Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Catholics in A Time of Crisis and Living in Enemy Territory
Many Catholics are confused and upset today for good reasons. But, how one reacts to either upset in the Church or hatred in the world is something we must all deal with on a daily basis.
I wrote the perfection series because personal holiness is the only way to come to terms with chaos. It does not matter why and how, sometimes, chaos exists, it just does and this type of murkiness and bombastic anti-Catholicism will get worse.
Look at my posts on the stages of persecution.
But, we must learn Catholic ways of reacting to evil, whatever the source. My ancestors had to deal with Nazism and Soviet Communism. Some died. Some were brave journalists. Some were monks and nuns and prayed in monasteries. Some wrote books. Some worked on the world stage. One was a Knight of St. Gregory. One was a woman who edited a magazine under a man's name.
We all must decide daily how we deal with the obvious evil in the world,. And, people, where there is confusion, there is evil. Mostly this confusion comes from purposeful obfuscation from governments, groups with agendas, those choosing to live in sin and not repent, those who are undermining the Church.
Confusion is always, always, always from Satan, a holy priest told me long ago.
How do we react?
One, in your homes, collect as many BOOKS which are orthodox as possible. If you are poor, get the basics.
Two, read the Scriptures daily for at leas one half hour, the Lectio Divina. letting the Holy Spirit speak to you. Use either the Douay Rheims or Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard. I always recommend the Navarre Bible.
Three, say the rosary daily.
Four, get to daily Mass as much as possible. Try and get to Adoration if you can find one scheduled.
Five, find an orthodox community parish and stay there. Leave parishes with liturgical abuses continuing.
Six, do not get involved in any charismatic prayers groups at this stage. All I have witnessed in recent times have been in infected with heresies and disobedience.
Seven, find a group of friends who love God first and are not compromising ANYWHERE.
Eight, wake up to the fact that too many Catholics working for the Church are careerists; do not trust someone who wants a career in the Church first, and holiness somewhere down on the list.
Nine, pray for those in places where there is no Latin Mass and pray for the protection of the EF.
Ten, fast, pray, give alms. Realize that you are now living in enemy territory. Be wise as serpents and guileless as doves.
Above all, do not compromise, in big things or little ones.