Sunday, 8 March 2015
Synchronicity again..
Remember many days ago when I wrote a post on the fact that the ancient gods and goddesses were demons?
Here is that post. http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2015/02/demonsgods.html
Father Xavier shared that the demons who were all once glorious angels now do the opposite of what they were created to do.
For example, if a demon was an angel made to adore God in the highest realms of heaven, he would now be a demon who blasphemes and hates worship. And so on.
One of the demonic influences has been the purposeful misunderstanding that the gods and goddesses of the ancient world are not demonic. Yes, they are.
Father told us of a demon who was created to love seminarians and foster vocations--a caring, nurturing angel who would have brought many men into the priesthood.
Guess what? This angel fell and is now a demon who stops vocations, hinders vocations, and attacks those who want to be priests.
The name of the is demon is Loki. Yes, you heard correctly, the god of mischief and deceit in the ancient Norse world. Years ago on this blog, I wrote about the Poetic Edda, which I studied for one of my degrees. Loki is nasty, period.
To know how powerful this demon is may be seen in the fall of vocations across the world. He is responsible for mischief...making a man think of money or business or women instead of looking at his vocation. Loki is a liar, of course, as all demons are, but in a particular way, leading men into the pursuit of success and comfort in the world instead of the hardships of being a priest.
To know the name of the demon shows us the darkness of those ancient pagans who worshiped these fallen angels, and to see how these types of demons work in the world today.
There is a way to combat this demon, which Catholics in sanctifying grace can do. Apparently, shared Father Xavier, demons hate specific sacramentals. Loki hates anything to do with the devotion to the Sacred Heart. He gets upset with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you want to pray, as I do, for those who are neglecting or having trouble with their vocations, Father said to do a holy hour to the Sacred Heart for these men. There is too much worldliness and such a holy hour is a main way to combat Loki.
This demon is also sensitive to reparation made to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When I was in Tyburn, one of the things I loved was the devotion to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
Marie Adele Garnier saw this overlap, an insight given to her by God, of the Sacred Heart and Adoration of the Eucharist.
This is what I want to do in my house of adoration exactly--pray for priests, especially for vocations and the Latin Mass, pray for seminarians.
Now, I know one thing I am up against.
Interestingly, in connected with this, I met two ladies who started what is now a Vatican recognized organization, an Association of the Faithful. Two started the whole thing. One of the foundresses told me yesterday that one only needs to start with two. I know this....
A house was given to them by a kind person and now the group which serves this order numbers thirty people, living in proximity, and serving God.
Pray for me and that one other person...if this is God's Will. I was correct, she said, in discerning that one only needs two...
posts on authority and virtues coming up later...
Becoming Perfect
48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
Those who are my regular readers can imagine how pleased I was that Father Xavier told us in the audience, about two hundred people for the weekend, that we are all called to perfection. I wanted to tell him I had been writing about this for years and ask him some questions, but I did not have a chance to speak with this good priest, who is very popular in the state where I went for this retreat.
He quoted the Scripture which I have highlighted so many times here.
The route to perfection involves a daily walk with Christ. Father Xavier emphasized again and again how powerful Our Lady Mary is against demonic influences. To invoke her in prayer under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows is recommended by this good priest. As Mary suffered at the foot of the Cross, Father Xavier told us that she gained merit to be at such a high level of heaven that God has shared with her secrets of humans and demonic influences beyond the knowledge of any other human being. This was foretold by the prophet, Simeon, in the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. The secret thoughts of others would be laid bare to her. Therefore, she is our intercessor for freedom from oppression and obsession, the two most common types of attacks of the devil. If we go to Mary, our way shall be much easier, and devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is one good way of moving towards perfection.I also wanted to share with the priest that I belong to the Third Order of the Most Sorrowful Mother, but again, I did not have a chance to personally speak with him.
It is important, states Father, to engage in mortification. He referred to the new laws of fasting and abstinence in the Church and noted that these newer, less stringent rules do not help us all to form a habit of fasting and abstinence. The habit of fasting, Father stressed, is an absolute necessity for overcoming the temptations and the sins of the flesh, as these are from demonic suggestions. Again, as emphasized in Garrigou-Lagrange, and all the saints, the emotions cannot be relied upon, but are the place where demons deceit us the most.
Mortification controls the body where concupiscence lies since Original Sin, and mortification helps with complete detachment, again defined on this blog earlier, so that one can love God first, with one's whole heart, mind, soul, and will.
Father Xavier pointed out that a life of habitual fasting allows one to become strong in one's inner self, being able to say "no" to temptations. Such little things, like chocolate, can be a temptation to a greater thing, if one does not have a habit of saying no.
A person at the retreat who did not share her experience with the entire group, was once addicted to impulse shopping. She finally decided to get rid of her credit cards and only pay cash for things which was a mortification for her. This discipline worked, but Father warned us against excesses.
Father told us that demons loves excesses. Moderation is key, he noted, quoting Aristotle and the saints, that excesses can cause dangerous tendencies in the soul.
Two things which struck me from this talk were, one, that the embers of the flesh, the undertow of sin, is in one until one has reached a perfection, a freedom from all sin, which Father said is possible on this earth.
He told us to pray to Mary, Our Mother of Sorrows to show us each our predominant fault.
Those who read this blog recognize that there is a series on this subject. Follow the tags.
The second thing which struck me in this part of the retreat was a Father's reference to "hagiosthenia", which I may be spelling incorrectly, as I could not find a reference and do not have a Catholic Encyclopedia at hand. It is not in the one online.
This is the aversion to sacred things, such as holy cards, holy pictures, devotions, etc. brought about because of an excess of such. Apparition chasers, I add, may experience such a burning out of devotion, because moderation is necessary even in the spiritual life.
Moderation and mortification must go together as well, but a habit of fasting and abstinence is much more powerful than occasional mortification, which trains the body, mind, imagination and will to say "no".
The next posts, later today, with be on the importance of authority to combat demonic influences, again something written about here in the past, but needing fleshing out. And, the necessity of the life of the virtues in combating demonic influences.
I want to quote two saints which the priest did not refer to on mortification because of something Father said. He noted that if one is being awakened in the middle of the night, it means that God wants that person to get up and make a vigil with Him. I know many people who are experiencing this...including myself, for about four years.
Father Xavier said to get up and pray if this is happening, as it is mortification.
Saint Alphonsus d Ligouri -- "Some will say that perfection does not consist in the mortification of the body, but in the abnegation of the will. To them I answer with Father Pinamonti, that the fruit of the vineyard does not consist in the surrounding hedge; but still if the hedge be taken away, you will seek in vain for the produce of the vine."
"If we read the lives of the saints and see the works of penance that they performed, we shall be ashamed of the delicacy and of the reserve with which we chastise the flesh... Our pilgrimage on earth will not be of long duration: our home is eternity, where he who has practiced the greatest mortifications during life shall enjoy the greatest glory."
and
Saint Jean Marie Vianney: Oh, how I like those little mortifications that are seen by nobody, such as rising a quarter of an hour sooner, rising for a little while in the night to pray! but some people think of nothing but sleeping. There was once a solitary who had built himself a royal palace in the trunk of an oak tree; he had placed thorns inside of it, and he had fastened three stones over his head, so that when he raised himself or turned over he might feel the stones or the thorns. And we, we think of nothing but finding good beds, that we may sleep at our ease. We may refrain from warming ourselves; if we are sitting uncomfortably, we need not try to place ourselves better; if we are walking in our garden, we may deprive ourselves of some fruit that we should like; in preparing the food, we need not eat the little bits that offer themselves; we may deprive ourselves of seeing something pretty, which attracts our eyes, especially in the streets of great towns."
Quick One Post on A Retreat Talk
In this short post, four things are necessary for a person to keep free of demonic influences, which happen to everyone, says Father Xavier.
The first is the breaking away of all mortal sin as mortal sin can open the door even to possession.
One mortal sin can allow a person to be vulnerable to oppression, obsession and possession.
Two, staying in sanctifying grace. The priest gave an example of a Catholic couple which was experiencing an infestation because of the neighbors being involved in witchcraft. When the exorcist came to the house, he asked the couple if they were married. They said no, that they were just living together, The exorcist told the couple that he could get rid of the infestation in their house, but the demons would come back in even more numbers, (today's EF reading by the way), as the couple were living in mortal sin.
The good priest told them that until the couple repented and got married, there was nothing he could do.
Sanctifying grace, the Indwelling of the Holy Trinity in the soul, is necessary to keep away from all demonic influences. One must also try to be free of venial sin, (coming post). The saints recommend, of course, regular prayer and meditation on the Scriptures and on the Life of Christ in order to be free from all sin.
Three, those who have experienced demonic influences and are freed, must pray daily and regularly. This is an absolute necessity for maintaining freedom. Father Xavier noted that we are all in the Church Militant, and that daily prayer must be said to stay free and clear of demonic involvement.
Four, frequent reception of Holy Communion, and regular Confession. Father suggested daily Mass as much as possible, and monthly Confession as the minimum. He said that weekly Confession is best.
More later...just a taste of the talks this weekend.
GOSPEL Luke 11:14-28
At that time, Jesus was casting out a devil: and the same was dumb. And when he had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke: and the multitudes, were in admiration at it. But some of them said: "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils." And others tempting, asked of him a sign from heaven. But he seeing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation; and house upon house shall fall. And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that through Beelzebub I cast out devils. Now if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if I by the finger of God cast out devils, doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth. But if a stronger than he come upon him and overcome him, he will take away all his armour wherein he trusted and will distribute his spoils. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest: and not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself: and entering in they dwell there. And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."
Two of My Favorite Saints...
..whose relics I saw and honored in Ireland in 2013, will be canonized at the Synod.
Praise God. Zelie and Louis Martin, pray for us, pray for me.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/03/05/pope-francis-to-canonise-st-thereses-parents-during-family-synod/
Praise God. Zelie and Louis Martin, pray for us, pray for me.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/03/05/pope-francis-to-canonise-st-thereses-parents-during-family-synod/
Saturday, 7 March 2015
Sisterhood in The Lord
I am sitting in a hotel room with a great friend having wine and cheese. I have met this person through ministry in the Church. She is a holy and spiritual person who has gone through much suffering.
I learn much about God and love from this sister in the Lord. One of the reasons God has brought us together so that I can learn from her.
One of the things I have learned from this sister is that suffering must be the way to God. She has endured much.
Part of the sisterhood in the Lord is sharing weaknesses as well as strengths. Part of the sisterhood in the Lord is trusting in each other because God has brought us together.
St. Paul talks about the women who served the Church. The Gospels remind us of the holy women who served the physical needs of food and lodging for Christ and His disciples.
Such are sisters in the Lord.
Luke 8:3
3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[a] out of their resources.
On spiritual warfare
The retreat I am attending, with Father Xavier Murphy, is about spiritual warfare. I shall post the detailed talks later next week.
More later...
More later...
Friday, 6 March 2015
Infidelity
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| Playmobile St. Nicholas given to a certain sem |
Two types of heresies have plagued the Church from the beginning. God gives men and women free will to choose good or evil, to be faithful or unfaithful. One thing the great heresies have caused, in spite of chaos and the loss of souls, is the clarification of all the major doctrines of the Church. God brings good out of evil.
For a Catholic to accept heretical ideas constitutes a serious sin against the virtue of faith, given in baptism. The office of teaching belongs to Holy Mother Church, ecclesia docens. To purposefully deviate from Her teachings indicates a rebellious, fractious spirit.
Canon 1325 indicates that a person must know he or she is a heretic. But, guilt depends on many things, and there are levels of culpability. These two types of heresy can be seen in and out of the Church today.
The first category is "material" heresy, under which most Protestants fall. This category assumes good will, good faith, but involves ignorance. If one, for example, has never heard or discovered that Christ is truly Present in the Eucharist, one is a material heretic. However, if one has heard this true teaching, and rejects it after being told this truth, one falls into "formal heresy". Most likely, no Catholic can be a material heretic, as all Catholics have access to the true teaching of the Catholic Church and it is the adult responsibility of each Catholic to discover this teaching. One can have doubts, but these must be resolved as quickly as possible through study and prayer.
Formal heresy may be found in the Church today, most commonly in the forms of Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, universal salvation, and Modernism (the Modernist heresies). I have many posts on all of these heresies. A formal heretic publicly states his or her erroneous opinions and is culpable, incurring great sin and consequences. Public announcement is the key here. A person may have private views, and struggle to find the truth without being a formal heretic. Once a person has made their views known publicly, that person, lay or cleric, is a formal heretic.
The punishment is excommunication, which is automatic. Sadly, some Church leaders are in this position and allowed to spew heretical ideas, as we all have seen of late.
Ignorance must not be accepted in a Christian who has been shown the truth of the Catholic Church. However, faith is a gift, and one might have to acknowledge that a particular person has refused this gift, which is given in baptism.
Infidelity to the one, true, Church constitutes a serious position, endangering a person's soul. If one holds to an erroneous idea even after being told of the errors, one is responsible for this position.
Another consideration is that of "bad will", or the sin of "malice". Malice reveals an unrepentant heart, mind, soul. The great, condemned heretics exhibited malice: Arius, Luther, Calvin and so on. Hatred for Holy Mother Church underscores most heretical positions.
Some high profile clerics teach heresy publicly. Why they are not corrected publicly, and why their automatic excommunication is not revealed to the public for clarification for the confused faithful remains a mystery. One can only come to the conclusion that these priests have the support of their bishops in errors, or that the bishops, or even cardinals, enjoy some sort of protection because of their office, which creates a scandal in the Church.
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| Playmobile Luther, not given to a certain sem |
Another Repost for various reasons...
Monday, 2 December 2013
Protestant vs. Catholic Thinking
Because either some Protestants have made comments on this blog, or because some Catholics are thinking like Protestants, I am going to outline a few points of confusion. I apologize for the length of this. There will be more later.
Years ago, when I was taking theology and philosophy courses for degrees, I was blessed with some superb teachers, for whom I am eternally grateful.
One teacher in Protestant Theology class made a great point that the Protestant mind-set was basically one of utilitarianism. What he explained was that Protestants in the 20th century, beginning in the 19th century with liberal Scripture criticism, watered down the Gospel message and the call to holiness to the lowest common denominator.
For example, Henry VIII wanted a divorce and so ruined the Church in England.
That is a type of utilitarianism and tyranny.
I never forgot this distinction and have referred to it briefly on this blog.
The Protestant mind-set holds these ideals as listed below, which are contrary to Catholic teaching. I shall place the Protestant and Catholic ideals side by side.
Protestant side first....
Point One: poverty and difficulties in life are a direct result of sin in the person or family. Therefore, poverty or a lack of success means the person is a grave sinner. The Protestant Work Ethic demands that success is a sign of election by God. God's material blessings are a sign of God's spiritual blessings.
A person can, therefore, judge those who are unsuccessful as grave sinners and not help them as they are under the wrath of God. Those in the middle-class, therefore, are God's elect.
Catholic side second...
We are to love and serve the poor, as Christ commanded, who are "always with us". We are, as Blessed John Paul II stated, to give preferential treatment to the poor. The poor are Christ in disguise and our business.
To serve the poor is to directly serve the hidden God, who made Himself poor for our sake. Sometimes the poor are hidden in our society, especially if they are old.
Years ago, when I was taking theology and philosophy courses for degrees, I was blessed with some superb teachers, for whom I am eternally grateful.
One teacher in Protestant Theology class made a great point that the Protestant mind-set was basically one of utilitarianism. What he explained was that Protestants in the 20th century, beginning in the 19th century with liberal Scripture criticism, watered down the Gospel message and the call to holiness to the lowest common denominator.
For example, Henry VIII wanted a divorce and so ruined the Church in England.
That is a type of utilitarianism and tyranny.
I never forgot this distinction and have referred to it briefly on this blog.
The Protestant mind-set holds these ideals as listed below, which are contrary to Catholic teaching. I shall place the Protestant and Catholic ideals side by side.
Protestant side first....
Point One: poverty and difficulties in life are a direct result of sin in the person or family. Therefore, poverty or a lack of success means the person is a grave sinner. The Protestant Work Ethic demands that success is a sign of election by God. God's material blessings are a sign of God's spiritual blessings.
A person can, therefore, judge those who are unsuccessful as grave sinners and not help them as they are under the wrath of God. Those in the middle-class, therefore, are God's elect.
Catholic side second...
We are to love and serve the poor, as Christ commanded, who are "always with us". We are, as Blessed John Paul II stated, to give preferential treatment to the poor. The poor are Christ in disguise and our business.
To serve the poor is to directly serve the hidden God, who made Himself poor for our sake. Sometimes the poor are hidden in our society, especially if they are old.
Philippians 2
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration:
2 Fulfill ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.
3 Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:
4 Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's.
5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.
8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.
9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:
10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:
11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.
13 For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will.
Point Two: Protestant thinking looks at what is and compromises.
Examples, contraception and abortion, divorce and remarriage and, now, ssm are to be accepted as people can only be sinners and not saints. The acceptance of a lower standard of morality is a direct result of the compromising Protestant attitude of finding a middle-ground or lowest ground. Suffering is to be avoided at all costs.
Catholic side: We are called to be saints and become perfect, even as our Heavenly Father is perfect. We are called to suffer in order to be purified of all sin and the tendency to sin. The call to holiness is hard and strenuous. And, the Church Militant must approach this route in a military fashion of discipline and courage.
Matthew 16:24
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Point Three: The Protestant mind-set looks for a utopia on earth, confusing the Kingdom of God within with a material Kingdom. Suffering is to be avoided at all costs.
This ideal is behind the American Dream, which is not a Catholic dream per se. That one can find happiness on earth is a symptom of this millennialist thinking. Think of the fact that the Calvinists and others wanted to establish a society based on Protestant ideals which would have led to a perfect commonwealth. The people could decide how that commonwealth works based not on the long Judeo-Christian philosophy of natural law, but only on the Scriptures-sola Scriptura.
Catholic side: we know that the City of God and the City of Man grow up side by side. We also know that perfection in social and governmental organizations needs the protection and Teaching of the Catholic Church, the long history of Tradition and the Catholic Teaching on the roles of the State and the Church.
The Church does not idolize democracy and has condemned socialism again and again and again. The Catholic Church does not teach that there is a utopia on this side of heaven.
The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes can bring about some social peace and harmony, but that is not the goal. The goal is holiness and oneness with God for all people, the rich, the middle class, the poor. Read the entire passage and realize that the Catholic position is one of holiness, then harmony.
Matthew 5
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
2 And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
5 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:
12 Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.
16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
22 But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee;
24 Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.
25 Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.
27 You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
28 But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.
31 And it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.
32 But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.
33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
34 But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:
35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.
38 You have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
39 But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other:
40 And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him.
41 And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two,
42 Give to him that asketh of thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.
43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.
46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?
47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?
48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
Point Four: as men and women are saved, there is no need for the sacramental life, especially Confession.
Catholic view: The Protestant idea that all men and women have their sins forgive without the daily work of conversion has weakened the Protestant communities. Only a commitment to daily prayer, daily repentance, daily adoration and the awareness of sin and the need for sanctifying grace can lead a person to heaven. The acceptance of sin in the world is a huge compromise, which has led to the acceptance of evil, and even to the point of calling evil good and good evil.
Isaiah 5:20
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
20 Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.
A priest said to me last week that "there is no such thing as an Obama Catholic".
Those who support him are thinking like Protestants and compromising Truth, Who Is a Person for either money or comfort or status.
For those readers who accept sin and concupiscence, I point them to read what God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity states about holiness. I point them to the series on the Doctors of the Church on this blog. I point them to the long series on perfection, based on the great Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange.
To accept less than personal holiness, which is a gift of grace and the cooperation with grace, is giving in to a life of sin.
To accept anything less than putting on the Mind of Christ is actually an act of rebellion.
Someone said to me once that human weakness is beautiful. Yes and no. It is beautiful as it is shared in humility with the suffering Christ. It is not beautiful if it is not called out of weakness into strength in God.
We glory in our failures and infirmities in so far as these give glory to God, if He is working in us. Grace and weakness go together, but we must not confuse weakness without grace as a good. When we are truly humbled and in grace, then God works through us. Not all people are in grace. Not all weakness is a good; we do not glory in sin. Some weakness is the giving in to sin and the giving up of the life of Christ within us. And, that is another discussion.
2 Corinthians 12:9-11
Douay-Rheims
9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.
11 I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.
And a timely repost from the Guild blog....
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
The Party Spirit
Few Catholics understand what the “party spirit” is
and how it comes about. Factions have been within
the Church since day one. St. Paul refers to such in
1 Corinthians 1:10-17, in Roman 12: 9-21 and
Romans 14: 1-12.
of division. Divisiveness is never from God within the
Church. Divisiveness is not the same as criticism,
which should include positive solutions to problems.
For example, one may criticize a catechetical program
in a church, but not offer to find alternatives which
may be better or teach. Those who judge and criticize merely
to stir up trouble build the doorway for the party spirit.
Divisiveness usually means three things. Firstly,
that a lack of charity and forbearance has crept
into a parish or a group. This lack of charity comes
from concentrating on people’s sins and failings,
rather than encouraging their good points.
Secondly, egotism creates division.
Egotism is loud, must be heard and seen and in everybody's face.
Egotism is not humble, and defends itself constantly.
Egotism judges others.
Thirdly, the seeking for power creates a party spirit. To the extreme, this seeking of power creates entirely
new churches, such as the four churches found in the 1960s on one corner in my home town, all split-offs
from the other. Division caused confusion, anger, even hatred.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, St. Paul tells us where the party spirit comes from. "But understand this, that in the last days,
there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient
to their parents, ungrateful, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce haters of good, treacherous,
reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of god, holding the form of religion but
denying the power of it. Avoid such people.".
Avoid such people. Run away from them.
The last phrase must include the discernment to know when to avoid and when to correct.
Avoiding means not being friends with those who are untrustworthy of the Gospel of the Lord.
Avoiding means that if one does not avoid slanderers or the abusive or the arrogant, on becomes
like them and loses the gifts of discernment, temperance, and prudence.
We do not have to win every battle and even fight every battle in the Church. Some battles require
great holiness and purity of heart. Some require patience and intense prayer and fasting.
How does one avoid strife in groups? St. Paul has the answer, “Put on then, God’s chosen ones,
holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience, forbearing one another, and
if one has a complaint against another, forgiving one another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also
must forgive. And above all of these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:12-15
One must find peace within one’s self in order to spread peace and only those who have found peace,
through meekness to God can truly stay away from unnecessary conflicts.
of Paul’s inspirations, comes about
when people engage and encourage,
wrath, anger, bitterness, clamor, and
slander. See Ephesians 4: 25-32 on
these points.
If one reads all the epistles, one finds the
theme of communal harmony is almost in
each one. If St. Paul had to address
divisiveness over and over, one can see
that it can be a persistent problem.
I cannot refer to all the passages on this theme, but list a few ways to avoid divisiveness in the Church,
in our parishes, in our communities, in our families, and so on.
One, look to one’s own sins in humility and truth. If one sees the horribleness of one’s own weaknesses
and failings, one cannot judge nor cause dissension by pointing to another’s faults.
Two, think on Christ and not on one’s self. If one is truly in love with Christ, the Bridegroom, one
supernaturally wants to love His brothers and sisters and find creative ways to show this love.
Three, forgiveness covers a multitude of sins and failings. To forgive is to forget, which some priests
do not teach. I would hope people in my life forgive and forget instead of constantly saying a litany
of my faults to me. This concentration on negativity rises from unforgiveness and even hatred.
The negative litany destroys community.
Four, egotism must go. The rule of the saints and the great teachers on purity of heart, mind and soul
tell us that the ego stands between us and God, between us and His Perfect Will in our lives, between us and the
community, between us and eternity. If the ego is not destroyed, we shall not see God after our particular
judgment as we have chosen our self-will over Him.
Lastly, egotism and narcissism constantly fall back on talking about one’s self and one’s grievances.
As we say here in the States, “Get over it, he (or she) is not that into you.” I have discovered that really
most people are truly not interested in me, but only in themselves. This should be a freeing experience
of grace, enabling one to concentrate on God and not one’s self.
for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.”
The genuine are not those who cause the factions, but the Truth of the Gospel itself causes factions-however,
we can teach, preach, instruct, but never judge. “For if we judge ourselves truly, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened, so that we may not be condemned along with the world.”
The genuine are those who allow God to purify them and those who cling to the orthodoxy of the Church in all
things.
Let us allow God to chasten us first before we have the audacity to chasten others.
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Reposts on a snowy day...The Saints of The Knights of Malta
01 Nov 2014
Blessed Gerard Tonque, Founder of the Knights of Malta. The founder of the Order of John is another Saint of Malta, although he was not Maltese. Here is a bit about him and the Charter from Rome for the Order's recognition.
02 Aug 2014
Blessed Adrian Fortescue From http://saint-john-of-jerusalem.blogspot.com/2011/07/feast-of-blessed-adrian-fortescue.html. Adrian Fortescue was born around 1480, the son of Sir John Fortescue of Punsborne, Hertfordshire.
05 Aug 2014
Several women are saints of the Order of Malta. I have had one on this blog before, but hereis the first one. First, an explanation from the main site on women in the Order. http://www.smom-za.org/saints/women.htm ...
05 Aug 2014
One year on the feast of All Saints, she fell into an ecstasy and took no nourishment until three weeks later on the feast of St. Cecelia. On another ... There are more saints from the Knights of Malta Order. One can look at the ...
04 Aug 2014
Saints of The Knights of Malta Part Four. Posted by Supertradmum. I first came across St. Nuno Álvares Pereira at Whitefriars Church in Dublin, where I was attending Mass last summer at this time. I would go to Adoration as ...
05 Aug 2014
Religious of the Order of Malta. Memorial: 14 July. She was born in Zevio, near Verona (Italy) about 1280 and married a man from Verona, Albert Canoculi with whom she began to do remarkable work for the poor. After her ...
03 Aug 2014
Saints of The Knights of Malta Part Three. Posted by Supertradmum. Blessed Gerard had an entire website to himself. The pictures and photographs are worth seeing. You may read his story here.
25 Oct 2014
Several women are saints of the Order of Malta. I have had one on this blog before, but hereis the first one. First, an explanation from the main site on women in the Order. http://www.smom-za.org/saints/women.htm .
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