Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Michael Voris Comes of Age
Two years ago, I tried to get Michael Voris to come to Malta. I was stopped by an influential priest, who claimed Voris was not an orthodox Catholic.
Of course, we who were trying to organize this visit, which never happened, knew and know better.
Now, he is the main source for many comments from a huge group of real Catholic laity in Rome.
Good job, Michael.
Follow his videos and you will not be confused.
Of course, we who were trying to organize this visit, which never happened, knew and know better.
Now, he is the main source for many comments from a huge group of real Catholic laity in Rome.
Good job, Michael.
Follow his videos and you will not be confused.
Link from Fr. Z.
http://holyface.org.uk/
Father Z connected this site after Cardinal Burke asked us to pray for the Synod under the devotion to the Holy Face.
Here is the prayer of St. Therese the Little Flower from this site.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-church-of-circumcision.html
Father Z connected this site after Cardinal Burke asked us to pray for the Synod under the devotion to the Holy Face.
Here is the prayer of St. Therese the Little Flower from this site.
Prayer of St Therese of the Infant Jesus and the Holy Face
It is said that this devotion brought St Therese of Lisieux, "the Little Flower", to her great sanctity. This is her prayer to the Holy Face:
O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become "the most abject of men, a man of sorrows", I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead; but now it has become for me as if it were the face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I recognize Thy infinite Love and I am consumed with the desire to love Thee and make Thee loved by all men. The tears which well up abundantly in Thy sacred eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to gather up, in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their infinite value. O Jesus, whose adorable Face ravishes my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy divine image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy glorious Face in Heaven.
Amen.
Tuesday is apparently the day to honor the Holy Face, which I did yesterday in the Church of the Circumcision in Valletta.
I suggest you all join Cardinal Burke in this prayer, or others which are similar.
Are we too stupid not to quarantine?
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/10/14/us-isnt-done-with-ebola
Good graph, good maps here.
Good graph, good maps here.
Watch Voris Daily
The press saw the document (Relatio) flown around the world yesterday before the bishops saw it.
Sign up for daily videos from Voris.
Update: video on Burke challenging the Pope.
Sign up for daily videos from Voris.
Update: video on Burke challenging the Pope.
I TOLD you so..
http://southernorderspage.blogspot.com/2014/10/wow-i-would-say-this-is-another.html
City of Houston demands copy of all sermons from ministers, and five pastors are taking the city to court.
Watch what happens....I hate to say I told you so, but I told you persecution would come in this shape and form a long time ago......
Oh My Goodness
Cute dog day--I saw a King Charles Cavalier puppy, one Yorkshire, two Chihuahuas and a Dachshund.
Small dogs for a small island...
Small dogs for a small island...
On a lighter note
I met a very nice young man named Michael, who was a student at the Downside School years ago. Of course, I have a connection to Downside as being one of the Downside fellows teaching at Bristol in another time.
Michael started the famous BadAss chain, which has fantastic food and where I ate several years ago here as it was so inexpensive. I go there once in awhile for a cuppa coffee and wifi.
He has started two new endeavors, one is the Electro Lobster Project, (where does he get these names?), which has absolutely wonderful food. However, this restaurant is only temporarily open right now.
Michael bought the old hotel on Ballutta Bay, a gorgeous structure from the time of the English. It is the building on the far right of this photo. I think it was built in the 1930s.
I was treated like royalty, complete with discount to fresh Sea Bream, caught the day before, free appetizers and a glass of Prosecco, discounted, one of my favorite wines. It was lovely to speak with such a nice person and his staff were tops.
Michael intends to open the restaurant inside by November, especially for Christmas. There are too many unhappy waiters, grumpy maître d' s in Sliema, so this place will do well with its happy staff.
Another place for coffee and breakfast, cheaper than the Village Inn or Perkins and much, much better, (yummy friend mushrooms with garlic comes with English breakfast), is Il-Gabbana in Sliema. I had a nice chat with two waitresses, one from Slovakia now living in Prague, and one from France. We had a little discussion about the "bad" places with grumpy staffs. I shall not mention those.
One should be treated the same whether ordering an iced coffee or a three-course meal. Such are the two staffs above. Obviously, I ate at one a few days ago and one today. Keeps me going. I find that when stressed and using up energy walking, pastas are best for me.
Well, back to breakfast bars, croissants and cheese for awhile!
Michael started the famous BadAss chain, which has fantastic food and where I ate several years ago here as it was so inexpensive. I go there once in awhile for a cuppa coffee and wifi.
He has started two new endeavors, one is the Electro Lobster Project, (where does he get these names?), which has absolutely wonderful food. However, this restaurant is only temporarily open right now.
Michael bought the old hotel on Ballutta Bay, a gorgeous structure from the time of the English. It is the building on the far right of this photo. I think it was built in the 1930s.
I was treated like royalty, complete with discount to fresh Sea Bream, caught the day before, free appetizers and a glass of Prosecco, discounted, one of my favorite wines. It was lovely to speak with such a nice person and his staff were tops.
Michael intends to open the restaurant inside by November, especially for Christmas. There are too many unhappy waiters, grumpy maître d' s in Sliema, so this place will do well with its happy staff.
Another place for coffee and breakfast, cheaper than the Village Inn or Perkins and much, much better, (yummy friend mushrooms with garlic comes with English breakfast), is Il-Gabbana in Sliema. I had a nice chat with two waitresses, one from Slovakia now living in Prague, and one from France. We had a little discussion about the "bad" places with grumpy staffs. I shall not mention those.
One should be treated the same whether ordering an iced coffee or a three-course meal. Such are the two staffs above. Obviously, I ate at one a few days ago and one today. Keeps me going. I find that when stressed and using up energy walking, pastas are best for me.
Well, back to breakfast bars, croissants and cheese for awhile!
For Synod Members
I wish a few of those clerics at the Synod would re-read The Book of Tobit. (Tobias) as one of the main themes in this book is the sacredness of marriage.
The entire point of young Tobit having to overcome the demon Asmodeus, also known as Abaddon, the Destroyer, who is also the demon mentioned in Revelation and one of the demons worshiped by the Masons at high levels, as the demon of death, is that marriage is for growing holy and becoming holy together.
See the connections? A demon which is the destroyer, an enemy of the Church, one connected to lust, greed, power, and is also called Apollyon, the prince of hell and minister of death.
This demon, according to Hebrew and Catholic sources creates "havoc" or "chaos" on earth.
I hope you are seeing a pattern here.
Catholic scholars identify this demon in Job, Proverbs, as well as Revelation.
This demon is stalking and stomping about Rome at this very moment.
According to some scholars, Apollyon is called the Exterminans. (St. Jerome may have been the first to use this term--I am not sure; but Exterminans is in the Vulgate. This demon wants to destroy the Church.
If I could talk to one cardinal or bishop at the Synod, I would share this information, which is part of our tradition.
Sarah's first seven "husbands" were killed by Asmodeus because these men were marrying her out of lust and this demon could claim them, as he is lust in some traditions.
Tobit and Sarah had to implore God's grace, leave lust, dedicate themselves to a holy marriage, keeping God first.
Should not the Synod members remember this?
The Archangel Raphael, the Healer, who is Healing, as angels are what they do, delivered, through Tobit, the demon from Sarah's presence, enabling a happy, holy, fruitful marriage.
This must be a lesson for our times, in the face of all the aberrations surrounding marriage as seen in the discussions posted yesterday.
I wish they would all read and meditate on Tobit and the journey to holiness in marriage.
For St. Teresa's Day-repeats and more on the tags
22 Aug 2014
Perfection Series IV: Part Seventeen; The Fifth Mansion of St. Teresa of Avila. Posted by Supertradmum. Perhaps one of the easiest descriptions of the Unitive State is from St. Teresa of Avila. I shall let her share her ...
15 Oct 2013
Fulton J. Sheen And St. Teresa of Avila. Posted by Supertradmum. Life, Truth, Love, states Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, are what we find in heaven. The soul who hates those would be tormented in heaven and that soul, who has .
22 Aug 2014
St. Teresa of Avila puts the Unitive State at the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Mansions, the highest being ecstasy and the Spiritual Marriage. I have written about the Spiritual Marriage several times on this blog, and refer you to ...
15 Oct 2013
For the rest, like the Great Teresa, this road was strewn with rocks and she met with dangerous spiritual crevices. One only has to read her writings to see this hard journey. Today is the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila.
15 Sep 2013
On Hell from Ven. Fulton J. Sheen And St. Teresa of Avila. Posted by Supertradmum. Life, Truth, Love, states Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, are what we find in heaven. The soul who hates those would be tormented in heaven and that ...
04 Aug 2013
Garrigou-Lagrange has at interesting comparison concerning the experience of the passive purification of the Illuminative State leading up to Unitive State and St. Therese, St. Teresa, and St. John of the Cross. I do not think I ...
08 Feb 2013
St. John of Avila writes to a lady on what holiness is. Obviously, he was aware of those stages of perfection, and so inspired St. Teresa of Avila, to whom he wrote as well. He is summarizing all three stages here, purification, ...
09 May 2014
St. John of Avila writes to a lady on what holiness is. Obviously, he was aware of those stages of perfection, and so inspired St. Teresa of Avila, to whom he wrote as well. He is summarizing all three stages here, purification, ...
22 Dec 2013
Some saints died in early middle age or middle-middle age, such as St. John of the Cross (49), St. Teresa of Avila (67) or St. Camillus of Lilles, (64). Many modern saints died over the age of seventy, such as St. John of Avila, ...
To give attention to worthy things is the beginning
Yesterday's beginning of the mini-series, Perfection Series VI, cannot be emphasized enough for these times.
Also, a wise businessman friend of mine states that we must pay attention to the stock market on Friday. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102084062
Many have been warning of the biggest, if not bigger crash, since 1929.
I have warned people of the coming trials. I cannot warn more.
Pray, fast, cooperate with grace. Become a saint.
Also, a wise businessman friend of mine states that we must pay attention to the stock market on Friday. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102084062
Many have been warning of the biggest, if not bigger crash, since 1929.
I have warned people of the coming trials. I cannot warn more.
Pray, fast, cooperate with grace. Become a saint.
Perfection Series VI: VIII Reparation--The Reparatress and The Synod
Pope Pius XI labels her the "reparatress". Can we not follow her, begging her for the graces necessary to suffer for others?
I challenge my readers to choose one of the most recalcitrant bishops or cardinal in the synod today and make reparation for him.
Do it!
But the just shall be justified and shall be sanctified still (Cf.Apoc. xxii. 11) and they will devote themselves wholly and with new ardor to the service of their King, when they see Him contemned and attacked and assailed with so many and such great insults, but more than all will they burn with zeal for the eternal salvation of souls when they have pondered on the complaint of the Divine Victim: "What profit is there in my blood?" (Psalm xxix, 10), and likewise on the joy that will be felt by the same Most Sacred Heart of Jesus "upon one sinner doing penance" (Luke xv, 10). And this indeed we more especially and vehemently desire and confidently expect, that the just and merciful God who would have spared Sodom for the sake of ten just men, will much more be ready to spare the whole race of men, when He is moved by the humble petitions and happily appeased by the prayers of the community of the faithful praying together in union with Christ their Mediator and Head, in the name of all. And now lastly may the most benign Virgin Mother of God smile on this purpose and on these desires of ours; for since she brought forth for us Jesus our Redeemer, and nourished Him, and offered Him as a victim by the Cross, by her mystic union with Christ and His very special grace she likewise became and is piously called a reparatress. Trusting in her intercession with Christ, who whereas He is the "one mediator of God and men" (1Timothy ii, 5), chose to make His Mother the advocate of sinners, and the minister and mediatress of grace, as an earnest of heavenly gifts and as a token of Our paternal affection we most lovingly impart the Apostolic Blessing to you, Venerable Brethren, and to all the flock committed to your care.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, on the eighth day of May, 1928, in the seventh year of Our Pontificate.
Chose that priest, bishop or cardinal who seems farthest away from the truth of the sanctity of marriage and do reparation for him starting today. Here is the prayer given to us by Pope Pius XI. Ask, no beg, the Reparatress to intercede now, today for what is happening in Rome.
Fast, pray, mortify yourself. We are responsible for the Church as well as those in Rome.
Prayer of Reparation
O sweetest Jesus, whose overflowing charity towards men is most ungratefully repaid by such great forgetfulness, neglect and contempt, see, prostrate before Thy altars, we strive by special honor to make amends for the wicked coldness of men and the contumely with which Thy most loving Heart is everywhere treated.
At the same time, mindful of the fact that we too have sometimes not been free from unworthiness, and moved therefore with most vehement sorrow, in the first place we implore Thy mercy on us, being prepared by voluntary expiation to make amends for the sins we have ourselves committed, and also for the sins of those who wander far from the way of salvation, whether because, being obstinate in their unbelief, they refuse to follow Thee as their shepherd and leader, or because, spurning the promises of their Baptism, they have cast off the most sweet yoke of Thy law. We now endeavor to expiate all these lamentable crimes together, and it is also our purpose to make amends for each one of them severally: for the want of modesty in life and dress, for impurities, for so many snares set for the minds of the innocent, for the violation of feast days, for the horrid blasphemies against Thee and Thy saints, for the insults offered to Thy Vicar and to the priestly order, for the neglect of the Sacrament of Divine love or its profanation by horrible sacrileges, and lastly for the public sins of nations which resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast instituted. Would that we could wash away these crimes with our own blood! And now, to make amends for the outrage offered to the Divine honor, we offer to Thee the same satisfaction which Thou didst once offer to Thy Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continually renew on our altars, we offer this conjoined with the expiations of the Virgin Mother and of all the Saints, and of all pious Christians, promising from our heart that so far as in us lies, with the help of Thy grace, we will make amends for our own past sins, and for the sins of others, and for the neglect of Thy boundless love, by firm faith, by a pure way of life, and by a perfect observance of the Gospel law, especially that of charity; we will also strive with all our strength to prevent injuries being offered to Thee, and gather as many as we can to become Thy followers. Receive, we beseech Thee, O most benign Jesus, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Reparatress, the voluntary homage of this expiation, and vouchsafe, by that great gift of final perseverance, to keep us most faithful until death in our duty and in Thy service, so that at length we may all come to that fatherland, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.
At the same time, mindful of the fact that we too have sometimes not been free from unworthiness, and moved therefore with most vehement sorrow, in the first place we implore Thy mercy on us, being prepared by voluntary expiation to make amends for the sins we have ourselves committed, and also for the sins of those who wander far from the way of salvation, whether because, being obstinate in their unbelief, they refuse to follow Thee as their shepherd and leader, or because, spurning the promises of their Baptism, they have cast off the most sweet yoke of Thy law. We now endeavor to expiate all these lamentable crimes together, and it is also our purpose to make amends for each one of them severally: for the want of modesty in life and dress, for impurities, for so many snares set for the minds of the innocent, for the violation of feast days, for the horrid blasphemies against Thee and Thy saints, for the insults offered to Thy Vicar and to the priestly order, for the neglect of the Sacrament of Divine love or its profanation by horrible sacrileges, and lastly for the public sins of nations which resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast instituted. Would that we could wash away these crimes with our own blood! And now, to make amends for the outrage offered to the Divine honor, we offer to Thee the same satisfaction which Thou didst once offer to Thy Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continually renew on our altars, we offer this conjoined with the expiations of the Virgin Mother and of all the Saints, and of all pious Christians, promising from our heart that so far as in us lies, with the help of Thy grace, we will make amends for our own past sins, and for the sins of others, and for the neglect of Thy boundless love, by firm faith, by a pure way of life, and by a perfect observance of the Gospel law, especially that of charity; we will also strive with all our strength to prevent injuries being offered to Thee, and gather as many as we can to become Thy followers. Receive, we beseech Thee, O most benign Jesus, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Reparatress, the voluntary homage of this expiation, and vouchsafe, by that great gift of final perseverance, to keep us most faithful until death in our duty and in Thy service, so that at length we may all come to that fatherland, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
Perfection Series VI:VII Reparation
As Fulton J. Sheen once said, if you are too busy to pray, you are too busy.
One must come to the realization that certain other activities and interests must be sacrificed in order to make time for reparation. Here is Pope Pius XI on this point.
19. And for this reason also there have been established many religious families of men and women whose purpose it is by earnest service, both by day and by night, in some manner to fulfill the office of the Angel consoling Jesus in the garden; hence come certain associations of pious men, approved by the Apostolic See and enriched with indulgences, who take upon themselves this same duty of making expiation, a duty which is to be fulfilled by fitting exercises of devotion and of the virtues; hence lastly, to omit other things, come the devotions and solemn demonstrations for the purpose of making reparation to the offended Divine honor, which are inaugurated everywhere, not only by pious members of the faithful, but by parishes, dioceses and cities.
Do Catholics understand the real reason for the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart? Do you want the current crisis in the Church to abate? Honor the Sacred Heart. Do you want changes in your governments? Honor the Sacred Heart. Do you want conversions among the lapsed Catholics in your own families? Honor the Sacred Heart.
20. These things being so, Venerable Brethren, just as the rite of consecration, starting from humble beginnings, and afterwards more widely propagated, was at length crowned with success by Our confirmation; so in like manner, we earnestly desire that this custom of expiation or pious reparation, long since devoutly introduced and devoutly propagated, may also be more firmly sanctioned by Our Apostolic authority and more solemnly celebrated by the whole Catholic name. Wherefore, we decree and command that every year on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, - which feast indeed on this occasion we have ordered to be raised to the degree of a double of the first class with an octave - in all churches throughout the whole world, the same expiatory prayer or protestation as it is called, to Our most loving Savior, set forth in the same words according to the copy subjoined to this letter shall be solemnly recited, so that all our faults may be washed away with tears, and reparation may be made for the violated rights of Christ the supreme King and Our most loving Lord.
One of the problems is that people, even Catholics, do not understand just how transcendent God is. We have, as a society, as Western cultures, "dumbed-down God". One of the messages of Fatima, especially seen in the life of Blessed Jacinta, is the need for suffering in order for souls to be saved.
This young holy girl puts us to shame with her courage and determination to follow Mary's call for reparation.
One of the problems is that people, even Catholics, do not understand just how transcendent God is. We have, as a society, as Western cultures, "dumbed-down God". One of the messages of Fatima, especially seen in the life of Blessed Jacinta, is the need for suffering in order for souls to be saved.
This young holy girl puts us to shame with her courage and determination to follow Mary's call for reparation.
21. There is surely no reason for doubting, Venerable Brethren, that from this devotion piously established and commanded to the whole Church, many excellent benefits will flow forth not only to individual men but also to society, sacred, civil, and domestic, seeing that our Redeemer Himself promised to Margaret Mary that "all those who rendered this honor to His Heart would be endowed with an abundance of heavenly graces." Sinners indeed, looking on Him whom they pierced (John xix, 37), moved by the sighs and tears of the whole Church, by grieving for the injuries offered to the supreme King, will return to the heart (Isaias xlvi, 8), lest perchance being hardened in their faults, when they see Him whom they pierced "coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matth. xxvi, 64), too late and in vain they shall bewail themselves because of Him
(Cf. Apoc. i, 7).
Absolutely, now is the time for reparation to the Sacred Heart. The time for wasting opportunities must be seen as over. The Pope here sensed an urgency. Are not these times more urgent?
to be continued...
(Cf. Apoc. i, 7).
Absolutely, now is the time for reparation to the Sacred Heart. The time for wasting opportunities must be seen as over. The Pope here sensed an urgency. Are not these times more urgent?
to be continued...
Perfection Series VI: VI Reparation
In the encyclical we have been following in this mini-series on reparation, the Pope calls on all to remember the devotion to the Sacred Heart, started through the revelations given to St. Margaret Mary.
The two things Christ called for as activities for reparation are Communion of Reparation and attending Holy Hour.
Sadly, Holy Hour devotions slipped into oblivion, although many parishes now have hours of Adoration. There are still too few parishes or chapels with Adoration.
The Communion of Reparation is something each person can adopt. Offering one's merits in Communion either for an individual person or the Church in general, especially in these perilous times, seems appropriate, and necessary.
I suggest praying as to whether you are called to make reparation for someone's sins other than your own.
An entire nation may need people to be involved in making reparation for such crimes as abortion and ssm.
Consider this encyclical. Consider the call to reparation.
The two things Christ called for as activities for reparation are Communion of Reparation and attending Holy Hour.
Sadly, Holy Hour devotions slipped into oblivion, although many parishes now have hours of Adoration. There are still too few parishes or chapels with Adoration.
The Communion of Reparation is something each person can adopt. Offering one's merits in Communion either for an individual person or the Church in general, especially in these perilous times, seems appropriate, and necessary.
I suggest praying as to whether you are called to make reparation for someone's sins other than your own.
An entire nation may need people to be involved in making reparation for such crimes as abortion and ssm.
Consider this encyclical. Consider the call to reparation.
Perfection Series VI: V Reparation
I have been obsessed with this story and love it, considering it Lewis' masterpiece.
I am not going into all the details of the plot, but will refer merely to two of the main characters, Psyche and Orual. By the way, I have written on this book before on this blog way back before 2009 and some of my older readers may remember my comments.
For me, the most important two elements of the novel are these: first, that Pysche must do penance for disobedience, for not trusting in Cupid, and for giving in to manipulation and lies.
Second, Psyche's reparation made it possible for Orual to have an excellent life, but as she is so full of pride, denial and ingratitude, she must be brought to see her sins and that fact that Pysche did all the work of reparation so that Orual could be successful and loved.
Such is reparation in Christian terms applied to the ancient myth. Perhaps my constant returning to this book both in my private reading and in teaching (my students loved this book on the whole, btw) is connected to my now realized call to do reparation for whomever or whatever God calls me.
Orual thought her love for Pysche was pure, but it was not. However, Psyche's love for Orual was pure. She got nothing in return for her labors until the very end of the journey.
That is the point. Reparative love must be purified, completely unselfish love.
That Psyche loved Orual purely allowed her to complete the tasks, to do the reparation necessary to save Orual.
In the end, Orual realizes that she, although ugly from birth physically, is truly beautiful to the gods, as Psyche is beautiful.
Of course, allegorically, we know that Psyche is the soul of Orual.
Love and reparation create something new in a soul. This newness may be a portal, and opening wherein grace can flow, heal, deliver.
Obviously, Christ has done the work, but He calls us in that mysterious manner to share in His sufferings for a particular person or group or situation.
When one becomes joined to Christ in suffering, only love transcends the pain, and it does, bringing a peace, and, as St. Therese the Little Flower writes, "unfelt joy".
to be continued...
Perfection Series VI:lV Reparation
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| Thanks to wikicommons |
This encyclical could have been written today, as I mentioned before. Does this section not sound like a commentary of what is happening in both Rome and across the West?
What I have commented on daily is summarized in this section. Is there not reason for us to do reparation now, at this time, more than ever?
16. But it is yet more to be lamented, Venerable Brethren, that among the faithful themselves, washed in Baptism with the blood of the immaculate Lamb, and enriched with grace, there are found so many men of every class, who laboring under an incredible ignorance of Divine things and infected with false doctrines, far from their Father's home, lead a life involved in vices, a life which is not brightened by the light of true faith, nor gladdened by the hope of future beatitude, nor refreshed and cherished by the fire of charity; so that they truly seem to sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Moreover, among the faithful there is a greatly increasing carelessness of ecclesiastical discipline, and of those ancient institutions on which all Christian life rests, by which domestic society is governed, and the sanctity of marriage is safeguarded; the education of children is altogether neglected, or else it is depraved by too indulgent blandishments, and the Church is even robbed of the power of giving the young a Christian education; there is a sad forgetfulness of Christian modesty especially in the life and the dress of women; there is an unbridled cupidity of transitory things, a want of moderation in civic affairs, an unbounded ambition of popular favor, a depreciation of legitimate authority, and lastly a contempt for the word of God, whereby faith itself is injured, or is brought into proximate peril.
What I have commented on daily is summarized in this section. Is there not reason for us to do reparation now, at this time, more than ever?
16. But it is yet more to be lamented, Venerable Brethren, that among the faithful themselves, washed in Baptism with the blood of the immaculate Lamb, and enriched with grace, there are found so many men of every class, who laboring under an incredible ignorance of Divine things and infected with false doctrines, far from their Father's home, lead a life involved in vices, a life which is not brightened by the light of true faith, nor gladdened by the hope of future beatitude, nor refreshed and cherished by the fire of charity; so that they truly seem to sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Moreover, among the faithful there is a greatly increasing carelessness of ecclesiastical discipline, and of those ancient institutions on which all Christian life rests, by which domestic society is governed, and the sanctity of marriage is safeguarded; the education of children is altogether neglected, or else it is depraved by too indulgent blandishments, and the Church is even robbed of the power of giving the young a Christian education; there is a sad forgetfulness of Christian modesty especially in the life and the dress of women; there is an unbridled cupidity of transitory things, a want of moderation in civic affairs, an unbounded ambition of popular favor, a depreciation of legitimate authority, and lastly a contempt for the word of God, whereby faith itself is injured, or is brought into proximate peril.
17. But all these evils as it were culminate in the cowardice and the sloth of those who, after the manner of the sleeping and fleeing disciples, wavering in their faith, miserably forsake Christ when He is oppressed by anguish or surrounded by the satellites of Satan, and in the perfidy of those others who following the example of the traitor Judas, either partake of the holy table rashly and sacrilegiously, or go over to the camp of the enemy. And thus, even against our will, the thought rises in the mind that now those days draw near of which Our Lord prophesied: "And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold" (Matth. xxiv, 12).
Today I was treated rudely by more than one person in the "service industry". Charity has grown cold.
More than ever, we each must consider doing penance, mortification, more prayer.
Today I was treated rudely by more than one person in the "service industry". Charity has grown cold.
More than ever, we each must consider doing penance, mortification, more prayer.
18. Now, whosoever of the faithful have piously pondered on all these things must need be inflamed with the charity of Christ in His agony and make a more vehement endeavor to expiate their own faults and those of others, to repair the honor of Christ, and to promote the eternal salvation of souls. And indeed that saying of the Apostle: "Where sin abounded, grace did more abound" (Romans v, 20) may be used in a manner to describe this present age; for while the wickedness of men has been greatly increased, at the same time, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, a marvelous increase has been made in the number of the faithful of both sexes who with eager mind endeavor to make satisfaction for the many injuries offered to the Divine Heart, nay more they do not hesitate to offer themselves to Christ as victims.
Joining groups like the Auxilium Christianorum or the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother seems timely.
For indeed if any one will lovingly dwell on those things of which we have been speaking, and will have them deeply fixed in his mind, it cannot be but he will shrink with horror from all sin as from the greatest evil, and more than this he will yield himself wholly to the will of God, and will strive to repair the injured honor of the Divine Majesty, as well by constantly praying, as by voluntary mortifications, by patiently bearing the afflictions that befall him, and lastly by spending his whole life in this exercise of expiation.
Are there generous souls out there willing to take on the challenge of this encyclical?
to be continued...
Joining groups like the Auxilium Christianorum or the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother seems timely.
For indeed if any one will lovingly dwell on those things of which we have been speaking, and will have them deeply fixed in his mind, it cannot be but he will shrink with horror from all sin as from the greatest evil, and more than this he will yield himself wholly to the will of God, and will strive to repair the injured honor of the Divine Majesty, as well by constantly praying, as by voluntary mortifications, by patiently bearing the afflictions that befall him, and lastly by spending his whole life in this exercise of expiation.
Are there generous souls out there willing to take on the challenge of this encyclical?
to be continued...
Perfection Series VI:II.5 Reparation
Continuing with the theme of how does one know for whom or what to make reparation, I have one clear answer. This is a follow-up of II.
Those for whom God has placed on own hearts and in our minds great love, who are in need of having someone do reparation for them, are those to whom God wants you to focus your prayers and energies.
Mortification, penance, prayers, either for one person, a few people, the clergy in general, the Church, become focused as God pours sacrificial love into hearts in order for this reparation to occur.
Reparation takes tremendous energy and will-power. Those for whom one prays may never know until heaven that one made reparation for them.
So be it.
Like Christ seeing all the elements, stages, tortures of His Passion and Death, and seeing the ingratitude and horror of sin from all mankind, one may see sin, corruption, ingratitude and remain silent.
One may not see such things if one is praying for a friend or family member, but if one is praying for the clergy, the bishops, the cardinals who are insulting Truth both in the Person of Christ and in His
Church, one may see such painful realities.
But, the real pain is the sacrificial love which is not acknowledged and cannot be.
Suffering in silence, alone, like Christ in the Garden, may be part of one's call to the ministry of reparation.
At that point, one experiences tremendous peace and even joy in pain. The reason for this is that one is joining Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He has called one to join Him there.
Such is the calling of those who make reparation for others.
to be continued....
Those for whom God has placed on own hearts and in our minds great love, who are in need of having someone do reparation for them, are those to whom God wants you to focus your prayers and energies.
Mortification, penance, prayers, either for one person, a few people, the clergy in general, the Church, become focused as God pours sacrificial love into hearts in order for this reparation to occur.
Reparation takes tremendous energy and will-power. Those for whom one prays may never know until heaven that one made reparation for them.
So be it.
Like Christ seeing all the elements, stages, tortures of His Passion and Death, and seeing the ingratitude and horror of sin from all mankind, one may see sin, corruption, ingratitude and remain silent.
One may not see such things if one is praying for a friend or family member, but if one is praying for the clergy, the bishops, the cardinals who are insulting Truth both in the Person of Christ and in His
Church, one may see such painful realities.
But, the real pain is the sacrificial love which is not acknowledged and cannot be.
Suffering in silence, alone, like Christ in the Garden, may be part of one's call to the ministry of reparation.
At that point, one experiences tremendous peace and even joy in pain. The reason for this is that one is joining Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He has called one to join Him there.
Such is the calling of those who make reparation for others.
to be continued....
Perfection Series VI:III Reparation
I shall come back to the devotion to the Sacred Heart, but as Pope Pius XI places it in this context, I leave it here. But, I want to go on the section 13, the lines I highlighted.
12. And truly the spirit of expiation or reparation has always had the first and foremost place in the worship given to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and nothing is more in keeping with the origin, the character, the power, and the distinctive practices of this form of devotion, as appears from the record of history and custom, as well as from the sacred liturgy and the acts of the Sovereign Pontiffs. For when Christ manifested Himself to Margaret Mary, and declared to her the infinitude of His love, at the same time, in the manner of a mourner, He complained that so many and such great injuries were done to Him by ungrateful men - and we would that these words in which He made this complaint were fixed in the minds of the faithful, and were never blotted out by oblivion: "Behold this Heart" - He said - "which has loved men so much and has loaded them with all benefits, and for this boundless love has had no return but neglect, and contumely, and this often from those who were bound by a debt and duty of a more special love." In order that these faults might be washed away, He then recommended several things to be done, and in particular the following as most pleasing to Himself, namely that men should approach the Altar with this purpose of expiating sin, making what is called a Communion of Reparation, - and that they should likewise make expiatory supplications and prayers, prolonged for a whole hour, - which is rightly called the "Holy Hour." These pious exercises have been approved by the Church and have also been enriched with copious indulgences.
13. But how can these rites of expiation bring solace now, when Christ is already reigning in the beatitude of Heaven? To this we may answer in some words of St. Augustine which are very apposite here, - "Give me one who loves, and he will understand what I say" (In Johannis evangelium, tract. XXVI, 4).
I shall come back to this theme of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Agony in the Garden, in a long post later, but here I want to emphasize that Christ already suffered for our sins, but that He, in the Garden, received some consolation from the Angel sent to Him, which the Pope states here, was the consolation WE created through reparation for our own sins and those of others.
Imagine, the Angel of the Agony bringing our mortifications, penances, sufferings to Christ in that hour? What a tremendous insight from this Pope.
For any one who has great love of God, if he will look back through the tract of past time may dwell in meditation on Christ, and see Him laboring for man, sorrowing, suffering the greatest hardships, "for us men and for our salvation," well-nigh worn out with sadness, with anguish, nay "bruised for our sins" (Isaias liii, 5), and healing us by His bruises. And the minds of the pious meditate on all these things the more truly, because the sins of men and their crimes committed in every age were the cause why Christ was delivered up to death, and now also they would of themselves bring death to Christ, joined with the same griefs and sorrows, since each several sin in its own way is held to renew the passion of Our Lord: "Crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery" (Hebrews vi, 6). Now if, because of our sins also which were as yet in the future, but were foreseen, the soul of Christ became sorrowful unto death, it cannot be doubted that then, too, already He derived somewhat of solace from our reparation, which was likewise foreseen, when "there appeared to Him an angel from heaven" (Luke xxii, 43), in order that His Heart, oppressed with weariness and anguish, might find consolation. And so even now, in a wondrous yet true manner, we can and ought to console that Most Sacred Heart which is continually wounded by the sins of thankless men, since - as we also read in the sacred liturgy - Christ Himself, by the mouth of the Psalmist complains that He is forsaken by His friends: "My Heart hath expected reproach and misery, and I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none" (Psalm lxviii, 21).
The forsaking of friends and family creates a horrible void, a pain in Christ, which one cannot imagine, as He is all Pure, all Good, all Innocent. Those who have been forsaken in their lives have experienced a smidgen of this great pain of Our Lord's.
But, this is not all the Pope tells us.
14. To this it may be added that the expiatory passion of Christ is renewed and in a manner continued and fulfilled in His mystical body, which is the Church. For, to use once more the words of St. Augustine, "Christ suffered whatever it behoved Him to suffer; now nothing is wanting of the measure of the sufferings. Therefore the sufferings were fulfilled, but in the head; there were yet remaining the sufferings of Christ in His body" (In Psalm lxxxvi). This, indeed, Our Lord Jesus Himself vouchsafed to explain when, speaking to Saul, "as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter" (Acts ix, 1), He said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (Acts ix, 5), clearly signifying that when persecutions are stirred up against the Church, the Divine Head of the Church is Himself attacked and troubled. Rightly, therefore, does Christ, still suffering in His mystical body, desire to have us partakers of His expiation, and this is also demanded by our intimate union with Him, for since we are "the body of Christ and members of member" (1 Corinthians xii, 27), whatever the head suffers, all the members must suffer with it (Cf. 1 Corinthians xii, 26).
As it is obvious that we are now living in the Age of Martyrs, we can see how those who are tortured and killed join not only with Christ, but with us, as all members both suffer and rejoice in martyrdom. So, too, Christ suffered in Gethsemane and throughout His Passion and Death the pain of those who die for Him and the pain of those who torture and kill. Christ took all that suffering unto Himself.
So, where does this leave us and for whom are we doing reparation? This next section could have been written this morning..................
15. Now, how great is the necessity of this expiation or reparation, more especially in this our age, will be manifest to every one who, as we said at the outset, will examine the world, "seated in wickedness" (1 John v, 19), with his eyes and with his mind. For from all sides the cry of the peoples who are mourning comes up to us, and their princes or rulers have indeed stood up and met together in one against the Lord and against His Church (Cf. Psalm ii, 2). Throughout those regions indeed, we see that all rights both human and Divine are confounded. Churches are thrown down and overturned, religious men and sacred virgins are torn from their homes and are afflicted with abuse, with barbarities, with hunger and imprisonment; bands of boys and girls are snatched from the bosom of their mother the Church, and are induced to renounce Christ, to blaspheme and to attempt the worst crimes of lust; the whole Christian people, sadly disheartened and disrupted, are continually in danger of falling away from the faith, or of suffering the most cruel death. These things in truth are so sad that you might say that such events foreshadow and portend the "beginning of sorrows," that is to say of those that shall be brought by the man of sin, "who is lifted up above all that is called God or is worshipped" (2 Thessalonians ii, 4).
And, here is the mystery...God chooses for whom we do acts and prayers of reparation.
God chooses.
This reparation could be for individual blasphemers, haters, apostates, heretics, false leaders, false friends, betrayers of all types, or even person for whom God gives us a particular love in order to pray for them.
Some may be stranger, some may be friends, some may be our blood brothers and sisters, some may be our spouses.
Some may be our enemies.
God can also call someone to make reparation in general: for dead babies of abortion; for heresy and apostasy in the Church; for a group which is schismatic. for bad priests in general, for bad bishops in general, and so on.
God decides for whom or even for what, such as these times, one may be called to reparation.
to be continued..............
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