son of God, and that God has a Son equal with Himself in dignity (John v. 17–20); they learned that there will be a resurrection (Matt. xvii. 9); that when He ascended He sat on the right hand of God (Luke xxii. 69); and what is still more stupendous, that Flesh is seated in heaven, and adored by Angels, and that He will come again (Mark xvi. 19); they learned what is to take place in the judgment (Matt. xvi. 27); learned that they shall then sit and judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke xxi. 27); learned that the Jews would be cast out, and in their stead the Gentiles should come in (Matt. xix. 28). For, tell me, which is greater? to learn that a person will reign, or to learn the time when? (Luke xxi. 24). Paul learned “things which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. xii. 4); things that were before the world was made, he learned them all. Which is the more difficult, the beginning or the end? Clearly to learn the beginning. This, Moses learned, and the time when, and how long ago: and he enumerates the years. And31 the wise Solomon saith, “I will make mention of things from the beginning of the world.” And that the time is at hand, they do know: as Paul saith, “The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing.” (Phil. iv. 5). These things they knew not [then], and yet He mentions many signs (Matt. ch. xxiv). But, as He has just said, “Not many days hence,” wishing them to be vigilant, and did not openly declare the precise moment, so is it here also. However, it is not about the general Consummation that they now ask Him, but, “Wilt Thou at this time,” say they, “restore the kingdom to Israel?” And not even this did He reveal 12to them. They also asked this [about the end of the world] before: and as on that occasion He answered by leading them away from thinking that their deliverance was near and, on the contrary, cast them into the midst of perils, so likewise on this occasion but more mildly. For, that they may not imagine themselves to be wronged, and these things to be mere pretences, hear what He says: He immediately gives them that at which they rejoiced: for He adds: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts i. 8.) Then, that they may make no more enquiries, straightway He was received up. Thus, just as on the former occasion He had darkened their minds by awe, and by saying, “I know not;” here also He does so by being taken up. For great was their eagerness on the subject, and they would not have desisted; and yet it was very necessary that they should not learn this. For tell me,32 which do the Gentiles most disbelieve? that there will be a consummation of the world, or that God is become man, and issued from the Virgin?33 But I am ashamed of dwelling on this point, as if it were about some difficult matter. Then again, that the disciples might not say, Why dost thou leave the matter in suspense? He adds, “Which the Father hath put in His own power.” And yet He declared the Father’s power and His to be one: as in the saying, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” (John v. 21.) If where need is to work, Thou actest with the same power as the Father; where it behooves to know, dost Thou not know with the same power? Yet certainly to raise up the dead is much greater than to learn the day. If the greater be with power, much more the other.
But just as when we see a child crying, and pertinaciously wishing to get something from us that is not expedient for him, we hide the thing, and show him our empty hands, and say, “See, we have it not:” the like has Christ here done with the Apostles. But as the child, even when we show34 him [our empty hands], persists with his crying, conscious he has been deceived, and then we leave him, and depart, saying, “Such an one calls me:” and we give him something else instead, in order to divert him from his desire, telling him it is a much finer thing than the other, and then hasten away; in like manner Christ acted.35 The disciples asked to have something, and He said He had it not. And on the first occasion he frightened them. Then again they asked to have it now: He said He had it not; and He did not frighten them now, but after having shown36 [the empty hands], He has done this, and gives them a plausible reason:37 “Which the Father,” He says, “hath put in his own power.”
Moreover the Angels did not say, ‘whom you have seen taken up,’ but, “going into heaven:” ascension is the word, not assumption; 14the expression “taken up,”41 belongs to the flesh. For the same reason they say, “He which is taken up from you shall thus come,” not, “shall be sent,” but, “shall come. He that ascended, the same is he also that descended” (Eph. iv. 10). So again the expression, “a cloud received Him:” for He Himself mounted upon the cloud. Of the expressions, some are adapted to the conceptions of the disciples, some agreeable with the Divine Majesty. Now, as they behold, their conceptions are elevated: He has given them no slight hint of the nature of His second coming. For this, “Shall thus come,” means, with the body; which thing they desired to hear; and, that he shall come again to judgment “thus” upon a cloud. “And, behold, two men stood by them.” Why is it said, “men?” Because they had fashioned themselves completely as such, that the beholders might not be overpowered. “Which also said:” their words moreover were calculated for soothing: “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” They would not let them any longer wait there for Him. Here again, these tell what is greater, and leave the less unsaid. That “He will thus come,” they say, and that “ye must look for Him from heaven.” For the rest, they called them off from that spectacle to their saying, that they might not, because they could not see Him, imagine that He was not ascended, but even while they are conversing, would be present ere they were aware. For if they said on a former occasion, “Whither goest Thou?” (John xiii. 36) much more would they have said it now.42
“Wilt Thou at this time,” say they, “restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Recapitulation). They so well knew his mildness, that after His Passion also they ask Him, “Wilt thou restore?” And yet He had before said to them, “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet,” nor shall Jerusalem be taken. But now they ask Him about the kingdom, not about the end. And besides, He does not speak at great length with them after the Resurrection. They address then this question, as thinking that they themselves would be in high honor, if this should come to pass. But He (for as touching this restoration, that it was not to be, He did not openly declare; for what needed they to learn this? hence they do not again ask, “What is the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” for they are afraid to say that: but, “Wilt Thou restore the kingdom to Israel?” for they thought there was such a kingdom), but He, I say, both in parables had shown that the time was not near,43 and here where they asked, and He answered thereto, “Ye shall receive power,” says He, “when the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Is come upon you,” not, “is sent,” [to shew the Spirit’s coequal Majesty. How then darest thou, O opponent of the Spirit, to call Him a creature44?]. “And ye shall be witnesses to Me.” He hinted at the Ascension. [“And when he had spoken these things.45] Which they had heard before, and He now reminds them of. [“He was taken up.”] Already it has been shown, that He went up into heaven. [“And a cloud, etc.”] “Clouds and darkness are under His feet,” (Ps. xviii. 9; xcvii. 2) saith the Scripture: for this is declared by the expression, “And a cloud received Him:” the Lord of heaven, it means. For as a king is shown by the royal chariot, so was the royal chariot sent for Him. [“Behold, two men, etc.] That they may vent no sorrowful exclamations, and that it might not be with them as it was with Elisha, (2 Kings ii. 12) who, when his master was taken up, rent his mantle. And what say they? “This Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come.” And, “Behold, two men stood by them.” (Matt. xviii. 16.) With good reason: for “in the mouth of two witnesses shall every word be established” (Deut. xvii. 6): and these utter the same things. And it is said, that they were “in white apparel.” In the same manner as they had already seen an Angel at the sepulchre, who had even told them their own thoughts; so here also an Angel is the preacher of His Ascension; although indeed the Prophets had frequently foretold it, as well as the Resurrection.46
15 Everywhere it is Angels as at the Nativity, “for that which is conceived in her,” saith one, “is by the Holy Ghost” (Matt. i. 20): and again to Mary, “Fear not, Mary.” (Luke i. 30.) And at the Resurrection: “He is not here; He is risen, and goeth before you.” (ib. xxiv. 6.) “Come, and see!” (Matt. xxviii. 6.) And at the Second Coming. For that they may not be utterly in amaze, therefore it is added, “Shall thus come.” (ib. xxv. 31.) They recover their breath a little; if indeed He shall come again, if also thus come, and not be unapproachable! And that expression also, that it is “from them” He is taken up, is not idly added.47 And of the Resurrection indeed Christ Himself bears witness (because of all things this is, next to the Nativity, nay even above the Nativity, the most wonderful: His raising Himself to life again): for, “Destroy,” He says, “this Temple, and in three days I48 will raise it up.” (John ii. 19.) “Shall thus come,” say they. If any therefore desires to see Christ; if any grieves that he has not seen Him: having this heard, let him show forth an admirable life, and certainly he shall see Him, and shall not be disappointed. For Christ will come with greater glory, though “thus,” in this manner, with a body49; and much more wondrous will it be to see Him descending from heaven. But for what He will come, they do not add.
[“Shall thus come,” etc.] This is a confirmation of the Resurrection; for if he was taken up with a body, much rather must He have risen again with a body. Where are those who disbelieve the Resurrection? Who are they, I pray? Are they Gentiles, or Christians? for I am ignorant. But no, I know well: they are Gentiles, who also disbelieve the work of Creation. For the two denials go together: the denial that God creates any thing from nothing, and the denial that He raises up what has been buried. But then, being ashamed to be thought such as “know not the power of God” (Matt. xxii. 29), that we may not impute this to them, they allege: We do not say it with this meaning, but because there is no need of the body. Truly it may be seasonably said, “The fool will speak foolishness.” (Is. xxxii. 6.) Are you not ashamed not to grant, that God can create from nothing? If he creates from matter already existing, wherein does He differ from men? But whence, you demand, are evils? Though you should not know whence, ought you for that to introduce another evil in the knowledge of evils? Hereupon two absurdities follow. For if you do not grant, that from things which are not, God made the things which are, much more shall you be ignorant whence are evils: and then, again, you introduce another evil, the affirming that Evil (τὴν κακίαν) is uncreated. Consider now what a thing it is, when you wish to find the source of evils, to be both ignorant of it, and to add another to it. Search after the origin of evils, and do not blaspheme God. And how do I blaspheme? says he. When you make out that evils have a power equal to God’s; a power uncreated. For, observe what Paul says; “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” (Rom. i. 20.) But the devil would have both to be of matter, that there may be nothing left from which we may come to the knowledge of God. For tell me, whether is harder: to50 take that which is by nature evil (if indeed there be ought such; for I speak upon your principles, since there is no such thing as evil by nature), and make it either good, or even coefficent of good? or, to make of nothing? Whether is easier (I speak of quality); to induce the non-existent quality; or to take the existing quality, and change it into its contrary? where there is no house, to make the house; or where it is utterly destroyed, to make it identically exist again? Why, as this is impossible, so is that: to make a thing into its opposite. Tell me, whether is harder; to make a perfume, or to make filth have the effect of perfume? Say, whether of these is easier (since we subject God to our reasonings: nay, not we, but ye); to form eyes, or to make a blind man to see continuing blind, and yet more sharp-sighted, than one who does see? To make blindness into sight, and deafness into hearing? To me the other seems easier. Say then do 16you grant God that which is harder, and not grant the easier? But souls also they affirm to be of His substance. Do you see what a number of impieties and absurdities are here! In the first place, wishing to show that evils are from God, they bring in another thing more impious than this, that they are equal with Him in majesty, and God prior in existence to none of them, assigning this great prerogative even to them! In the next place, they affirm evil to be indestructible: for if that which is uncreated can be destroyed, ye see the blasphemy!
