Prayers and Request

I have had a bone spur and Achilles tendonitis for five years in my left foot. Over the summer, I rested a bit and the condition improved. Going up and down steps was and still is very painful.

I have been walking about six miles minimum a day since being here. I love walking and being outside.

But, I do not have good shoes with me as my pair wore out. And, the condition has flared up painfully in the past two weeks, leading to leg pain and leg spasms as well.

I do not want to stop going to Mass daily, which does involve walking, as does going to Adoration.

Now, the condition has spread to the right foot.

If anyone wants to help me get good shoes, please let me know. And, pray please. I may have to rest for a day or two, but then I would miss Mass, which I so not want to do.

Prayers for Japan

....on the verge of financial collapse.

Ideas from Retreat Day Two

One of the biggest points made by the priest and one with which the retreatants highly agreed may surprise you.

Father noted the persecution has become more and more obvious. He said it could come to Malta. This idea was accepted, as some awake Catholics can see the signs of the times.

When one is in a Mediterranean country, persecution is not that far away in time or space.

Father said that those who are truly in the Kingdom of God will be persecuted.

I found this particularly comforting after this week of meeting such almost daily.

The priest also said it is fine to suffer and grieve when persecuted.

I know how that feels, but one level of hurt is merely human, based on pride. While the higher level is suffering persecution for the sake of Christ.

When one feels the pain and knows that one is joined with Christ in His Passion, that is holy suffering.

Anyone Interested?

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/world/547782/the-house-that-inspired-jane-austen-s-pride-and-prejudice-is-for-sale.html#qtyj9dpzYKfIzVAy.01

Ideas from The Retreat Day

Home again with sore feet and a good head full of great stuff from the one-day retreat.

Two ideas struck me today. The retreat theme was "The Kingdom of God".

The first proves to be an superb clarification on sinners in the Kingdom.

The priest read out from the pulpit these three passages. He noted that priests and the Church fails to teach that sinners must repent and be born anew in the Spirit in order to be in the Church. One must turn away from a sinful lifestyle, from living in sin, in order do be in the Kingdom

Galatians 5:19-23

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1 Corinthians 6:

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The second was that we are all called to be like children of a loving Father.

Matthew 18 

18 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them,

3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.

To be a child is to totally rely on Divine Providence, trusting in God daily, every minute.

The priest said that the Kingdom is "for sinners" but not "with sinners". What he explained was that those in the Kingdom, in the Church could not stay in lifestyles of sin. The prostitutes and tax-collectors mentioned by Jesus repented and changed, unlike the Pharisees.

It was refreshing to hear a priest remind all that those in the Kingdom are called to holiness and not merely staying in sin. He admitted that this was not a popular subject in the Church nowadays.

to be continued....

Be Real and Face the Situation

I am in a half-day of retreat today and shall not be blogging until later.

Be peaceful. "Be real and fact the situation." Thanks to Fr. Brian, who told me that 45 years ago!

From Morning Prayer Three-Open to us the treasures of your love

Prayers and intercessions

Christ became man to make us sons of God and he intercedes for us before God our Father. Let us thank him for his loving mercy, and pray:

– Open to us the treasures of your love.

You have enlightened us in baptism:

  we consecrate our day to you.

– Open to us the treasures of your love.

Fill us with praise of you today:

  may we take your word with us wherever we may go.

– Open to us the treasures of your love.

Teach us to respond to your word like Mary our Mother:

  may your word be fruitful in us.

– Open to us the treasures of your love.

Give us courage when things go wrong:

  strengthen us with faith in you, with hope in your promises and with love of your will.

– Open to us the treasures of your love.

One can meditate on these words this morning. Baptism enlightens us. We have the virtues and life of God in us after baptism. This is our heritage.

We can consecrate the day to God because we are baptized and bring the Word of God wherever we go.

Responding like Mary means saying "Yes" to suffering, pain, inconvenience.

And, we all, especially now and in the future, need courage, faith and hope in the darkness which is growing. Love rests in the will. We love God through the decision of the Will

From Morning Prayer Two

A long time ago, I stood in front of this statue of St. Cecilia, terribly moved by her grace in death.

Psalm 116 Douay-Rheims 

116 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

2 For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

2 Peter 1:10-11Douay-Rheims 

10 Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time.

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I was ready to give up speaking with people here and these words humbled and convicted me to go on. Our calling, our election leads to our sharing the real Gospel of Christ, found in and through the Catholic Church.

Strong is God's love for us, Alleluia

Brompton Oratory London

From Morning Prayer

Day had almost dawned as Cecilia cried out: ‘Soldiers of Christ, throw off the deeds of darkness and put on your armour as soldiers of the light.’

Psalm 118 DR

145 COPH. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy justifications.

146 I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments.

147 I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy words I very much hoped.

148 My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might meditate on thy words.

149 Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and quicken me according to thy mercy.

150 They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they are gone far off from the law.

151 Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth.

152 I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: that thou hast founded them for ever.

153 RES. See my humiliation and deliver me: for I have not forgotten the law.

154 Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy word's sake.

155 Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications.

156 Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.

157 Many are they that persecute me, and afflict me; but I have not declined from thy testimonies.

158 I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy word.

159 Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou in thy mercy.

160 The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are for ever.

161 SIN. Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath been in awe of thy words.

162 I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil.

163 I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law.

164 Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the judgments of thy justice.

165 Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling block.

166 I looked to thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy commandments.

167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies: and hath loved them exceedingly.

168 I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all my ways are in thy sight.

169 TAU. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me understanding according to thy word.

170 Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according to thy word.

171 My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy justifications.

172 My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy commandments are justice.

173 Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my meditation.

175 My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments shall help me.

176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments.

Wear Your Tribullation Like A Rose...yearly celebration repeated

Happy Feast Day of St. Cecilia

Lest We Forget

Power to The People-YOU!

For years now, I have heard the litany of the sins of priests and bishops as the reason why so many Catholics have left the Church or have had bad teaching. Yes, the laity were led astray and let down.

But....

I am having a huge rant on this subject today.

STOP blaming others for ignorance which can be remedied.

Any adult Catholic can read the catechism, find the millions of books on Catholic doctrine and spirituality, watch superb videos by Voris, or the Lighthouse Catholic Media CDs, which are mostly excellent. EWTN has teachings daily on most subjects as well.

Catholic adults can find books and multi-media on any subject concerning our Faith, prayer, the sacraments, the Mass and so on.

STOP blaming priests who have bad sermons. STOP blaming priests who are heretics. I hear bad sermons and heresy frequently. But, after Mass, I pray, and find out what I need to know to get to heaven.

We all can find the Truth if we want to do so. If one is poor, one can read the Bible or ask for a CCC for a Christmas present.

God does not hide the Truth.

I have spent hours this past week trying to teach Catholics about grace, sin, and conversion. I am available daily when people want to learn. Some do not want to know Catholic teaching because then they will have to change.

I have prayed for those who are living in sin. I know many women who pray daily for others to convert. These women are fantastic prayer warriors and committed.

They pray for heretical priests daily.

Find what you need.

There are multiple retreats this very weekend on this island.

At some point, all of these complaining people must take responsibility for their own salvation.

STOP blaming parents, nuns, monks, cardinals, even the Pope.

Find someone who knows orthodoxy, and listen to that person. Be humble. Learn. If you do not know anyone, I do, and can share good sources.

I am astonished at the number of adults who never use the Internet for Catholic information.

There is a veritable feast of information on the Net for all of us. Classics by the great saints are available more now than ever before.

STOP saying the Internet is evil and use it while you can.

A sign of maturity occurs when a person stops blaming others for their own shortcomings and begins to make up for lost education or training. We can all do this. 

God and His grace are not hindered by time or place or personal histories.

He waits for us to ask for knowledge, and then gives it in abundance, if we really want it.

Choosing To Hate

John 15:18-25Douay-Rheims 

18 If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you.

19 If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him who sent me.

22 If I had not come, and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 He that hateth me, hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: They hated me without cause.

Awaiting The Command

Many of my friends have expressed to me the growing sense of hatred in the cities, towns, places where they live and work.

This sense of hatred seems to be felt more in families as well, as divisions seem to be growing larger, more obvious.

A wise man told me yesterday that Malta was going to regret allowing so many non-Christians into this small country, as these people simply do not have the same standard of loving one's neighbor or mannerly behavior. Healthy men sit while white aged women with canes stand. Men do not move out of the way on the sidewalks making white women move. Men stare at white women in outward lust and hatred.

To be among the unbaptized is daily a different experience than living among the baptized.

Aggressive behavior among the youth has caused some tourists to tell me they are no longer feeling safe here, and may not come back again.

Two "Arabs" sexually attacked two women and a boy, doing the worst to all three. No one wants to admit that Malta is changing because of hatred.

Hatred has also reared its hydra-head among Catholics, who want to persist in the fantasy that they are saved just by being Catholics. They resist grace, and, thereby, fall into disdain for the truth and hatred for the truth. The few, the remnant, are learning how to share love among those who outwardly hate them and hate the truth.

Why is this happening so quickly?

God in His Divine Providence has willed a time when satan is allowed a free hand. This time is for the creation of saints and the punishment of the unrepentant. This time is now.

That truth, that God from all eternity knew these times would come, and is in charge, should give us comfort.

What I see is the attacking of any type of goodness and saintliness.

Hatred of the Truth marks those who refuse to leave sinful lifestyles, and want to rationalize their own behaviors. Hatred of Truth is direct hatred of Christ.

It is very lonely trying to love, living among those who are choosing hate.

Some people simply do not believe that others choose evil, but they do.

One of my dear friends in the army told me he has met many men who choose hatred, who choose violence, who choose evil over good. He said the enemy hates all who are not exactly like they are.

God gives mankind free will and allows us to use this gift daily. God will not overcome our free wills. God see our free wills as sacred, as free will is one way we are made in the image and likeness of God.

He does not force someone to love Him or to love others. He allows them the freedom to hate or to love.

Denial of Sin=Denial of Christ

Recently, it has occurred to me that the separation of the sheep and the goats is not only in the future at the final judgment, but now.

More and more I am seeing people simply walking away from the Truth. I have met too many people who deny that sin is sin, that the Church has the fullness of Truth, and that the only way to heaven is through Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

It may be that some people are more open about discussing the fact that they are Catholics and have departed from even believing in the Ten Commandments.

But, I think there is a new boldness, a new arrogance of sin which is held even by some Catholics.

I cannot understand people lying about sin when it is clearly shown to them. Some people are grateful when something serious is pointed out in loving concern. But, to outright deny natural law is a new boldness I have seen in the past few weeks.

People do not want to know Church teaching. They do not want to hear about tough decisions of repentance.

They want cheap grace, and false hopes of salvation without repentance.

Denial of sin in one's self leads to the denial of sin in others. Grandparents who now are supportive of ssm just because one of their grandchildren is living a gay lifestyle is one example of the denial of sin I have met in the States and in several European countries. These Catholics do not see that by ignoring or cooperating with evil they are endangering their own souls.

Christ did not have a middle group of animals in the separation of the sheep and the goats. There are no lamas in between, those who may have had the Truth once but decided it was too hard, too inconvenient.

Sadly, salvation does come down to our own decisions as to whether we follow Christ and His Church, not man-made "religions". To ignore the Truth is a sin in and of itself.

To deny sin is to deny the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Indeed, to deny sin is to deny the Incarnation.

Important Article on Kenya Situation

http://rationalcatholicblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/does-the-kenyan-unicef-tetanus-vaccine-contain-hcg-and-make-women-infertile/

Oh No... Guess Who Did The New Introduction to This Edition?

http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DWH2-P/dare-we-hope-2nd-edition.aspx

Robert Barron has done the Introduction to the Second Edition of von Balthasar's Dare We Hope....

Arrghgh!

Good Catholic Readers-Request for Prayer

Like Fr. Z and Spencer and others who are in the public arena, I get hate mail. I ask your prayers that this would stop as it has increased in the past four weeks.

Trolls who hate and want to interfere with good causes are not on the side of Christ.

Pray for all Catholic bloggers. If you saw the comments, you would be appalled.

Most of those who send hateful comments are liberals, or belong to non-Christian groups.


STM

No longer a republic

http://www.wnd.com/2014/11/caesar-obama/

Tyranny-the people of the US did not want this. There is no screening for criminals, none. Gang members have already said they have entered illegally.

Our ancestors had to learn English and pass tests to get into the US, plus pledge loyalty to the US Constitution.

No longer the case and divided loyalites are not accepted.

Sad day for the US plus the president crossed a line.

The founding fathers never dreamed of an executive branch with this much power.

Just wait....We are no longer a Republic. Buchanan gets it.

Thus does our constitutional law professor-president “faithfully execute” the laws of the United States he has twice swore to uphold?

Our rogue president has crossed an historic line, and so has the republic. Future presidents will cite the “Obama precedent” when they declare they will henceforth not enforce this or that law, because of a prior commitment to some noisy constituency.

We have just taken a monumental step away from republicanism toward Caesarism. For this is rule by diktat, the rejection of which sparked the American Revolution.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/11/caesar-obama/#xjoIOkrCTxsSiIpE.99

More for Mary Day on The Blog-Mystical Rose

Saturday, 19 May 2012

Rose of the World, Mystical Rose

words to this song are the second hymn below...

I am in a meditative mood. I have been thinking of Mary Our Mother and her name, popular in Medieval Times, as the Mystical Rose. The title above is from the first of the two carols posted today. 

I meditate on the lovely words of two ancient carols--- pondering her innocence and beauty on this cold, wet Saturday-- the day of Mary. Earlier this week, I wrote that the Medievals in the East knew of the blue rose. Here are some roses for Mary. One poem, (and both are sung at Christmas), refers to the red rose, but I am sure Mary likes the color blue. Some of you will know the music. She, the Theotokos, brings beauty into our lives.

Of a Rose Synge We 1450

Of a rose synge we:     Misterium mirabile.

This rose is railed on a rys;
He hath bought the prince of prys,
And in this tyme soth hit ys,
Viri sine semine.

This rose is reed of colour bryght,
Throw whom oure joye gan alyght,
Uppon a Cristys masse nyght,
Claro David germine.

Of this rose was Cryst y-bore,
To save mankynde that was forlore;
And us alle from synnes sore,
Prophetarum carmine.

This rose, of flourys she is flour,
She ne wole fade for no shour,
To synful men she sent socour,
Mira plenitudine.

This rose is so faire of hywe,
In maide Mary that is so trywe,
Y-borne was lorde of virtue,
Salvator sine crimine.

There is No Rose of Such Virtue  1420

There is no rose of such virtue

As is the rose that bare Jesu;
    Alleluia.

For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space;
    Res miranda.

By that rose we may well see

That he is God in persons three,
    Pari forma.

The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis deo:
    Gaudeamus.

Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth;
    Transeamus.

 Alleluia, res miranda,
Pares forma, gaudeamus,
    Transeamus.

What Is Freely Given

Anyone may reprint and use the Litany of the Rosary, but if anyone prints it for a fee, I would ask for recompense. However, as God inspires me freely, so please copy and use the Litany freely.

God is Good in His angels and in His saints.