Reminder just because

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2015/01/on-demon-of-false-seer.html

For the remnant.....

In this post, I want to reveal some of the lessons I have more than learned in two weeks of daily intense suffering and abandonment by some who I love. These lessons have been carved into my heart.

Let me put these in bullet points, in order to show you that these characteristics which God wants His remnant to develop--NOW!

• Complete dependence on Divine Providence, not society, government, family or church membership.  This dependence does lead to a new view on God's Will in this world. 
• Daily interior dialogue with the God Within. Talking with Him while at work, play, rest, prayer at all times of the day or night bring us closer to Him in order to be sustained in these dark times.
• Willingness to be isolated, marginalized, separated from the ordinary, lukewarm Catholics in the pew, or worse, the disobedient priests and faithful. Finding joy and peace in realizing Christ joins one in this suffering becomes real.
• Intense prayer and reflection, plus frequent reception of the sacraments must be part of the remnant Catholic members.
• Strict honesty with one's self with regard to sin. No pass going to jail-be honest about asking God for your purgatory on earth.
• Forgiveness is essential towards those who hate one, ignore one's real needs, and hate the truth.
• Preserving joy by concentrating on Christ, and not one's self or others.

Why all the evil which we see proliferating in the West...

Nothing positive and good can exist outside God without causal dependence on God. If this be denied, all proofs for the existence of God are compromised. God is, without any exception, the author of all that is good. Garrigou-Lagrange

St. Rita Cascia

St. Rita is not only the saint of the impossible, but she is the patron of those who have experienced domestic abuse. I find more and more women who have been abused either physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Some men have been abused by parents or siblings as well.

But, we are now witnessing the abuse of nations, of civilizations, of cultures. Evil abuses. Demons take delight in abusing. People, who are warped, take a perverse joy in celebrating sin and abusing others. Sin moves people farther and farther away from God.

Remember, there is no middle ground, no neutral territories anymore.

Fear is one reason why people abuse others. The lack of courage causes some to use and manipulate others.

Abuse also arises from gross sin, when the needs of a person or people leave the realm of rationality and become bestial. Perhaps St. Rita provides us with a good example for these horrible times.

Patience, prayer, perseverance in the growing darkness, which will become almost unbearable--but for the graces of God-can be seen in her life.

To be reasonable is to be holy. To be unreasonable is to sin. Sin removes us from both rational discourse and common sense. Sin makes one more and more stupid. Sin makes a people more and more ignorant.

St. Rita, pray for us.

"He chose us in Him [Jesus Christ] before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and unspotted in His sight. He hath predestinated us to be His adopted children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to make shine forth the glory of His grace, by which He has made us pleasing in His eyes, in His beloved son." Eph 1: 4-6

OK.....need more fish

I am temporarily in a place with private wifi--Woo-Hoo!

I intend to blog a bit, but I am looking for permanent housing. Why I am where I am is a great mystery to me, but one does not question God, only waits.

Today, on the eve of the possible collapse of Western Civilization in Ireland, I want to write a meditation on a passage from St. Paul, with the help of the great Garrigou-Lagrange.

"We know that to them that love God all things work together unto good: to such as according to His purpose are called to be saints. For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn amongst many brethren. And whom He predestinated, them He also called. And whom He called, them He also justified. And whom He justified, them He also glorified."  Romans 8: 28-30

Garrigou-Lagrange breaks down the passage and highlights God's foreknowledge, His call of the predestined, their justification, and, finally, their glorification.

Too many Catholics judged people as predestined by good works. As noted by Garrigou-Lagrange, this is the heresy of Pelagius.  God gives grace to all and all have access to sufficient grace. It is God's perfect will that all are saved. But, His preknowledge sees those who are open to His call of love and grace. Therefore, those who turn to Him, are justified through grace and finally merit glory.

From all these passages of Scripture, St. Augustine formulated this classical definition: "Predestination is the foreknowledge and preparedness on God's part to bestow the favors by which all those are saved who are to be saved."(25) St. Augustine is still more explicit on this point when he writes: "God already knew, when He predestined, what He must do to bring His elect infallibly to eternal life."(26)

These thoughts give me courage during these darkening times. Those of elect who persevere in grace and love will see God.

But, as I want to explain as a stream which flows out from the spirit within us, the God Within sustains us and brings to us the additional graces necessary for perseverance.

Perseverance in keeping the Commandments, and being purified so that one can live the life of the virtues is THE grace of this day.

Persevere, as I try to do even under the most trying of circumstances.

How?

It is not us who join our sufferings with Christ, but Christ Who suffers with us, in us. Our sufferings are His. He has adopted all of our trials-financial collapse, family divisions, even the lack of stability in life, which only He can give.

The joy of relying totally on the God Within cannot be explained.

Imagine a key ring with three keys.

One is total reliance on God and His Providence.

A second is total reliance on His graces, and the knowledge that one cannot do anything without grace.

The third key is love-coming from daily recollection of God's Presence throughout the day.

Peter Kreeft notes that the only way to be a saint is to practice the daily Presence of God.

All one needs to do is find the God Within. He is there, waiting to be found.

I have found Him within. I do not know if all people have to go through intense suffering, including abandonment and the complete loss of things to find this God Within.

All I know is that God lets His Bride be led into the desert so that He can be found without distraction.

There is a homecoming when we each find that God Within, that Friend Who listens and wants us to speak with Him constantly, daily.

More later, God willing....

Thanks for all the fish....

This blog is being suspended indefinitely owing to my St. Benedict Labre lifestyle. Sadly, no one has wanted to open a door to me in the area where I am having to go who could have. Most of my acquaintances cannot for financial reasons, or the most common reason, adult children having to move back home...a hidden epidemic of our times.

However, I would not trade all the tremendous suffering I have experienced this past several days for the peace and realization of the God Within, which has come to me through intense suffering.

I am nothing, God is everything.

God is within each one of us, as St Teresa of Avila and Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity have told us, as well as many other saints.

One must be willing to be purged, totally, of all talents, plans, even natural desires and needs, until the chains which bind the heart are broken into bits, and the Light of Love, Who has been waiting to be seen, is recognized..

I now have to face a St. Benedict Labre existence.

So long, and thanks for all the fish...

UPDATE: Thanks for all the well-wishers, and prayers for those who took the opportunity of my difficulties to trash me. God forgive you. And, God bless all my readers.

"To draw souls to interior recollection."

The above quotation is from Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity.

A reader sent me the autobiography of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity last week, but it is late in the post. When I get it, I shall share some bits with you.

A website dedicated to her has a mini-life found here....
http://www.elisabeth-dijon.org/v_en/Life.html

Some of the photos of her online are copyrighted, but one can buy postcards, from this page. I do not know much about her except what I have read online, but she is obviously a person to help us understand the Indwelling of the Trinity.

Another interesting site on her may be found here...
http://www.catholictradition.org/Tradition/silence15a.htm

I think this quotation of hers below will touch many who read this today.

"Before I die, I long to be transformed into Jesus Crucified and this gives me great strength in suffering ... Love your misery, for upon it God exercises His mercy."

Anything is possible....pray for the Pope

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32679290

Hey! What about Christians?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11571270/Muslim-schoolgirl-sent-home-for-wearing-long-skirt.html

Suggestion on Mother's Day

I have suggested this to readers before, but here again, please consider joining the Auxilium Christianorum and the Third Order of the Most Sorrowful Mother, if you have not already.

Two worthy groups to help with spiritual warfare, and boy, is it ratcheting up. Several severe situations yesterday in my life and the lives of friends.

St. Michael, pray for us. Guardian Angels, watch over us.

Please consider giving to this good order of priests. The appeal is on the Winter Newsletter found here.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, especially those who are suffering for any reason.

From a Member of God's Precious Infants

"I went to the Stratford prayer vigil today - well that was the plan.  While we were at the mass in St Francis of Assisi Church we could hear all this noise.  Banging of drums, shouting, trumpet playing, etc.  We realised who it was straight away.  The pro choice gang. 

There were around 50 of them.  It was well planned.  They had banners, loudspeakers and the rest.  They had blocked the road outside the church so as to prevent our procession going anywhere. The police were there but they were powerless.  The noise was awful.  We turned round to try to exit in the other direction.  There were about 20 of us.  We were again blocked.  They surrounded us.  So we just stayed where we were, knelt down and prayer the rosary there and then.  It was pointless doing anything else.  Police reinforcements were asked for but until then we could only pray, especially for those poor young people who were round us.

A couple of us broke away from the situation including me and went over to the abortion mill to counsel.  We were told that the place was closed but we discovered it was open.  I stayed a while until another lady came to take my place and I returned to the church to see what the situation was.  There was a lot more police there and our small group of Helpers were about to process along to the clinic with all those chanting people all round us.  They tried to block us but the police had more numbers and managed to keep them in check.

They were in front of us making such a racket.  Saying terrible things about us and the church.  Anyway we arrived at the abortion mill and started to pray.  As soon as that happened the pro choice crowd melted away into the pub or into town.  Another surprise we had was that a girl who was going to go for an abortion saw what was happening and changed her mind.  A baby was saved today.  I would go through all that again to save another baby (and the mother).  I got speaking to a lady who wanted to know what was happening and she told me her story about being a young single mother of two children.  They are grown up now but she said that it was hard at first but she was glad to say yes to life.  I gave her a rosary even though she is not a Catholic.  I gave her a rosary prayer card and she said that she would definitely come and pray with others at the weekly vigil." 

A baby was saved...glory be to God. 

On Not Getting Complacent/On Not Giving Up

One of my friends said she was getting tired of fighting evil...we have just begun after the first conversion. In the Dark Night, there are days, weeks, years where one may have zero consolation. 

St. Teresa emphasizes that the spiritual warfare lasts until the day we die. We never can give up the fight against the wiles of the demons, even though we do get tired and need sometimes to rest in God.

I think having recourse to our guardian angels at these times of battle fatigue can greatly help our energies. Here are a few words from St. Teresa on these battles:

We are like men whose enemies are at the door, who must not lay aside their arms, even while sleeping or eating, and are always in dread lest the foe should enter the fortress by some breach in the walls. O my Lord and my all! How canst Thou wish us to prize such a wretched existence? We could not desist from longing and begging Thee to take us from it, were it not for the hope of losing it for Thy sake or devoting it entirely to Thy service--and above all because we know it is Thy will that we should live. Since it is so, Let us die with Thee!' [87] as St. Thomas said, for to be away from Thee is but to die again and again, haunted as we are by the dread of losing Thee for ever! 

We all get tired of these battles. I think of the walk of Christ on the Via Dolorosa, and how fatigued He must have been carrying all the sins of the world on His back, which only a God could do. I beg God for strength and know that it is the Eucharist which gives such strength to all of us who love God. One can feel physically tired, and mentally tired, but the spiritual fatigued must be shared with other who are faithful. Can you imagine how excellent and faithful priests must feel under the stress of spiritual warfare, especially traditional, orthodox priests? Pray for priests, especially for Father Ripperger, Father Zuhlsdorf, Father Driscoll, Father Stefan, Father Mario, Father Miller, Father Y, Cardinal Burke, and many others. Do not take your priests for granted. If we feel tired walking with Christ to Gethsemane, can you pause and pray for these good priests? St. Teresa encourages her nuns to pray to the saints for aid, and so I pray to my favorites, and especially to those who have encounter some of the trials I have in life. 

 Here is Teresa on this point: 

 3. This is why I say, daughters, that we ought to ask our Lord as our boon to grant us one day to dwell in safety with the Saints, for with such fears, what pleasure can she enjoy whose only pleasure is to please God? Remember, many Saints have felt this as we do, and were even far more fervent, yet fell into grave sin, and we cannot be sure that God would stretch forth His hand to raise us from sin again to do such penance as they performed. This applies to extraordinary grace. [88] Truly, my daughters, I feel such terror as I tell you this, that I know not how to write it, nor even how to go on living, when I reflect upon it as I very often do. Beg of His Majesty, my daughters, to abide within me, for otherwise, what security could I feel, after a life so badly spent as mine has been?

Part of the battle is breaking away from habits of even venial sins-those habits begun in childhood and needing strict attention as an adult, if one has not dealt with these yet. Some priests state one should not think on sins of the past-but I had a great spiritual director in 2013 who said to confess those old sins, as they connect us with the matter of sin, the old habits. The matter of sin clings to the old man and part of purgation means looking again at those things which clog the soul. One may see the mini-series last year on the matter of sin, but one thing to do is to ask one's guardian angel for help. Just as the saints, as our brothers and sisters in heaven can aid us by interceding to Christ for us, so, our angels can help.

Our guardian angels can help us with the Matter of Sin. Because sin affects our intellects and imaginations, we can ask our guardian angels to enlighten us.

Here is what St. Thomas says. See here.

Natural reason, which is immediately from God, can be strengthened by an angel so that he may obtain from creatures a more perfect knowledge of God.
...

Intellectual operation and enlightenment can be understood in two ways.
First, on the part of the object understood; thus whoever understands or is enlightened, knows that he understands or is enlightened, because he knows that the object is made known to him.

Secondly, on the part of the principle; and thus it does not follow that whoever understands a truth, knows what the intellect is, which is the principle of the intellectual operation. In like manner not everyone who is enlightened by an angel, knows that he is enlightened by him.

If we ask our angels to help illuminate our minds, they will do so.

Here is St. Thomas again on this subject:

The demon cannot put thoughts in our minds by causing them from within, since the act of the cogitative faculty is subject to the will; nevertheless the devil is called the kindler of thoughts, inasmuch as he incites to thought, by the desire of the things thought of, by way of persuasion, or by rousing the passions. Damascene calls this because such a work is accomplished within. But good thoughts are attributed to a higher principle, namely, God, though they may be procured by the ministry of the kindling "a putting in" angels.

The will is moved only by God, but angels aid us in our intellect, our imagination and our senses.

Again, Thomas, and this is a long section on the influence of the imagination by both demons and the good angels:

Both a good and a bad angel by their own natural power can move the human imagination. This may be explained as follows. For it was said above (Question 110, Article 3), that corporeal nature obeys the angel as regards local movement, so that whatever can be caused by the local movement of bodies is subject to the natural power of the angels. Now it is manifest that imaginative apparitions are sometimes caused in us by the local movement of animal spirits and humors. Hence Aristotle says (De Somn. et Vigil.) [De Insomniis iii.], when assigning the cause of visions in dreams, that "when an animal sleeps, the blood descends in abundance to the sensitive principle, and movements descend with it," that is, the impressions left from the movements are preserved in the animal spirits, "and move the sensitive principle"; so that a certain appearance ensues, as if the sensitive principle were being then changed by the external objects themselves. Indeed, the commotion of the spirits and humors may be so great that such appearances may even occur to those who are awake, as is seen in mad people, and the like. So, as this happens by a natural disturbance of the humors, and sometimes also by the will of man who voluntarily imagines what he previously experienced, so also the same may be done by the power of a good or a bad angel, sometimes with alienation from the bodily senses, sometimes without such alienation.

Reply to Objection 1. The first principle of the imagination is from the sense in act. For we cannot imagine what we have never perceived by the senses, either wholly or partly; as a man born blind cannot imagine color. Sometimes, however, the imagination is informed in such a way that the act of the imaginative movement arises from the impressions preserved within.

Reply to Objection 2. An angel changes the imagination, not indeed by the impression of an imaginative form in no way previously received from the senses (for he cannot make a man born blind imagine color), but by local movement of the spirits and humors, as above explained.

Reply to Objection 3. The commingling of the angelic spirit with the human imagination is not a mingling of essences, but by reason of an effect which he produces in the imagination in the way above stated; so that he shows man what he [the angel] knows, but not in the way he knows.

Reply to Objection 4. An angel causing an imaginative vision, sometimes enlightens the intellect at the same time, so that it knows what these images signify; and then there is not deception. But sometimes by the angelic operation the similitudes of things only appear in the imagination; but neither then is deception caused by the angel, but by the defect in the intellect to whom such things appear. Thus neither was Christ a cause of deception when He spoke many things to the people inparables, which He did not explain to them.

Each one of us must cooperate with the guardian angels and not ignore each one's own duty to create a disciplined mind. One can see how important it is for one to control one's eyes, ears, indeed all the senses, and discipline the imagination.


Our sins are forgiven in the sacrament of confession, but we have "hang-overs" from sin. If any of you saw the 2010 Narnia movie which was based on the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, you will remember the scenes when Edmund is tempted by the dead queen, the White Witch, or Jadis to sin again. This weakness of the imagination is part of the Matter of Sin. (By the way, have there been other Narnia movies since this one?)

Now, Edmund's sin of betrayal was forgiven long ago by Aslan. But, because Edmund sinned, he has a memory of sin and a memory of temptation. The Matter of Sin is that weakness which comes into the mind, the heart and the imagination, as well as the will of one who sins.

The Matter of Sin is not present in a person who has not sinned, such as Mary, Our Mother, and St. John the Baptist. However, those who sin must be purified even of the Matter of Sin, the detritus of sin.

This purification happens in the Dark Night of the Spirit, when God takes over the mind, imagination, heart and will, having already dealt with the senses.The Matter of Sin is like Frodo's wound from Weathertop-a reminder of mortality and concupiscence given into.

Those great saints who allowed God to purify them while on earth and wrote about this process, such as SS. John of the Cross, Augustine, Teresa of Avila and others, have shared with us how to have purgatory on earth.
St. Therese, the Little Flower, also wrote about this process, which is the entire theme of my purification series.

Let God heal you and free you from the Matter of Sin, which can only happen after one truly repents and turn against sin. Like the layers of scales of Eustace the Dragon, we must be purged of selfishness.

Yesterday, I felt like St. Peter and walking away from the pain of mortification. Then, I remembered that the first pope turned against his temptation and returned to Rome and death.

Peter was not acting in a holy manner when he was running from Rome and death. He was avoiding his martyrdom, which takes the place of the passive purification. Martyrdom is a shortcut to purification, through intense pain, suffering and obedience to God's Will.

If one cooperates, the process of passive purification, the way most of us must take, states the experts, goes much more quickly, than if one fights suffering. This is why the nuns embrace the penances and poverty of their state. They are on the fast road to union with God.

Here is a helpful paragraph from Garrigou-Lagrange. I have read de Caussade several times and do highly recommend him. Also, of course, like many of you, I have read St. John of the Cross. I have read bits of the book by St. Francis de Sales and more lately, which is mentioned. I have not read Boudon.

GENEROUS ACCEPTANCE

There is, first of all, a general rule. These afflicted souls should be treated with kindness and helped that they may be led to full conformity to the divine will. The first rule of direction is that these souls should accept this trial generously for as long a time as, according to the good pleasure of God, it may last, and they should live in abandonment to the divine will. Moreover, as a general rule, the more generously they accept this purification, the quicker it will end, since the effect for which God wills it, will be more promptly accomplished. If it is more intense, it will generally be shorter (like the purification of purgatory) unless the soul is to suffer specially for sinners, over and above its personal purification.

Excellent books have been written on abandonment to Providence in this period of the spiritual life. Besides The Dark Night (Bk. II) of St. John of the Cross, there is the Treatise on The Love of God (Bk. IX) of St. Francis de Sales on the love of submission and of holy indifference in spiritual afflictions.(1) In the seventeenth century, Father A. Piny, O.P., wrote Le plus parfait, or the way of abandonment to the will of God, and also L'Etat du pur amour. In the same period we find Les saintes voies de la croix by the Venerable Henry Mary Boudon; in the eighteenth century, Abandonment to Divine Providence by Father de Caussade, S.J.; and recently (1919), Le saint abandon by Dom Vitalis Lehodey, O.C.R.

I have warned people about quietism two years in a blog or two, and here is a reminder from Garrigou-Lagrange.

In this question of abandonment, two dangers must be avoided: quietism and the opposing error. Quietism or semi-quietism denies the necessity of our cooperation and goes so far as to demand in these trials the sacrifice of our hope or desire of salvation.(2) On the contrary, we must in this case, as St. Paul says: "Against hope believe in hope." (3)

A delicate balance is needed between action and inaction. I believe the Holy Spirit can directly help here, and, of course, one must do what is needed in one's daily responsibilities.

The contrary error would consist in exaggerating the necessity of our cooperation while diminishing that of prayer and disregarding the efficacy of our petitions and the conduct of Providence which directs all. It would amount to a sort of practical naturalism. Tried souls should, on the contrary, pray particularly, ask the help of God to persevere in faith, trust, and love. They must be told that, if they continue to pray in this severe trial, it is a sign that, in spite of appearances, their prayer is granted; for no one can continue to pray without a new actual grace. And God who, from all eternity, has foreseen and willed our prayers, excites them in us.

Perseverance is a grace. One lives by Faith, which is hoping and trusting in God for that which is not seen.

To this general rule of the generous acceptance of the trial in conformity with the divine will, must be added three special rules relating to the three theological virtues, by which especially one must live during the night of the spirit.Here more particularly is verified the expression: "The just man liveth by faith." (4) The night of the spirit is that of faith whose object is obscure mysteries which appear so much the more obscure in proportion as they are higher above the senses. St. Thomas often says: "Fides est de non visis," the object of faith is things not seen. One does not believe on testimony what one sees.

I cannot emphasize this boldface section enough. Only by Faith and not anxiety or pushing or impatience, does the passive purification lead to light and finally, union with God. Teresa urges us to persistence. Peter showed us not to walk away. Keep going, even if the going seems like baby steps.

“Long live the difference”

from the Stanbrook Edition of Interior Castle....

.... dealing with the purgation of the soul by mortification and the enlightenment of the mind by meditation. There, too, appears the first idea of the Mansions, [25] and Fuente remarks that the passage in question may be taken for the parting of the ways between the two works. However, this is not the only, nor, indeed, the chief reason why St. Teresa is so reticent about the preliminary stage of the contemplative life. The fact is that she herself did not pass through these experiences. By God's grace she was preserved from childhood from grievous sin and gross imperfection. Though she never grows tired of bewailing her faults and unfaithfulness, these avowals must be taken cum grano salis. While yet a child, she sometimes gave way to vanity in dress and wasted her time in reading romances. As a young religious, she was sought after by friends and relatives who took pleasure in her attractive conversation. This proved further loss of time and caused distractions. Owing to acute suffering, she for some years left off the practice of mental prayer, though she faithfully performed all her religious obligations, as far as her weak state of health allowed. This is all. The war of the flesh against the spirit, the insubordination of the lower parts of nature, the fickleness of the will, which so often thwart the most noble aspirations of a soul, were unknown to her. Under these circumstances, we cannot be surprised to find her entering upon the journey towards God at a point which in many cases marks but the closing stage.

St. Teresa was a strong woman, protected from serious sin by her loving family and her good Catholic upbringing. Yet, her love of God was obvious from little on.

Her strength of will, like that of so many female saints, did not mean that she was not feminine. Her writings reveal a very feminine woman.

Wondering how far androgyny and ssm  can destroy "Vive la différence", I have been pondering the beautiful femininity and masculinity of the saints. Now, some confusion exists on the mystical experiences of those men who experienced Christ as Lover, and many nasty commentators and authors on line and in horrible, sacriligous books. To accept Christ as Love is not to be either gay or perverted. Some men are afraid of a close relationship with God because they do not understand pure love.

Purgation of the senses and spirit allow one to love God properly, but the theme of this post is not the misconceptions of the Love of God, but on the real female and male traits of the great saints.

We take for granted that some saints seem masculine, for example, like the soldier-saints, Martin, Demetrious, George, Victor, the saints of the Theban Legion and so on. Many examples or military saints dot the calendar . We have emperor saints and king saints, father saints, and great founders of orders, such as Dominic and Ignatius, who could never be seen as wimps.

On the feminine side, we have such saints as Etheldreda, abbess over a dual-monastery, Catherine of Sienna, Zita the little cook, Lucy, Agnes and the young martyrs as examples of womanhood and holiness. To be feminine is not to be weak.

The lists of saints who show us how to be men and women in Christ seems endless. But, in our sad world of gender confusion, these examples have been lost except for a few home schooling families, who daily teach their children the lives of the saints, following either or both the NO and EF calendars.

Byzantine saints also reveal masculine and feminine traits given to us by God in nature and raised to the supernatural level by God's grace. One readily thinks of St. Nicholas, a real man, bishop, leader of his people in hard times and one of the Byzantines, as well as the Roman Catholics most popular saints.

SS. Marcina and Gregory of Nysssa compliment each other as sister and brother in blood as well as in Christ.

Irene and Olga, strong women and empresses, remind us that one can be, like Etheldreda, both strong and holy.

Modern women saints, such as St. Benedicta of the Cross, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a gentle saint who is a great sigh of hope for us today, as she faced so much persecution alone, 

Let us pray to Kateri using the words of the Pope Emeritus: 

“St. Kateri, protectress of Canada and the first American Indian saint, we entrust you to the renewal of the faith in the first nations and in all of North America.”

I hope future generations keep remembering that God created us male and female, both genders to be made whole and holy through His graces. And, hey, read this on one big reason for the weakening of men in today's world, and one cannot blame women, like Adam blamed Eve, for these sins. But, sex education should not happen in any school, but at home, by parents.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/porn-and-video-game-addiction-are-leading-to-masculinity-crisis-says-stanford-prison-experiment-psychologist-10238211.html

Hypocrisy

So, today Jeb asked for more Christianity in the world and he supports, as a Catholic, same-sex marriage and let Terri Schiavo die of starvation.

Man.....!  http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/05/politics/jeb-bush-softens-stance-on-gay-marriage/

He is part of the NWO regime--http://www.storyleak.com/mini-bilderberg-bill-gates-jeb-bush-sc-island/

and http://observer.com/2015/02/jeb-money-train-makes-two-more-nyc-stops/

we do not need another Bush, please. It is beginning to look like only the richest get to be presidential candidates, not the real conservatives.

Brief Description from St. Teresa on the Indwelling

A brief description of the unitive state from the Interior Castle.

Here one sees the great revelation of the Indwelling

of the Holy Trinity which God desires us all to experience, to know...even while on earth. This is a repeat post, but for the benefit of some who missed this.

8. In the former favours our Lord unites the spirit to Himself and

makes it both blind and dumb like St. Paul after his conversion, [395] thus preventing its knowing whence or how it enjoys this grace, for the supreme delight of the spirit is to realize its nearness to God. During the actual moment of divine union the soul feels nothing, all its powers being entirely lost. But now He acts differently: our pitiful God removes the scales from its eyes [396] letting it see and understand somewhat of the grace received in a strange and wonderful manner in this mansion by means of intellectual vision. 9. By some mysterious manifestation of the truth, the three Persons of the most Blessed Trinity reveal themselves, preceded by an illumination which shines on the spirit like a most dazzling cloud of light. [397] The three Persons are distinct from one another; a sublime knowledge is infused into the soul, imbuing it with a certainty of the truth that the Three are of one substance, power, and knowledge and are one God. Thus that which we hold as a doctrine of faith, the soul now, so to speak, understands by sight, though it beholds the Blessed Trinity neither by the eyes of the body nor of the soul, this being no imaginary vision. All the Three Persons here communicate Themselves to the soul, speak to it and make it understand the words of our Lord in the Gospel that He and the Father and the Holy Ghost will come and make their abode with the soul which loves Him and keeps His commandments. [398] 10. O my God, how different from merely hearing and believing these words is it to realize their truth in this way! Day by day a growing astonishment takes possession of this soul, for the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity seem never to depart; it sees with certainty, in the way I have described, that They dwell far within its own centre and depths; though for want of learning it cannot describe how, it is conscious of the indwelling of these divine Companions. 11. You may fancy that such a person is beside herself and that her mind is too inebriated to care for anything else. On the contrary, she is far more active than before in all that concerns God's service, and when at leisure she enjoys this blessed companionship. Unless she first deserts God, I believe He will never cease to make her clearly sensible of His presence: she feels confident, as indeed she may, that He will never so fail her as to allow her to lose this favour after once bestowing it; at the same time, she is more careful than before to avoid offending Him in any way. 12. This presence is not always so entirely realized, that is, so distinctly manifest, as at first, or as it is at times when God renews this favour, otherwise the recipient could not possibly attend to anything else nor live in society. Although not always seen by so clear a light, yet whenever she reflects on it she feels the companionship of the Blessed Trinity. This is as if, when we were with other people in a very well lighted room, some one were to darken it by closing the shutters; we should feel certain that the others were still there, though we were unable to see them. [399]

Very brief description of the illuminative state

A mini-description of the illuminative state...leading to the unitive state. From a footnote, 418, in the online copy of the Interior Castle. Follow the tags for more postings.

In a letter dated May 1581, addressed to Don Alonso Velasquez, then bishop of Osma, St. Teresa writes as follows: 'She [herself] has received such an assurance of coming one day to the fruition of God that she almost imagines she has already come into possession of Him, without, however, the joy that will accompany it. She is in the same position as one who by legal contract has received a splendid property which will become his, and whose fruit he will enjoy at a given date. Until then he only holds the title-deeds, without being able to take possession of the property. Nevertheless my soul would not like to come immediately into the possession of God, for it does not believe that it has deserved such a grace. It only desires to continue in His service, even at the cost of terrible sufferings. It would not mind thus serving Him to the end of the world, after having received such a pledge.' St. John of the Cross, in treating of this subject (Spir. Cant. stanza xxii. 3) says: I believe that no soul ever attains to this state without being confirmed in grace in it.' See also Ribera, in the Acta Ss. p. 554, circa finem.

If you are not reading....

daily, Drudge and Fr. Z., you should be...

Nice!

http://southernorderspage.blogspot.com/2015/05/vatican-radio-by-order-of-pope-touts.html

Is this still illegal in England? Anyone know for sure?

On the Indwelling and the Mansions Two

Again, St. Teresa's words are in italics:

14. Those conscious of being in this state must as often as possible have recourse to His Majesty, taking His Blessed Mother and the saints for their advocates to do battle for them, because we creatures possess little strength for self-defence. Indeed in every state of life all our help must come from God; may He in His mercy grant it us, Amen! What a miserable life we lead! 

As I have spoken more fully in other writings [57] on the ill that results from ignoring the need of humility and self-knowledge, I will treat no more about it here, my daughters, although it is of the first importance. God grant that what I have said may be useful to you. 

 Most of us are here, looking at the lives of the saints for comfort and guidance.

 15 You must notice that the light which comes from the King's palace hardly shines at all in these first mansions; although not as gloomy and black as the soul in mortal sin, yet they are in semi-darkness, and their inhabitants see scarcely anything. I cannot explain myself; I do not mean that this is the fault of the mansions themselves, but that the number of snakes, vipers, and venomous reptiles from outside the castle prevent souls entering them from seeing the light. They resemble a person entering a chamber full of brilliant sunshine, with eyes clogged and half closed with dust. Though the room itself is light, he cannot see because of his self-imposed impediment. In the same way, these fierce and wild beasts blind the eyes of the beginner, so that he sees nothing but them. 

 The fog I saw in the neighborhood created a semi-darkness. The houses and trees, nicely manicured lawns and flowers were wrapped in this murkiness, as if sinfulness obscured normal life. So it is with most people who only live in vain-glory, which is the taking of glory from God and claiming it for one's own. 

 16. Such, it appears to me, is the soul which, though not in a state of mortal sin, is so worldly and preoccupied with earthly riches, honours, and affairs, that as I said, even if it sincerely wishes to enter into itself and enjoy the beauties of the castle, it is prevented by these distractions and seems unable to overcome so many obstacles. It is most important to withdraw from all unnecessary cares and business, as far as compatible with the duties of one's state of life, in order to enter the second mansion. This is so essential, that unless done immediately I think it impossible for any one ever to reach the principal room, or even to remain where he is without great risk of losing what is already gained; otherwise, although he is inside the castle, he will find it impossible to avoid being bitten some time or other by some of the very venomous creatures surrounding him. 

Get away from distractions, both exterior and interior. Simplify your lives, and those in your families. Sin complicates, does it not, so one way to simplify one's life is to stop sinning. Stop trying to be like everyone else and be CATHOLIC!

4. These souls hear our Lord calling them, for as they approach nearer to where His Majesty dwells He proves a loving Neighbour, though they may still be engaged in the amusements and business, the pleasures and vanities of this world. While in this state we continually fall into sin and rise again, for the creatures amongst whom we dwell are so venomous, so vicious, and so dangerous, that it is almost impossible to avoid being tripped up by them. Yet such are the pity and compassion of this Lord of ours, so desirous is He that we should seek Him and enjoy His company, that in one way or another He never ceases calling us to Him. So sweet is His voice, that the poor soul is disconsolate at being unable to follow His bidding at once, and therefore, as I said, suffers more than if it could not hear Him. 

 I say to those who have started this journey to take heart. I pray for those who have asked me to do so, as when one begins to sin again and again after trying so hard to avoid all sin, one needs to focus on the Dear Face of Christ, Who is All Good and full of compassion, especially for those of us who want to love Him as perfectly as we can. This trying causes sufferings, and if God removes Himself and all consolations, the way presents itself with more difficulties. One must persist in prayer and in recollection.


5. I do not mean that divine communications and inspirations received in this mansion are the same as those I shall describe later on; God here speaks to souls through words uttered by pious people, by sermons or good books, and in many other such ways. Sometimes He calls souls by means of sickness or troubles, or by some truth He teaches them during prayer, for tepid as they may be in seeking Him, yet God holds them very dear. 

 6. Do not think lightly, sisters, of this first grace, nor be downcast if you have not responded immediately to Our Lord's voice, for His Majesty is willing to wait for us many a day and even many a year, especially when He sees perseverance and good desires in our hearts. Perseverance is the first essential; with this we are sure to profit greatly. However, the devils now fiercely assault the soul in a thousand different ways: it suffers more than ever, because formerly it was mute and deaf, or at least could hear very little, and offered but feeble resistance, like one who has almost lost all hope of victory. 

 Vigilance must accompany prayer. The devil, who Christ calls “the Father of Lies” tries all sorts of things to bring one away from the persistence in prayer and penances. It is odd that some commentators do not like St. Teresa's writings on suffering. There is no way around this way if one wants to be purified. And, the world is not where one finds happiness, as this great saint reminds her daughters in the Faith.

 7. Here, however, the understanding being more vigilant and the powers more on the alert, we cannot avoid hearing the fighting and cannonading around us. For now the devils set on us the reptiles, that is to say, thoughts about the world and its joys which they picture as unending; they remind us of the high esteem men held us in, of our friends and relations; they tell us how the penances which souls in this mansion always begin to wish to perform would injure our health: in fine, the evil spirits place a thousand impediments in the way.

 8. O Jesus! What turmoil the devils cause in the poor soul! How unhappy it feels, not knowing whether to go forward or to return to the first mansion! On the other hand, reason shows it the delusion of overrating worldly things, while faith teaches what alone can satisfy its cravings. Memory reminds the soul how all earthly joys end, recalling the death of those who lived at ease; how some died suddenly and were soon forgotten, how others, once so prosperous, are now buried beneath the ground and men pass by the graves where they lie, the prey of worms, [65] while the mind recalls many other such incidents.


There is no such thing as cheap grace at this point.  Contemplating on the Last Four Things may be a useful tool for reflection at this point. Many people get stuck here and give up, falling back into old and even evil way of thinking. Acedia and other types of sloth strike the beginner with discouragement. But, one continues in faith. Remember, love is in the will, not the emotions. Those who think they can find God outside of suffering kid themselves.  One can sense the Presence of God in all these trials, a quiet Presence, not yet perceptible to the entire person, as one is too full of sin yet to see the great inner mansions.

9. The will inclines to love Our Lord and longs to make some return to Him Who is so amiable, and Who has given so many proofs of His love, especially by His constant presence with the soul, which this faithful Lover never quits, ever accompanying it and giving it life and being. The understanding aids by showing that however many years life might last, no one could ever wish for a better friend than God; that the world is full of falsehood, and that the worldly pleasures pictured by the devil to the mind were but troubles and cares and annoyances in disguise. 

10. Reason convinces the soul that as outside its interior castle are found neither peace nor security, it should cease to seek another home abroad, its own being full of riches that it can enjoy at will. Besides, it is not every one who, like itself, possesses all he needs within his own dwelling, and above all, such a Host, Who will give it all it can desire, unless, like the prodigal son, it chooses to go astray and feed with the swine. [66] Surely these arguments are strong enough to defeat the devil's wiles! But, O my God, how the force of worldly habits and the example of others who practise them ruin everything! Our faith is so dead that we trust less to its teaching than to what is visible, though, indeed, we see that worldly lives bring nothing but unhappiness. All this results from those venomous thoughts I described, which, unless we are very careful, will deform the soul as the sting of a viper poisons and swells the body.

God is allowing those of us who are seeking Him to live in these very difficult times. These times are a grace. The times of St.Teresa were frought with great difficulties as well. She herself faced opposition from supposedly good people. But, she wanted more than "good".

 I have written much on the need to purify the imagination-watch whatever one reads or sees, as these are all possible means, ammunition for the demons to use against us as we try to persevere.

11. When this happens, great care is evidently needed to cure it, and only God's signal mercy prevents its resulting in death. Indeed, the soul passes through severe trials at this time, especially when the devil perceives from a person's character and behaviour that she is likely to make very great progress, for then all hell will league together to force her to turn back. O my Lord! what need there is here that, by Thy mercy, Thou shouldst prevent the soul from being deluded into forsaking the good begun! Enlighten it to see that its welfare consists in perseverance in the right way, and in the withdrawing from bad company.

 Sometimes this bad company resides in one's own family. One must break away from old family habits which take one away from Christ, from the awareness of the Indwelling of the Holy Trinity. A friend of mine recently told me on the phone that we are alone in our walk with Christ. Too often, this is true. For those who have had the ability to find a community of those desiring perfection, such as a monastery or convent, or third order group, great help may be found among those good Catholics. Sadly, for many of us, we are alone on our journey, through no fault of our own except that God has not opened the door for us to live near others who so desire Him. This aloneness can be part of the deep suffering and even purification, as I mentioned yesterday. I encourage all my Dear Readers who have contacted me for prayers to persevere. You have these prayers.

12. It is of the utmost importance for the beginner to associate with those who lead a spiritual life, [67] and not only with those in the same mansion as herself, but with others who have travelled farther into the castle, who will aid her greatly and draw her to join them. The soul should firmly resolve never to submit to defeat, for if the devil sees it staunchly determined to lose life and comfort and all that he can offer, rather than return to the first mansion, he will the sooner leave it alone. I say to my many friends abroad and here who find themselves alone, be resolved. Basically, what I have written here multiple times is to forget about consolation. This lack of consolation purges the mind, soul, and body of desires. One comes to only want what God wills.


13. Let the Christian be valiant; let him not be like those who lay down to drink from the brook when they went to battle (I do not remember when). [68] Let him resolve to go forth to combat with the host of demons, and be convinced that there is no better weapon than the cross. I have already said, [69] yet it is of such importance that I repeat it here: let no one think on starting of the reward to be reaped: this would be a very ignoble way of commencing such a large and stately building. If built on sand it would soon fall down. [70] Souls who acted thus would continually suffer from discouragement and temptations, for in these mansions no manna rains; [71] farther on, the soul is pleased with all that comes, because it desires nothing but what God wills. 

NO manna...people, from the words of the great saint herself.


14. What a farce it is! Here are we, with a thousand obstacles, drawbacks, and imperfections within ourselves, our virtues so newly born that they have scarcely the strength to act (and God grant that they exist at all!) yet we are not ashamed to expect sweetness in prayer and to complain of feeling dryness. [72] 15. Do not act thus, sisters; embrace the cross your Spouse bore on His shoulders; know that your motto should be: Most happy she who suffers most if it be for Christ!' [73] All else should be looked upon as secondary: if our Lord give it you, render Him grateful thanks. You may imagine you would be resolute in enduring external trials if God gave you interior consolations: His Majesty knows best what is good for us; it is not for us to advise Him how to treat us, for He has the right to tell us that we know not what we ask. [74] Remember, it is of the greatest importance--the sole aim of one beginning to practise prayer should be to endure trials, and to resolve and strive to the utmost of her power to conform her own will to the will of God. [75] Be certain that in this consists all the greatest perfection to be attained in the spiritual life, as I will explain later. She who practises this most perfectly will receive from God the highest reward and is the farthest advanced on the right road. Do not imagine that we have need of a cabalistic formula or any other occult or mysterious thing to attain it our whole welfare consists in doing the will of God. If we start with the false principle of wishing God to follow our will and to lead us in the way we think best, upon what firm foundation can this spiritual edifice rest?

Consolation comes in the reasonable assessment of following Teresa or other's words. Just give up all the God. And He will let you find Him. But, God allows us to fall into venial sin sometimes to show us our predominant fault. By looking at how we sin and the sin which occurs over and over, one begins to sin this fault, or faults. The key is not to get discouraged and not to give up. I say, “God, help me to love you through all of these sufferings. Give me love for Your Self, as I cannot even love without Your grace.” Then, I keep going. This stage becomes the entrance into the Dark Night, and some of us have been in this Night for a very long time, according to God's Will, not ours. Sometimes, one hears God saying, “Peace, peace” in the midst of these battles.

Teresa states, ...therefore if you occasionally lapse into sin, do not lose heart and cease trying to advance, for God will draw good even out of our falls, like the merchant who sells theriac, who first takes poison, then the theriac, to prove the power of his elixir. [76] This combat would suffice to teach us to amend our habits if we realized our failings in no other way, and would show us the injury we receive from a life of dissipation. Can any evil be greater than that we find at home? What peace can we hope to find elsewhere, if we have none within us? What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company? These seem to wage war on us as if they knew the harm our vices had wrought them. Peace, peace be unto you,' my sisters, as our Lord said, and many a time proclaimed to His Apostles. [77] Believe me, if we neither possess nor strive to obtain this peace at home, we shall never find it abroad. 

Teresa also states that once we start on the way of recollection, of meditation, we cannot stop. My way of getting through the difficulties is to always remember that love is in the will, and not a feeling. I also remember to ask God to be with me the entire day, while doing chores, while shopping, while walking. In all things, God waits for us to ask Him to lead us on. At this point, one is only in the second mansions. But, the third brings new awareness of both grace and trials. There is no cheap grace in the way of perfection. And, to keep us humble, God reminds one of past sins, as He does with Teresa. She admits to past sins and the agony these cause her. This is one way God kept her humble, and each one of us as well.

5. His Majesty knows that I have nothing to rely upon but His mercy; as I cannot cancel the past, I have no other remedy but to flee to Him, and to confide in the merits of His Son and of His Virgin Mother, whose habit, unworthy as I am, I wear as you do also. Praise Him, then, my daughters, for making you truly daughters of our Lady, so that you need not blush for my wickedness as you have such a good Mother. Imitate her; think how great she must be and what a blessing it is for you to have her for a patroness, since my sins and evil character have brought no tarnish on the lustre of our holy Order.

 6. Still I must give you one warning: be not too confident because you are nuns and the daughters of such a Mother. David was very holy, yet you know what Solomon became. [89] Therefore do not rely on your enclosure, on your penitential life, nor on your continual exercise of prayer and constant communion with God, nor trust in having left the world or in the idea that you hold its ways in horror. All this is good, but is not enough, as I have already said, to remove all fear; therefore meditate on this text and often recall it: 'Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.' [90] 7. I do not recollect what I was saying, and have digressed very much: for when I think of myself my mind cannot soar to higher things but is like a bird with broken wings; so I will leave this subject for the present.
 ...
 8. To return to what I began to explain about the souls which have entered the third mansions. God has shown them no small favour, but a very great one, in enabling them to pass through the first difficulties. Thanks to His mercy I believe there are many such people in the world: they are very desirous not to offend His Majesty even by venial sins, they love penance and spend hours in meditation, they employ their time well, exercise themselves in works of charity to their neighbours, are well-ordered in their conversation and dress, and those who own a household govern it well. This is certainly to be desired, and there appears no reason to forbid their entrance to the last mansions; nor will our Lord deny it them if they desire it, for this is the right disposition for receiving all His favours. 

I stop here with Teresa today. I see many good people, especially those who read this blog, who are persevering in the way to find the Indwelling of the Trinity. More on this tomorrow. I am praying for all the good people who asked for perseverance in this way.

 More later

Interesting...very

Many readers have realized that politics and a certain form of government do not save one. Only Christ is the Saviour. He shows us the way to interior peace. Real community is only found in the Catholic Church. Build it!

Love the nun photo here....http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/election-results-britain-has-become-a-bluer-looser-and-less-liberal-country-10237417.html