Friday, 27 June 2014
The False Dark Night
Barbara Brown Taylor is one of the most popular “spiritual”
writers of the day. She was ordained as an Episcopalian priestess, but for
reasons concerning her own popularity, she and the Episcopalians parted company
some time ago.
The reason she is a concern for those seeking peace and
perfection is that she writes about what she calls the Dark Night. However, one
must make a distinction between what I call the highjacking of this very
Catholic mystical term and Taylor
First of all, for those of you who have read the over 600
posts on this blog regarding the way to perfection and union with God, you know
that the first step to holiness is complete orthodoxy. Unorthodoxy keeps people
from the graces of perfection.
Why? To be in union with Christ demands not only a breaking
away from sin, and a purging of sin, but the “putting on the Mind of Christ”.
To think like Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity one must think
like His Own Bride, the Church.
Only in the Teaching and Tradition of the Church do we find
the Mind of God. The sins which need to be purged come from self-love and
self-will. Part of accepting the magnificent teaching of the Church is dying to
self, the ideas one’s has about morality, doctrines, dogmas.
To insist on accepting ideas of others who have departed
from the Tradition and Teaching Magisterium is a sign of rebellion and pride.
Without orthodoxy, one opens one’s heart, soul and mind to
other spiritual forces, namely, demons and listens to the siren song of deceit.
I cannot judge Ms. Taylor, but I can judge her ideas, and a
supposed “dark night” which is the same in Buddhism, or other man-made
“religions”. Objectively, she is
confusing the way of ascetism, a long and honored tradition in all “religions”
with the real Dark Night.
The real Dark Night centers on one’s relationship with
Christ, and not merely the ascetic appeal of death to material things or
distractions.
All humans benefit from denial and dark times, but only in
the true Dark Night can one be discovered by the Bridegroom by Christ.
Who discovers one is the darkness which is not centered on
Christ and His Truth, only found in fullness in the Catholic Church is,
frankly, frightening.
Unless one is orthodox, one is open to the deceit of the
most intelligent of beings, the demons who fake spirituality, who counterfeit
real holiness and real religious experiences.
If on is not orthodox, one is not even on the way to
perfection, as one is following a path which has forked off, away from the
glory of the Catholic Church.
There is no such thing as truth outside of Christ, who told
us “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”
There is no other way to union with God except through
Christ and His Church. Anything else is a false and stunted journey, based on
the ideas of men and not the Mind of Christ.
The Two Brothers of Malta-Ending
In the morning of August 9th, the second bombardment of
Birgu began. The area was already almost destroyed by the cannons but the fort
held out. Birgu was almost invaded but a
fluke of history caused the Turks to withdraw. Again, some strange power was at
work stopping the advancement against Christianity. Birgu and Fort St.
The inhabitants fought well and stopped another attempt at
the end of the month. Vallette sensed that the invaders were losing their will
to win. However, the siege continued. The Turks had, at this point, before the
beginning of September, lost over 9,000 men. 6,100 Maltese had fought against
48,000 men from the East and had not given in. The Turks attempted to take over
the holy city of Mdina
On the vigil of the
Feast of the Birthday of Our Lady, September 7th, the famous Don
Garcia appeared with his men in St.
Paul Malta
Soon the people had food sent to them from Spain, Italy, and Sicily. Sadly, many thousands died, in the fighting or by starvation. There graves, unlike like those of the Knights, lie unmarked, under the rocky soil of Malta.
The Maltese understood to whom they owed this victory,
creating lovely churches in honor of Our Lady. The glory of Valletta
Immanuel finally went back to Gozo to resurrect his father’s
estates, and succeeded in being accepted into the Order, after training as a
Knight, on Christmas Day, 1601. He was remembered always for his kindness and
meekness. Vallette began to build the
most advanced fortified city in the world, but died before seeing it completed.
Frederico received permission from the Grand Master after the Siege to enter
the monastery in Mdina, where he lived to be a very old monk, writing this
memory of the Siege of Malta from the perspective of two brothers-the two
brothers of Malta
There is another story here, but it will have to wait a bit....
The End.
I know a couple
...who have been married for 66 years and still go out several times a week for coffee and a talk.
I am a bit envious....
That is love. When they were married in January of 1948, they had poinsettas on the altar. I love poinsettias.
I am a bit envious....
That is love. When they were married in January of 1948, they had poinsettas on the altar. I love poinsettias.
Breaking News from SPUC
3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street
London, SE11 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone: (020) 7091 7091 Email: information@spuc.org.uk http://www.spuc.org.uk |
| BREAKING NEWS UN Human Rights Council passes pro-family resolution |
|---|
BREAKING NEWS UN Human Rights Council passes pro-family resolution
The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council today passed a resolution for the "Protection of the Family" (link), despite opposition from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The resolution was passed by 26 votes in favour, with 14 votes against the resolution and six abstentions. Supporters of the resolution included the Russian Federation, India and Indonesia.
Earlier the Council rejected an amendment, designed to undermine the resolution, which promoted the false concept of "various forms of the family", as opposed to the natural family based upon marriage between a man and a woman. Patrick Buckley, representing the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC)www.spuc.org.uk at Geneva, described the vote as "truly historic". He said: "Rarely has a resolution been so vigorously resisted by anti-life and anti-family forces." The resolution:
Roll-call of votes on the resolution: Yes (26):
|
From SPUC
3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street
London, SE11 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone: (020) 7091 7091 Email: information@spuc.org.uk http://www.spuc.org.uk |
| Young pro-lifers walking the South Downs Way for SPUC |
|---|
Young pro-lifers walking the South Downs Way for SPUCComments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk |
Thursday, 26 June 2014
When I Am Old
I sincerely hope to be full of grace in the way God intended me. I pray daily to live in God's Perfect Will.
This may mean absolutely doing what I do not want to do.
On the other hand, if we love God and are trying to live in His Perfect Will, our prayers and desires reflect His Will for us.
Yes.
I have had prayers answered because I was praying in God's Will. I have seen things blocked in my life, as this was His Will.
But, sometimes, God's Will involves His allowing great suffering, such as persecution and martyrdom.
Think on this. We do not have much time for freedom. It is eluding us, fading away quickly.
Greater good can come out of intense suffering, and therefore Divine Providence allows this.
But, we are always, always in the palm of His Hand.
Some do not experience suffering as intensely as others. This is also His Will.
Do not bring down suffering on yourself unless it is God's Will. That could be simply the sin of pride.
We do not redeem ourselves through suffering but have been redeemed through Christ's sufferings.
Be patient, be peaceful, do not "sweat the small stuff."
And, I hope when I am very old, that I am more full of grace than I am now-and revealing the gifts. May God grant me time...
This may mean absolutely doing what I do not want to do.
On the other hand, if we love God and are trying to live in His Perfect Will, our prayers and desires reflect His Will for us.
Yes.
I have had prayers answered because I was praying in God's Will. I have seen things blocked in my life, as this was His Will.
But, sometimes, God's Will involves His allowing great suffering, such as persecution and martyrdom.
Think on this. We do not have much time for freedom. It is eluding us, fading away quickly.
Greater good can come out of intense suffering, and therefore Divine Providence allows this.
But, we are always, always in the palm of His Hand.
Some do not experience suffering as intensely as others. This is also His Will.
Do not bring down suffering on yourself unless it is God's Will. That could be simply the sin of pride.
We do not redeem ourselves through suffering but have been redeemed through Christ's sufferings.
Be patient, be peaceful, do not "sweat the small stuff."
And, I hope when I am very old, that I am more full of grace than I am now-and revealing the gifts. May God grant me time...
On Confusion Again
Confusion comes from evil, period. I see more and more
confusion among people in the States regarding even common things. We have come
from being a nation of pioneers, and independent workers, who knew how to do
things, to a people who rely on others for so-called truth.
There is a mental laziness among many, which means that
people do not compare news sources, do not find out information for themselves,
do not do research before buying things, accept what governments tell them
about education, and even believe falsified polls.
How did this happen? One reason why people are mentally lazy
is that they do not pray. They do not take time daily to reflect. Their lives
are full of addictions, to food, drink, entertainment.
When I was a teen, we went out once a week on a Friday with
my friends. Now, young people and old people seek entertainment daily. I am
amazed at how much people seek out entertainment. It is mind-numbing.
I have written on the evils of American entertainment
before, but British entertainment is, if anything, worse. More of the capital
sins are shown as ok on British sitcoms than one would hope to see.
But, the confusion is absolutely caused by the bombardment
of the imagination by outside stimuli. Remember,
everything you see and hear and touch goes
into your imagination forever, unless you beg God to cleanse you of memory.
See my other posts on this theme.
Confusion is caused by
satan. He wants our minds to be scrambled by trivia, by nonsense. He does not
want us to think on the last four things, or on our eternal destiny, so he
feeds the imaginations of the world with useless information and entertainment.
I am very concerned, as this phenomenon is more than
material; it is psychological and it is spiritual. When a people no longer
reflect, they become stressed, and when stressed, people make wrong, even evil
decisions.
Righteous Anger
Why is it that no one allows righteous anger? We have an
example of God Himself showing anger several times against the Pharisees and
the Sadducees. So, if a Catholic becomes angry at abortion or contraception or
same-sex marriage, all serious sins which offend God, or becomes angry serious
injustice or the killing of Christians across the world, why is the Catholic
condemned?
Righteous anger comes from purity of heart, and not being
caught up in egotism.
Righteous anger comes from seeing events and people with the
eyes of God.
Too often, people assume all anger is sin. But, it is not.
“Be angry, but sin not.”
Without the fire of righteous anger, the West would still
have slavery. Without the fire of righteous anger, abortion continues to kill
millions of babies a year.
We shall see the wrath of God and understand that we did not
allow God to purify us enough to feel righteous anger.
God forgive us. But, we shall not be spared.
The Two Brothers of Malta Part Eleven
July was coming to a close, with a few odd encounters with
the enemy. The Muslims were encircling the peninsula with cannons for a huge
assault on Birgu and Senglea. In the Fort of St.
Michael, an encounter occurred which changed the lives of several people.
Isabella and Rebecca had been escorted out of the camp near
the harbor to St. Michael’s Fort. Immanuel accompanied them to the fort, before
he returned to the interior to help some of the Maltese, who were beginning to
starve, or who lacked water. Many goats had been stolen and eaten by the
invaders. Little food was left in the catecombs, as so many people had to be
fed. The cutting down of the unripe grain had caused a bread shortage and no
supply ships from Italy or Sicily St. Paul
Immanuel, Rebecca and Isabella were accompanied by the
Bishop of Malta, a Knight of Malta, and by the servants of the Chevalier.
Because Isabella was dying, the Bishop gave her the Last Rites and absolution,
including a special blessing from the Pope. Immanuel stayed by her bedside in a
small villa near the Fort, while the Bishop and the servants went on to the
Fort.
It was the Feast of St. Anne, the Mother of Mary and
Grandmother of Christ. During normal times, there would have been processions
in Mdina and other towns honoring this beloved saint. Now, on this day, which
was overcast and grey, the Catholics could only remember days of festivities.
Rebecca fanned Isabella in the oppressive heat. The clouds
pressed the heat onto the island like a giant’s hands. Some said the heat was a
sign of defeat. Immanuel was thinking of his thirsting, dying people of Malta
The first surprise was the arrival of Frederico. He had
heard that Immanuel and his mother were in the camp area, hidden away for
safety. He had met the Bishop himself. And thanked him for his kindness is
bringing a sad soul to some peace.
“She is not a bad women, Your Excellency. She was young and
weak. Personally, I believe she has suffered more than enough for her sins.”
The Bishop answered quickly, “I am inclined to agree with
you, Frederico. She will have a peaceful death. Her confession was that of a
child.”
Just then, Rebecca burst into the chamber. “Frederico, Your
Excellency, please come back to the villa. Isabella is dying, I am sure.” The
three men walked quickly down a small street to the house, but just as they were
going to enter the dark, cool room, they heard a voice in the street.
“Frederico, may I come in?”
It was Tomas. He had heard that his brother, son, and former
mistress had gathered in this place. He looked strange, almost feverish. “Are
you ill, my brother?” Frederico spoke first.
“I am better than I have been in years. Do you think she
would see me?”
The Bishop walked over to Tomas and whispered in his ear.
Tomas realized the closeness of death. “Then, I have no time. Bishop, listen to
me. Take this.’
Frederico and Immanuel could not see what Tomas handed to
the Bishop, but the Bishop looked for a long time at the object. “This is good,
Tomas, this is very good. Come.”
All walked into the sick room. Rebecca respectfully stood by
a back door. The Bishop approached Isabella who looked pale, very pale.
“My daughter, there is someone here who wants to see you. He
wants to ask your forgiveness, and he wants to ask you something else. Will you
see Tomas?”
Isabella tried to sit up. “Yes, yes, I shall. I will.” She
looked over the Bishop’s shoulder as Tomas stepped forward.
“Will you forgive me, a pig, a stubborn, selfish man,
Isabella? I took your son from you and I see God restored him behind my back.
But, I am content, except for one thing.”
Isabella pressed her thin hand on the brown strong hand of
Tomas. “Please know you were forgiven a long time ago. I have harbored no
hatred or unforgiveness. I, too, was selfish and irresponsible. But, we have a
beautiful son.”
Tomas looked at the worn face, but Isabella’s eyes glowed
with love and joy. “Isabella, will you marry me, now, here?”
She turned to the wall for a moment. “You have taken a long
time to ask this, Tomas. Yes, for the few days I have left, I can be restored
to society, as will your son.”
The Bishop suggested that Tomas first make a general
confession. In the next room, Tomas made the first confession he had made in
almost thirty years before receiving the sacrament of marriage. All left Tomas
and the Bishop alone for about a half-hour. Isabella was given some water. She
glowed with an odd light, but she was breathing normally. Tomas and the Bishop
returned to the sick room.
The Bishop came forward with his prayer book, and a small
package. In it was the ring which had belonged to the noble mother of Tomas and
Frederico. Immanuel choked. The ring was made of four emeralds and four
diamonds in the shape of the Maltese Cross. Tomas knelt by the bed and the
Bishop began the Nuptial Blessing.
A great silence enveloped all who were there. Frederico
noticed tears in his brother’s eyes, but Isabella’s eyes shone with love. They
said their vows quietly, serenely.
Then, the Bishop pronounced them man and left the room,
indicating to Immanuel and Frederico to follow him.
“She does not have much time, perhaps hours, or a day. We
can only pray.”
Immanuel hung his head but Frederico said, “You realize what
a miracle this is, Your Excellency. Something has happened to my brother. This
is a miracle, indeed.”
A few minutes passed and Tomas came out of the room. “She
fell asleep, smiling. I had forgotten the charm of her smile. Rebecca will care
for her and I shall come back after she rests, but I need some care.” He opened his shirt and there on his side was
a huge bandage, with blood beginning to seep through. “Father, we need to get
the surgeon, now.” Immanuel almost shouted, but remembered the woman in the
next room and lowered his voice.
“It is too late, my son. Look, I have blood poisoning and
gangrene. I came here to die and to make you my son in the law and in the eyes
of God. My son, no longer a bastard-the Bishop restores you as well to your
rightful place. Can you forgive me?”
Immanuel led his father to a chair. “This is a day of
forgiveness, Father. Of course. And as I love my mother as I love you, I am
forever grateful that you made her your wife. Father…” But, Immanuel could not
speak, for Tomas slid over and laid his head on the table. He took three or
four deep breaths. “Your Excellency, give me the Last Rites. Please.” Then, the Bishop began the prayers as the
brother and son walked outside as Immanuel was trembling. It was now dark. In a
few moments, the brother and son returned to watch Tomas receive the Body and
Blood of Christ, His Lord, Whom he had avoided for years. Now, God and he were
united again.
Then, after receiving the Eucharist peacefully, he fell into
a fever and then, later, a coma. By midnight, he was dead.
Frederico discovered that his brother had been ambushed by
Turks on the way to St. Michael’s Fort. He had killed two, but had received
this blow from the third. This encounter happened four days ago.
“He may have been poisoned by the swords as well,” remarked
Frederico. Some find mountebanks to buy poisons. He would not have died so
soon. He was a strong man.”
Early the next morning, while the sun rose over the sea,
Isabella passed away. Immanuel asked
permission for them to be buried in Mdina, in the Cathedral. The Bishop
heartily gave permission, and if you visit there today, you will see a white
tomb, embellished with stars, with the dust of Tomas and Isabella resting
together.
The son took a carriage and escorted the two caskets, made
hastily by soldiers, with Frederico and the Bishop back to Mdina.
Rebecca came as well, but did not stay in the house with the
Knights. She had someone else to find. After the twin funeral in the Cathedral,
she sought out Salim.
But, that is another story for another day.
July limped into August and the battering of the last two
forts began. The siege was not over for Immanuel and Frederico.
But, the two old lovers rested away from the din, in a place
for those who die in love and not in hate, who die in forgiveness and not in
rancor, who die in humility and not in pride.
To be continued…
The Two Brothers of Malta Part Ten
A tall, thin man from Ephesus Mt. Sciberras
Salim
knew of the new plans to avoid the Knights guns, and new ships in the Harbour.
He had to decide to either stand up for his faith, finally, risking horrible
torture and death, and defect to the other side, or remain in shame, for fighting
on the wrong side.
His
torture was compounded by the thought of a beautiful servant who lived in a
small house north of the camp. This young girl, had met him by accident, when
Salim was carrying messages from Mustafa to Piyale concerning the movement of
small boats to the area around Senglea. He was on his way back to St. Elmo’s
camp when he had a strange and haunting meeting.
In
the dark of night, Salim had stumbled across a small party, two men and two
women, one of whom was on a horse, wrapped in shawls and obviously unwell. The
other woman, the young one, walked alongside the older woman, while the two
soldiers went ahead a bit. About five hundred feet separated the servants of de la Cassiere from Isabella and Rebecca, when Salim
practically ran into the small horse. Rebecca looked at the young man in the
dark and the servants turned back to hold him, and most likely, kill him. It
was obvious he was a Turk. Rebecca spoke quickly, “I know you. You are the
horse-trainer from Ephesus
Salim felt ashamed to be saved by
a young girl, but he now remembered her. “Rebecca, why are you here?”
The young girl asked the servants
to move out of hearing and they obeyed. The servant of Isabella, once paramour
of Sir Tomas should be obeyed, for now.
“I ran away from a marriage, like
my mistress, and found shelter with a good Knight in Mdina. He was uncle to a
young man, who asked me to take care of his mother, and pays for me to do so.
He is the son of a Knight.”
“Rebecca, you are a Christian as
well? I did not know this. Now, I understand why you left and disappeared.”
“I shall save you this time, but
you must come back to us, you must. Pray, Salim. Be who you are.”
Rebecca walked up to the servants.
They spoke with each other quietly. Then they came back to where Salim sat,
still on his horse.
“If we let you go, false
Christian, think that you owe the Knights a favor. Now, go, and be glad you
know this good woman.”
Salim said nothing but turned his
horse south and made his way back to the camp near St. Elmo’s ruins. Now, he
tossed and turned his tent, unable to sleep. Finally, he knew what he had to
do-be true to himself and his religion.
Just before dawn, Salim slipped
out of his tent and into the horse yard. There, he chose the fastest and wisest
of the Arabians, and managing to keep all of them quiet, he rode out of the
camp and around the harbour. If he was caught, he knew he would suffer the
worst tortures a man could bear. He rode on.
Finally, he found a camp and a
guard. “Take me to Vallette.” The guard looked at the youth and then, Salim
produced an ancient cross made of brass from under his tunic. The guard nodded
and led the young man across the camp to Vallette’s tent. Salim spoke quickly,
“Have mercy on me, a Christian youth, who was conscripted and has no heart to
fight the Knights of Malta. There is coming a two-fold attack on the Senglea.
As many as 100 boats have been brought across the mountain, and there will be
sea fight with the last of the Janissaries. Corsairs have been sent up to Fort
St. Michael’s to attack there from the land. Have mercy and let me help you.”
Vallette stood up and examined
Salim’s face. “Why should I believe you?”
Salim looked at the ground.
“Rebecca, servant of Isabella, mother of Immanuel, believes in me.”
Vallette almost laughed out loud.
So, this young man smote the heart of the young girl. He became serious again,
forcing himself not to smile.
“If I let you stay with us, will
you help me against these Turks?”
Salim looked up, “Yes, I shall do
what I can do.”
Vallette poured water with lemon
for them both. “What can you do?”
“I train horses and I am a horse
master.”
Vallette looked carefully at
Salim. “Then, I send you to Mdina, to train some of our peasants to ride and
care for horses. There are a few there in the city. Now, go, quickly, and take
this.” Vallette gave Salim a sword and knife, as he had left with no weapons.
On the handles were the Maltese Cross, the sign of the Order.
Salim took the weapons, but turned
back and kissed the hands of Vallette. In minutes, he was travelling west to
the holy city.
Vallette turned to his advisors.
“I want a palisade built immediately across the peninsula, at the promontory. I
want word to be sent to St. Angelo’s for
preparation for a sea attack. I know that de Guiral has cannons there. Tell him
to be on the alert.”
It was the middle of July, and the
weeks of the siege had cost the Turks more men than the Suleiman had
anticipated. He had to think of his last attempts to crush Malta
One more time, Our Lady had
changed the game plan of the war. The battle would be won by the Knights, as
the cannons sunk all the boats, except one. And, over 800 of the Turks died in
this attack.
The attack on St. Michael’s failed
as well, as extra reinforcements arrived in time on an invention, a floating
bridge. Salim’s return to himself had won him a place of honor in Malta
To be continued…
The Two Brothers of Malta Part Nine
Frederico awoke early to join the monks in prayer. He was
falling into his monastic life too easily. It was difficult being both a
warrior and a priest. His priesthood was hidden at this time, as he did not
want any shame to be brought against the Order in case he failed his duty as a
commander. Unlike many of his priestly peers, however, Frederico had found his
vocation naturally, as an answer to the deepest desires of his heart of hearts.
His only wish was to end his day in the simplicity and silence of this
monastery in Mdina. He prayed that the war, the siege would end in a time of
peace so that he could pursue contemplative prayer.
Today, in prayer, he seemed to find a great peace and a
greater joy concerning his own possible death. The death of Paulo had reminded
Frederico how close he was daily to the reality of eternity.
His small army gathered in the Cathedral for a Mass for the
dead Paulo. The bishop then blessed all the men and gave them general
absolution-a gift from the Pope in Rome
Afterwards, Frederico called his military advisors for a
meeting. But, first, he ordered twelve lookouts on the walls of the small city.
They each had a grand view of the surrounding area and could warn of danger
quickly.
The city on the hill provided a temporary safe-haven for the
soldiers and for many inhabitants. Daily, farmers, merchants, fishermen came
with their children and wives into the walls. People slept outside on the
streets, and in doorways. The nuns and monks fed the displaced families as best
they could with soup made of grass and seaweed, while eggs were given to the
mothers nursing their babies and the very old.
Frederico brought up the question of the day. “Do you think
the Turks will attack?” The advisors disagreed, and just as a decision as to
defense was made, a messenger from Vallette rushed into the meeting.
“Pardon, but read this. There is need for great haste.” The
young man sat down and was given wine.
Frederico opened the scroll. He read and then spoke.
“Vallette is asking for the army to leave Mdina immediately and moved both arms
and men to St. Michael’s and St. Angelo’s.
Elmo’s’ has fallen.”
Frederico bowed his head. He feared for the holy city, but
more men were needed near the promontory and the peninsula. Vallette was busy building defenses on the
peninsula and Vallette had asked the Spanish in Sicily to send more men to
Birgu, and they were, apparently, on their way, while the Turkish fleet was in
three places.
“We, of course, will obey the command. I shall leave a few
men here, and hand armaments only. The army shall march tonight, under cover of
darkness. Our decision has been made for us. We shall take the large cannons”
More ships sailed into Marsamxett, now that Fort St. Elmo
was a ruin, while the army of Frederico left Mdina to a handful of his men and
a few armed farmers. The ships waited for more orders from Piyale or Mustafa. Suleiman
had decided on continuing the attacks on the forts. Perhaps he thought the loss
of the forts would undermine the confidence of the Knights and the bravery of
the Maltese inhabitants. The other orders from Suleiman, to attack overland,
did not come until too late. At Marsamxett, one third of the Turkish fleet languished. The decision to take
St. Elmo’s at all costs, a decision of mere pride and arrogance, and the
decision to split the fleet into three would prove to be decisions of wasted
opportunities and carnage. But, the Lady who watched over the Maltese was in
charge, not the three Turkish commanders.
Frederico
and his small company of men traveled as quickly as they could in the night.
Clouds covered the moon, and no sound of cannons or gunfire from the Senglea.
But, an attack would come in two days, an attack from both sides of the
peninsula. The history of the war would include battles at the remaining forts,
with both soldiers and inhabitants suffering losses. However, the Corsairs and
Turks found the locals capable of fighting one of the most experienced and
trained armies in the world, if necessary, to the death of all.
Both
brothers were moving towards the east. One with his entire group of dedicated
and relatively fresh men, one with a small body guard of two men made their way
in darkness. Both would meet up in unusual circumstances.
To
be continued…
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Meet Some of The Latin Mass Priests
Father Chris Young and STM.
Father David Brownfield and Father Scott Lemaster and you know who... and below, Father Young again, with Father Michael Phillips, whose Latin is beautifully prayed. There are two more in the dioceses, but they were not present at this do. And STM with the wonderful Fr. Phillips.
I sincerely hope that those
..who have not read the Cardinal Manning series do so. His writings on the Holy Spirit are dynamite.
No Fear!
A priest told me yesterday that the only thing keeping Catholics
from becoming saints is fear. Now, I believe this as fear stops the growth of
trust in Divine Providence and robs persons of joy. He had been on a priests' retreat and this was the theme.
Fear, simply, is not believing in the love of God. If one truly knows that God loves one, there
is no fear in the soul or mind or heart. Purity of heart, mind and soul means
that one has realized that God loves one despite one’s horrible failings and
inadequacies.
One does not have to “prove” love to God, but merely rest in
His Love.
Fear drives out love. One cannot trust anyone or anything
when one lives in fear.
Love does drive out fear, bit by bit, one’s heart is cleared
of sin and sadness.
Sadly, many older people fall into fear as they grow
elderly. The media plays upon the fears of those who no longer can control
their own destinies. Fear keeps them from community and created new suspicions
where none are necessary.
Fear causes people to pull in, not to reach out. to be mistrustful and cynical.
We can trust through Christ Himself, and in Christ Himself.
To fear is to destroy the gifts and fruits of the Spirit.
The flowers of the field grow and flourish under the care of
God. Should we fear that we shall not be cared for and tended like these
little, humble creatures, His flowers?
Meditate on God's Divine Providence today. He has won the war. We only have to sweep up the battles.
to be continued..
A Small Reminder
Please do not forget your guardian angels. They so much want
to be acknowledged and asked for help. That is why they exist-to watch over and
serve us, to help us get to heaven. Do you think of your angel? Your angel thinks of you.
The Two Brothers of Malta Part Eight
The day Frederico disbanded his temporary camp in order to
take his men to the defense of Mdina, a solitary horse slowly walked into the
camp, dirty, blood-stained, head down. This was Paulo’s Arabian. Frederico
easily read the signs of death and mourned his good servant. Not only was the
rider gone, but the leather satchel which contained messages from Frederico to
Vallette about the plans of the western flank was gone. Now, the enemy knew of
the plans to defend Mdina. Perhaps the Turks would change their minds about the
attacks.
The beautiful horse gently taken away and from that day,
treated as the god of the horses by the troops, which adopted it in the name of
the brave and faithful Paulo. For ten years, this horse accompanied the troops
in war and in peace, lovingly cared for in turns by most of the men.
Today, Frederico had to decide whether to stick with this
plan, now known to the enemy, or rebuild the tent camp. He chose to move on, as
planned. It was highly possible that the enemy would change their own plans,
knowing that up to 1,000 men would be crammed into Mdina and the surrounding
area. His own small unit was made up primarily by Spanish and soldiers from the
general Maltese people, whom he had trained himself. The Spaniards were
connected to the Order, either by religion or by family ties. Frederico’s men
proved to be the most loyal in the field, and the most deadly, as the farmers,
tradesmen, fishermen, and merchants fought for their own land, wives, children
and their beloved Catholic Faith.
What he did not know, because Paulo did not reach the
promontory for news, was that the great Turkish general, Turgut, once the scourge of Gozo,
had been shot by friendly fire, and lay dying. He would not see the shallow yet
costly victory at St. Elmo’s. Turgut died the same day as the fort fell.
Frederico did know that Vallette did not know all the
changes in the west. The nobleman made a bold decision to carry on without
sending another messenger at this time. From Mdina, he would send someone by a
more northern route to the eastern war.
He stood in the middle of the camp, now mostly packed in the
few wagons and on the horses. “We shall commence to Mdina, and immediately, I
shall ask the Bishop to pray a Mass for Paulo. Let us stop and remember his now.”
The men stood silently, each praying in his own way. They, most likely, thought
of their own possible deaths. Paulo’s body was never found, which grieved many
more so.
As Frederico and his men hurriedly moved north, Tomas
intended to visit both his regiments at St. Michaels’ and near the harbor at
Marsamxett, hoping to fight alongside
his men in either, or both places. To date, he had been robbed of glory and
honor. Again, he wondered how his lookouts did not see the Turkish fleet coming
south. Were there spies, or paid mercenaries among his own men who had sided
with the enemy? Had his men been betrayed by false reports, false sightings of
nothing? Tomas prided himself in knowing his men and could not imagine
quislings. Still, the entire success and ease of the landing of the Turkish
fleet in Marsaxlokk baffled his experienced sense. What he did not sense, was
that he would be involved in an extraordinary meeting in the camp. But, first,
he would visit St. Michaels’ Fort, partially built with his own money and
guarded by 500 of his own men, all from his relatives and the Order in Italy
Tomas raced his horse east, avoiding anyone he saw on the
way, and soon was on the road to Fort St. Michael. It was Midsummer in the
northern countries, June 23rd and Tomas could hear the bombardment
of Fort Elmo bay
of Masaxlokk
Tomas could see smoke in the air towards the east and his
heart grew angry at the cruelty of the enemy. On this very day, the Turks captured St.
Elmo’s and Kızılahmedli
Mustafa responded to the great, overwhelming loss of his men with added
cruelty.
1,200
Maltese had stood against a much larger army, an army which lost 6,000 Turks
and up to 6,000 Janissaries from the beginning of June to this day. Only 1500 Janissaries,
his best troops, remained. He had other plans for them and had held them back
from this fray.
Mustafa
stood above the crumbled ramparts. His men picked through the rubble for
treasure, but could find none. Thankfully, some of the priests among the
Knights had taken the altar ware away secretly with the help of the people of
the area.
The
Pasha kicked stones in irritation. He had lost his bravest men, and realized
that this battle was too, too costly.
“Take
the dead men’s bodies, cut off their heads and make crucifixes. Then nail their
headless, infidel bodies to the crosses and send them the bay. If we cannot win
through arms, we shall win through fear.” His army carpenters got to work with
this grim task. Within the day, hundreds of crucifixes on which were impaled
the bodies of the mostly Knights of Malta forces were thrown into the sea,
where the waves took them up and sent them to the opposite shore, on the
promontory. Some women from the countryside were on the shores, far into the
Harbour and Mustafa could see them running to the corpses. A wail, like the
storms of the harsher seas, rose from the promontory, as mothers and sisters
knelt on the rocks and received the bodies of sons and brothers. Then, there
was a great silence.
Mustafa
turned to look across the Harbour. There, in the midst of the crucified dead, a
priest walked under a canopy with the Holy Eucharist in a glorious monstrance.
A small procession of Knights and acolytes followed. Another priest moved from
crucifix to crucifix, blessing the bodies of those who in death resembled
Christ.
The
Pasha sneered. “These infidels adore bread. How I hate this show. But, today, I
shall not waste any shot on this puppetry. We shall have our way in the future
on this superstitious island.” He turned and moved down the fallen battlements.
Walking across the ruins, his thoughts were on the possible error of the
decision to take this pile of rubble.
He
would have to change the strategic plans of taking over places, as now, he knew
his opponents were as brave and as fierce as his own men. Suddenly, he heard
cannons, and saw the cannon balls heading towards the rubble. What was Vallette
doing? He saw a ball land next to the feet of his body guard. Gruesome as it
was, a head of one of his own soldiers, one of those who had attacked the
mountain and the promontory, lay on the harsh stone pieces of fort. Another,
then another landed here, there, all over the ruined fort and into the camps of
the Turks.. Pasha smiled ruefully. de Vallette had a heart like his own, full
of steel and anger. The heads of the Janissaries who had been prisoners flew
into the fort, reminders that two could play the game of fear mongering. Pasha
walked away and disappeared from St. Elmo’s forever.
To be
continued….
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