http://www.churchmilitant.tv/platform/?today=2014-10-23
...if this is not a working link, check out the date on YouTube.
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Changing Times
Last week, a Catholic man in Malta, told me that he foresees the day in the near-ish future, when churches will be closing here.
The average age of those attending daily Mass is older than I am. Sadly, and there are Masses almost every hour up until 1:00 in the afternoon.
But, the problem has been caused by the Maltese themselves--contraception.
Immigrants flooding in are mostly non-Catholics. This is obvious.
That immigration has undone what the Siege of Malta succeeded in doing is too sad for words.
Catholics have only themselves to blame for closing churches.
It will happen here, as in other places across the West.
The average age of those attending daily Mass is older than I am. Sadly, and there are Masses almost every hour up until 1:00 in the afternoon.
But, the problem has been caused by the Maltese themselves--contraception.
Immigrants flooding in are mostly non-Catholics. This is obvious.
That immigration has undone what the Siege of Malta succeeded in doing is too sad for words.
Catholics have only themselves to blame for closing churches.
It will happen here, as in other places across the West.
From SPUC
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Please join us in a minute's silence on Monday for unborn children
On Monday 27 October, we commemorate the 47th anniversary of Royal Assent given to the Abortion Act by Queen Elizabeth II. Royal Assent is approval of a law passed by a nation’s parliament, given by the constitutional monarch.Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
We will be holding a minute’s silence on Monday, 27 October 2014 (this Monday) at 11.04am (the time when Royal Assent was given) to remember the (over) 8 million unborn babies (including those aborted in Scotland), who have been killed in the womb since the passing of the Abortion Act.
In 2013, 190,800 unborn babies were aborted in England and Wales under the Abortion Act – at least 550 a day, including non-residents. The highest rate of abortion was among women aged 22 years old. 773 abortions was carried out on mothers under the age of 15 and 81% of abortions were carried out on mothers who described themselves as single. 98% of abortions were funded by the NHS including those in private abortion centres such as the BPAS.
These figures demonstrate why the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children exists and why we need to continue to fight for the unborn and for the family, as a whole. More than ever, we see attacks on all sides to destroy the family as it has always been known: one man and one woman, joined together in matrimony in order to raise the children given to them. Absolute respect for all human life from the moment of conception to the last moment before natural death is the overall objective of SPUC.
Many countries, not least those countries which are part of the Commonwealth, look to Britain for leadership on issues concerning the family. Both David Cameron and Ed Miliband have publicly stated that they intend to export same-sex marriage to other countries and Cameron has even said, “British aid should have more strings attached”. What is passed or rejected in Britain concerning the family has international repercussions.
SPUC invites everyone to hold a minute’s silence in honour of the children who will never be born and who will never know what it is to be loved in this life. We also remember the mothers and fathers who have made this tragic mistake which has also damaged them. We honour as well all those mothers and fathers who have withstood enormous pressures and have given their babies the best chance of life by respecting their right to be born.
Final Judgment Part Four
These things are rarely spoken of from the pulpits of either America or Europe, to the detriment of immortal souls.
One should think of death, and the way of perfection forces us to die to self before death, making that final day of giving all to God easier. In fact, daily dying to self is the only way to be purified. And, the only thing which helps one die to self is love, the love of God which destroys self-love.
One can then face both the particular judgement and the last judgement. The vast majority of people in this world do not believe we all shall be judged. The vast majority of people have squashed the natural law in their hearts, ignoring grace and the small Voice of God, preferring the noise of the world.
Contemplating hell must be part of our prayer lives. By looking at the Cross, by meditating on the sufferings of Christ, one can learn the great love of Christ for us, His sacrificial love which moves us to desire Him and heaven.
The Final Judgment can be part of our meditations in the upcoming month of November, the month dedicated to the poor souls in purgatory.
In the journey to heaven, the deciding factor at our particular and last judgment is love, love for God and love for neighbor.
I wrote about this before
http://southernorderspage.blogspot.com/2014/10/is-it-time-for-bishops-priests-and.html
see my comment on this blog...and previous posts on marriage, the state, and persecution....
see my comment on this blog...and previous posts on marriage, the state, and persecution....
Ah, Yes, The Socialist Republic of Illinois
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/10/22/calibration-error-changes-gop-votes-to-dem-in-illinois-county/
The Final Judgment Part Three
from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
V. THE LAST JUDGMENT
1038 The resurrection of all the dead, "of both the just and the unjust,"623 will precede the Last Judgment. This will be "the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear [the Son of man's] voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."624 Then Christ will come "in his glory, and all the angels with him. . . . Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. . . . And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."625
1039 In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare.626 The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life:
- All that the wicked do is recorded, and they do not know. When "our God comes, he does not keep silence.". . . he will turn towards those at his left hand: . . . "I placed my poor little ones on earth for you. I as their head was seated in heaven at the right hand of my Father - but on earth my members were suffering, my members on earth were in need. If you gave anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head. Would that you had known that my little ones were in need when I placed them on earth for you and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works into my treasury. But you have placed nothing in their hands; therefore you have found nothing in my presence."627
1041 The message of the Last Judgment calls men to conversion while God is still giving them "the acceptable time, . . . the day of salvation."629 It inspires a holy fear of God and commits them to the justice of the Kingdom of God. It proclaims the "blessed hope" of the Lord's return, when he will come "to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed."630
*VI. THE HOPE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH
1042 At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign for ever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed:
- The Church . . . will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven, when will come the time of the renewal of all things. At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ.631
1044 In this new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among men.634 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."635
1045 For man, this consummation will be the final realization of the unity of the human race, which God willed from creation and of which the pilgrim Church has been "in the nature of sacrament."636 Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, "the holy city" of God, "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."637 She will not be wounded any longer by sin, stains, self-love, that destroy or wound the earthly community.638 The beatific vision, in which God opens himself in an inexhaustible way to the elect, will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.
1046 For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man:
- For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God . . . in hope because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. . . . We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.639
1048 "We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men."641
1049 "Far from diminishing our concern to develop this earth, the expectancy of a new earth should spur us on, for it is here that the body of a new human family grows, foreshadowing in some way the age which is to come. That is why, although we must be careful to distinguish earthly progress clearly from the increase of the kingdom of Christ, such progress is of vital concern to the kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better ordering of human society."642
1050 "When we have spread on earth the fruits of our nature and our enterprise . . . according to the command of the Lord and in his Spirit, we will find them once again, cleansed this time from the stain of sin, illuminated and transfigured, when Christ presents to his Father an eternal and universal kingdom."643 God will then be "all in all" in eternal life:644
- True and subsistent life consists in this: the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, pouring out his heavenly gifts on all things without exception. Thanks to his mercy, we too, men that we are, have received the inalienable promise of eternal life.645
Final Judgment Part Two
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| thnaks to wiki |
Those who are universalists, believing that all men are saved, ignore the long history of teaching in t the Church regarding the Final Judgment.
How ridiculous for the Church to teach of Christ coming as Judge is all are saved anyway.
No, the good will be rewarded and the bad punished as natural and supernatural consequences for sins.
From Christ's Own words down to the present time, Catholics have held the Final Judgment as part of our basic belief. We cannot pick and choose what is in the Creed.
It is give to Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity to judge the living and the dead, (seen here rising from the dead as the last trumpet), because He is Victor over death and sin.
The Resurrection is not only a sign of our own resurrection but that of the Final Judgment.
To be continued...
The Final Judgment Part One
A reader asked me to share Catholic teaching on the Final Judgment.
I have written many, many times on the particular judgment, but not on the General or Final Judgment.
Having sand in my eyes reminds me that we are dust and to dust we shall return. But, on the Last Day, when Christ returns as King in victory over the world and satan, we shall be raised up in our bodies. Our bodies join us forever in heaven or hell.
The General, Last, or Final Judgment is in the Creed, which we say weekly at Mass and daily in the rosary.
Christ will come and judge all of us personally publicly, in our second judgment. As explained here on this blog before, our particular judgment happens at death, immediately.
Let me start with the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Few truths are more often or more clearly proclaimed in Scripture than that of the general judgment. To it theprophets of the Old Testament refer when they speak of the "Day of the Lord" (Joel 3:4; Ezekiel 13:5; Isaiah 2:12), in which the nations will be summoned to judgment. In the New Testament the second Parusia, or coming of Christ as Judge of the world, is an oft-repeated doctrine. The Saviour Himself not only foretells the event but graphically portrays its circumstances (Matthew 24:27 sqq.; 25:31 sqq.). The Apostles give a most prominent place to this doctrine in their preaching (Acts 10:42; 17:31) and writings (Romans 2:5-16; 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; James 5:7). Besides the name Parusia (parousia), or Advent (1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:19), the Second Coming is also called Epiphany, epiphaneia, or Appearance (2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13), and Apocalypse (apokalypsis), or Revelation (2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Peter 4:13). The time of the Second Coming is spoken of as "that Day" (2 Timothy 4:8), "the day of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 5:2), "the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:6 and 2:16), "the day of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:30), "the last day" (John 6:39-40).
This Scripture is explained by the Fathers of the Church and Doctors of Church clearly.
The belief in the general judgment has prevailed at all times and in all places within the Church. It is contained as an article of faith in all the ancient creeds: "He ascended into heaven. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead" (Apostles' Creed). He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead" (Nicene Creed). "From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead, at whose coming all men must rise with their bodies and are to render an account of their deeds" (Athanasian Creed)......Patristic testimony to this dogma is clear and unanimous.We are judged publicly as we sinned against God, His Church and all people.
But there are some signs which will come before the General or Final Judgment according to the Church Fathers.
One, the Jews on earth will be converted to Christ. This is stated by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans 11:25-26.
Two, the return of two men who never died, Enoch and Elijah as also seen in the oldest tradition of the Church. Malachi 4:5-6; Sirach 48:10; Matthew 17:11.
Three, the vast majority of Christians leaving in apostasy leaving a remnant Church.
Four, a time of horrible, physical tribulation, such as world-wide calamities, including a miraculous one of God's doing.
Five, a reign of the Anti-Christ,
Six, the returning in Glory of Christ and, seven, the resurrection of all from the dead.
These are all part of the Teaching Magisterium of the Church. What we cannot do is pretend we know the exact time, as Christ Himself said that even the Son of Man was not told this by the Father. False prophets give specific times, but we can read some signs. We are only coming into the last stage of persecution now.
When the Disciples asked the Saviour: "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again thekingdom to Israel?" He answered: "It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power" (Acts 1:6-7). The uncertainty of the day of judgment is continually urged by Christ and theApostles as an incentive to vigilance. The day of the Lord will come "as a thief" (Matthew 24:42-43), like lightning suddenly appearing (Matthew 24:27), like a snare (Luke 21:34), as the Deluge (Matthew 24:37). CE
Christ will come as judge. Here is the CE again:
(John 5:26-27). At the Second Coming Christ will appear in the heavens, seated on a cloud and surrounded by the angelic hosts (Matthew 16:27; 24:30; 25:31). The angels will minister to the Judge by bringing all before Him (Matthew 24:31). The elect will aid Christ in a judicial capacity (1 Corinthians 6:2). The lives of the just will in themselves be a condemnation of the wicked (Matthew 21:41), whose punishment theywill publicly approve. But the Apostles will be judges of the world in a sense yet more exact, for the promise that they shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28) seems to imply a real participation in judicial authority. According to a very probable opinion, this prerogative is extended to all who have faithfully fulfilled the counsels of the Gospel (Matthew 19:27-28). Nothing certain is known as to the manner in which this delegated authority will be exercised. St. Thomas conjectures that the greater saints will make known the sentence of Christ to others (Supplement 88:2)
One translation of the Athanasian Creed reads thus:
At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
Justice will be seen and done. Demons, including satan, are already judged, making the Final Judgment specifically a time for the judgment of the entire human race. By Divine Illumination, something we can experience now is the purification stages, in order to get rid of all sin and imperfections, we shall see our failings, secret sins, and join with Christ and the Apostles in judging ourselves.
Here is the entirety of Chapter Two of Romans:
[1] Wherefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou dost the same things which thou judgest. [2]For we know that the judgment of God is, according to truth, against them that do such things.[3] And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them who do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and patience, and longsuffering? Knowest thou not, that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance? [5] But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up to thyself wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the just judgment of God.
[6] Who will render to every man according to his works. [7] To them indeed, who according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life: [8] But to them that are contentious, and who obey not the truth, but give credit to iniquity, wrath and indignation. [9]Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek. [10] But glory, and honour, and peace to every one that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[11] For there is no respect of persons with God. [12] For whosoever have sinned without the law, shall perish without the law; and whosoever have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. [13] For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these having not the law are a law to themselves: [15] Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing, or also defending one another,
[16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.[17] But if thou art called a Jew and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, [18] And knowest his will, and approvest the more profitable things, being instructed by the law, [19] Art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, [20] An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.
[21] Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest: [22] Thou that sayest, men should not commit adultery, committest adultery: thou that abhorrest idols, committest sacrilege: [23] Thou that makest thy boast of the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest God. [24] (For the name of God through you is blasphemed among the Gentiles, as it is written.) [25] Circumcision profiteth indeed, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
[26] If, then, the uncircumcised keep the justices of the law, shall not this uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? [27] And shall not that which by nature is uncircumcision, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? [28] For it is not he is a Jew, who is so outwardly; nor is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh:[29] But he is a Jew, that is one inwardly; and the circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
to be continued....
Reading My Blog
Again, I am responding to a reader who has not read the over 700 postings on this blog on perfection. As seen in the comments, one said one is not a saint until death.
This is absolutely wrong.
A canonized saint is someone who the Church publicly recognizes as having been a saint during their life on earth.
Reasons for becoming perfect to the level to which one is called is to build up the Body of Christ, give glory to God and become the person God has called one to be.
This happens now, not after death. Those who die imperfect are not saints, but go to purgatory.
Purgation on earth has been seen in the lives of the saints, such as St. John Paul II, whose public suffering of infirmity in old age obviously was his purgation. For such a strong and virile man to experience long years of physical suffering was definitely his time of purification.
His closest companions saw this in him-the glory of God waxing as his strength waned.
This false idea that we cannot find perfection on earth has undermined the Church's role in the world.
This is one reason why we have a spiritual leadership crisis. Too many priests, bishops and cardinals have not pursued personal holiness.
They have not cooperated with grace. And, so the Church is weaker for this lack of holiness.
I suggest readers who are making comments on sainthood go back and read the six perfection series or just buy Garrigou-Lagrange's books on providence, predestination and the spiritual ages.
We have all the knowledge we need in order to become saints, and to be honest, the saints will be the remnant, as others will fall away. Being a faithful Catholic will get harder and harder.
Thus, the reason for my long series on perfection posts.....
This is absolutely wrong.
A canonized saint is someone who the Church publicly recognizes as having been a saint during their life on earth.
Reasons for becoming perfect to the level to which one is called is to build up the Body of Christ, give glory to God and become the person God has called one to be.
This happens now, not after death. Those who die imperfect are not saints, but go to purgatory.
Purgation on earth has been seen in the lives of the saints, such as St. John Paul II, whose public suffering of infirmity in old age obviously was his purgation. For such a strong and virile man to experience long years of physical suffering was definitely his time of purification.
His closest companions saw this in him-the glory of God waxing as his strength waned.
This false idea that we cannot find perfection on earth has undermined the Church's role in the world.
This is one reason why we have a spiritual leadership crisis. Too many priests, bishops and cardinals have not pursued personal holiness.
They have not cooperated with grace. And, so the Church is weaker for this lack of holiness.
I suggest readers who are making comments on sainthood go back and read the six perfection series or just buy Garrigou-Lagrange's books on providence, predestination and the spiritual ages.
We have all the knowledge we need in order to become saints, and to be honest, the saints will be the remnant, as others will fall away. Being a faithful Catholic will get harder and harder.
Thus, the reason for my long series on perfection posts.....
My day today
| Warnings: | The Northwest wind will locally reach gale force 8 at times. |
| General Situation: | A trough of low pressure over the Balkans extending towards the Central Mediterranean and Libya is moving easterly. |
| Weather: | Partly to rather cloudy and with the possibility of some isolated showers by evening |
| Visibility: | Generally good |
| Wind: | Northwest force 5 to 6 locally force 6 to 7 |
| Sea: | Very rough at first becoming rough |
| Swell: | Moderate Northwest becoming low to moderate |
| Sea Temperature: | 25 °C |