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Wednesday 4 June 2014

Too much attention?

Bloggers and tweeters are becoming the focus of groups wanting to license or control them.

The day that happens will be the day I stop blogging. We are so successful that the main stream media, and those who oppose free speech are watching and waiting for the time to pounce. Some Catholics want to rein-in other Catholic bloggers and may appeal to various national bishops' conference for "crack-downs".

Sadly, some of the noisiest people who want blog control are neo-cons, who either do not like what the liberal Catholics are saying, or who do not like what the trad Catholics are saying.

Arrgghh.

Any type of control either from governments or bishops would be the end of freedom of speech. But too many Catholics are abusing their positions on line.

Here is a copy of a post I put on the Guild of Titus Brandsma the other day.

I repeat it here for reflection. We can be our own worst enemies.


Monday, 2 June 2014

Wise as Serpents; Guileless as Doves

We, as the blogging Catholic media, are entering into a new phase. I can see it and sense it. The main 
stream media has finally realized how powerful the blogosphere is and is beginning to highlight problems, 
from that point of view.

A note today in the news states that the msm is in decline because of the online media, including bloggers.

But, Catholic bloggers are now under the spotlight. We have to turn a corner. This is the "turning time."

From now on, the blogging community must be wise and prudent in the ways of the world. We not only 
must be professional, we must argue in rational discourse and not on the level of the personal.

I taught logic and argumentation for years and have written on this blog last year on the importance of 
rational discourse.

Two rules: stay with the objective facts and never use personal names or get involved in personal arguments.

Debate is absolutely necessary. Apologetics in the Catholic Church demands an objectivity and the 
virtues of prudence, temperance, justice, as well as courage.

If we are to be taken seriously, we must be serious in our approach.

Here is a review of rules for rational discourse in the form of questions:

1) Is the argument coherent, clear, based on facts?

2) Is the diction used objective?

3) Is there a clear common basis for discussion?

4) Are the arguments concise and open to modification if necessary for coherence? This does not mean 
changing the inherent truth of the argument, but modifying approaches.

5) Are all, and I repeat, all emotional arguments and feelings set aside?

6) Are subjective arguments rightly seen as irrelevant?

7) Are those involved courteous and patient?

8) Do the parties involve invoke fact and details supporting the objective argument?

9) Are inflammatory words, ad hominems and ad populums avoided?

10) Are both parties involved in the discussion or is the argument merely one-sided, and therefore, 
only a harangue or rant?

11) Are the bloggers aware of civil rights, legal actions, and the entire media world of libel cases to be 
avoided at all costs?

12) And most importantly, do Catholic bloggers understand that they do not merely represent themselves, 
but the entire Catholic Church? There is a cult of individuality which makes many people forget they are part 
of the Church and represent the Church when writing.

If we merely want to write personal views and opinions, unless our minds are like the mind of the Church, 
we should not call our blogs "Catholic".

Thinking like a Catholic is being in the long rational tradition of debate and manners.

Pray, reflect, think, then act. We do not have to give our opponents fire with which to burn us.

We do not have to ask for persecution, and in fact, we are to avoid it if at all possible.

To do otherwise is to both cause scandal to the Body of Christ, and to damage any chances of evangelization. 
Our first job is to save souls, not "be right".  Evangelization is not the same as church politics.

Matthew 10:16
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) 16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the 
midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Where I live now--the land of the giants

http://permaculturenews.org/2014/04/04/global-status-gmo-non-gmo-crops/

OK- Mundane Question for My Readers

I have tee-shirts, mostly Laura Ashley, which I have collected on sale for a cheaply as 3 dollars in clearance sales. I have had tee-shirts from Malta, made in Italy.

Recently, several of these have shrunk, after being washed in cold water and hung to dry.

Any suggestions? Some were white things I bought for the convent. Shrinkage, in the arms and length and elsewhere.

https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/category/fibers/cotton-fibers/

And I have recently lost ten and half pounds...so this is real shrinking of cloths not merely perceived.

I am not wealthy enough to buy clothes every year and find that the things purchased in the past three years have tended to shrink quickly, but, oddly, not on the first wash.

Some articles blame GM cotton-and some how the cotton is woven!

Suggestions or insights are welcomed. I hate wearing things which are too tight.

http://www.muffyaldrich.com/2014/03/are-your-clothes-shrinking.html

What is Idolatry?



When St. Paul went to the Council of Jerusalem concerned over those who wanted to impose Jewish Law on the Christian message, the result was a simple result of guidance regarding Gentile converts. Here is the passage:


Acts 15:20

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition 
20 but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood.

Idolatry is connected to those customs of things polluted by idols, such as incense, or talismans, or food and drink--also, things strangled and from blood, which would mean animals not killed with knives and blood sacrifice stuff. In addition, Paul refers to fornication, which is idolizing a person over natural law, either in heterosexual or homosexual sex.

Think today about things connected to idolatry in your life...pray.



A Note on Posts Today

I shall not get to the Manning posts today. See you tomorrow. Think on St. Joseph today...


Pope Francis' Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots

Join me today in this prayer, as I have received some sad news.

Thanks. STM




Holy Mary, full of God's presence during the days of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father's will, and the Devil was never able to tie you around with his confusion. Once with your son, you interceded for our difficulties, and, full of kindness and patience, you gave us [an] example of how to untie the knots of our life. And by remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order, and make more clear, the ties that link us to the Lord. Holy Mother, Mother of God, and our Mother, to you, who untie with motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands (the name of person), and to free him/her of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks. Through your grace, your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen

Because of some good trads...who have responded to me on this subject

I am repeating some information from Fr. Chad Ripperger as well as another exorcist I have known personally for 45 years. Why do so many Catholics lack discernment? What is blocking their discernment?

Firstly, D and D is a door to possession and leads to obsession. I put one article on my blog in which an exorcist refers to this in May.

Secondly, Harry Potter is a door and more than that. Here is a paraphrase of a section from a talk by Fr. Ripperger. (And I had first-hand experience of the last point years ago.)


... J. K Rowling went to witch school.  Five demons said in an exorcism that they inspired her to write the books. All the spells are real and up to 60% of the characters are names of demons according to some exorcists.

Thirdly, those who use these games and read such books or see the movies frequently react in vehemence against the suggestion these things are bad. Why the strong reaction? Why the defensiveness?

Fourthly, try getting someone to stop reading or playing the games. See what happens.

Fifthly, listen to the talks I placed on the blog earlier today. 

A Timely Warning on Reading The Signs of The Times

We are entering into a time of tribulation. How long, I do not know. Christ warned us against thinking of times, but He did say we could read the "signs of the times".

Catholics who are paying attention know that we are entering a period of persecution, which has already effected good people, such as those in the baking business and photography business.

Doctors are being effected and over-worked, stressed, because of the new changes in the systems.

Parents are being effected by Common Core. And, yet, Catholic schools are in decline.

Many people have lost jobs, or had their job hours cut back. Some businessmen I know are having the worst year in a long, long time.

Priests tell me that tithing is not only "way down" but becoming an extinct custom here in the States.

Three of my friends my age have adult children with higher degrees and competencies living at home.

Three dear couples I know are not able to have children.

Many older people I know are living in dire poverty, with no one caring about their needs. Loneliness is an issue for them.

My political friends tell me the middle-class has evaporated in certain areas already, creating a three-class system of rich, poor, and an additional under-class of the chronically unemployed.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/over-50-of-americans-struggle-with-home-affordability-2014-06-03

None of these things have be "accidents" and all have been allowed by God.

Daily, I read that the Euro will collapse soon-and this is being said by those who are not religious, but merely financially involved.

Inflation in housing in Great Britain effects the middle class.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-03/u-k-house-prices-surpass-2007-peak-to-hit-new-record.html

59% of Americans are waking up. But some are not and still believe in the msm.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/04/news/economy/american-dream/index.html

http://dailysignal.com/2014/06/03/exclusive-sharyl-attkisson-journalisms-dangerous-trend-censoring-stories/

Planned social engineering in order to create chaos will make some people want global government and some type of material "saviour". There is only one Saviour.

I do not follow predictions or private revelations unless they have already been approved by the Vatican.

But, I have eyes and ears. I have a brain.

Go back, parents, and read the series on virtue training in children I wrote last summer.

Go back, singles, and read about making life decisions for the Kingdom of God.

Go back, readers, and follow the perfection series.

We do not have much time.

Be painfully honest with yourselves and ask God for the grace to become holy.

Help those around you become holy. Do not shirk from this duty.

Most souls will be lost, I am afraid.

Here is a repeat of a post from January. This is June.

The way to be peaceful is to keep your eyes on Christ and Mary.


Thursday, 30 January 2014


How small is the remnant? Perfection II:viii


The Babylonian Captivity
The question of community and remnant go together in people's conversation.

The idea of community connects with the idea that a remnant would need support in order to survive.

This is true. But, for a moment, let me write about what a remnant really is.

And, how big is a remnant?

First of all, two New Testament passages refer to the remnant. In the second passage, the "seed" is the remnant.

Second, the remnant is saved by grace, by election, that is chosen by God, and are those who have kept the Ten Commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is baptism.

Third, the remnant is those who persevere. And, are purified. Remember, that purification begins with orthodoxy.

Fourth, the remnant is the Church Militant, not the Church Mushy.

Fifth, the remnant has always really been small, contrary to romantic history of the Church.

Sixth, the one, true Faith is the faith of the remnant.

Seventh, the remnant may or may not have the sacraments or priests, therefore, the habit of prayer and holiness must be part of the members' daily lives.

Eighth, the remnant will be separated and not in great groups. Think about this. The remnant will be surrounded by pagans.

Ninth, the remnant will be and is now, responsible for passing down the Faith to the next generation.

Tenth, the remnant will be mostly hidden.



Romans 11:5

Douay-Rheims 
Even so then at this present time also, there is a remnant saved according to the election of grace.


Revelation 12:17

Douay-Rheims 
17 And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Some people have been thinking out loud that few as 5,000 people in the future in Europe could be practicing, faithful Catholics. Does this shock you? This is not prophesy, but an idea which is extrapolated from numbers, events, observations. Be Catholic, be part of the remnant.








Oh well

There is a giant Woodhouse Toad on my window screen. Not a tree frog, which are kinda cute and have large pads for feet, but an uglier toad.

Here is a photo of the Eastern Grey Tree Frog.

And, a video of the call.





Below is the Woodhouse Toad calling.....


"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in London anymore"



I grew up with the Tree Frog calls and find these comforting...

The toad call is less so...

Postings later today

I shall get back to Manning. I am trying to find housing and a job and am really busy on the phone and net, when it is working well.

Will get back to the Manning book later today.


Another Young Saint

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiara_Badano
Thanks to Wiki for photo and info
Chiara Luce Badano
BornOctober 29, 1971
Sassello
DiedOctober 7, 1990 (aged 18)
Sassello
Honored inRoman Catholic Church
BeatifiedSeptember 25, 2010, Our Lady of Divine Love in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI

Bobcats in The Backyard


I saw two bobcats at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 3rd. A large one and a small one.  As a child, I saw these animals years ago and was surprised to see two here on the farm.

They look like the bottom photo as more red than the above photo. One was a kitten. I would not get too close to the mum tonight.

I saw them climb up a tree and assume they are avoiding the coyotes, which did kill something in the middle of the night...so loud and horrible a sound.


Internet Problems

Will post later today....sorry.

I am in the middle of NO WHERE.


Interesting....


At first glance, Twitter’s typeface choice seems strictly practical in nature. Gotham’s roomier, more relaxed design makes it more comfortable than Helvetica to read on phones and tablets. (Contrary to Apple’s risible announcementyesterday that its upcoming OS X Yosemite will use Helvetica to improve legibility, the typeface isn’t easy to read on small screens.) Gotham is also familiar, having been used for everything from Saturday Night Live’s opening credits to Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. And for a “non-system” font—meaning, a font that’s not prepackaged in a given operating system—Gotham offers a decent ability to be rendered consistently among various platforms.
1

But not all platforms. In fact, maybe more interesting than what Twitter’s new type selection accomplishes is what it leaves out. Namely, most of the scripts used in the countries where it’s growing the fastest.
+

A big drawback to Gotham is that it lacks character sets for Arabic, Cyrillic, Indic, and other major non-Latin writing systems, says Stephen Coles, a typographer and the author of The Anatomy of TypeThat’s despite the fact that these areincreasingly popular on Twitter.

more here 
http://qz.com/216117/twitters-new-typeface-leaves-out-its-fastest-growing-users/

Say a decade of the rosary for each talk or pay on the site



http://www.sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html


Conferences given by Fr. Ripperger in Tulsa:

Link on Fr. Z

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2014/06/short-video-about-power-of-prayer-and-fasting/