A few months ago, when I was in southern Illinois for several months, I lived in a house which belonged to a friend of mine. He was selling the house, as he lived elsewhere and no longer had any need for this place. At the time, I did not realize that the Jesuits had come this far west and south, in a town not too far from where I was living.
For years, members of my friend's family, all good, practicing, orthodox Catholics, enjoyed living in this house. The atmosphere of the building radiated peace and joy. Obviously, the spiritual lives of the members of that family had made that a place where one could sense God's Presence, even in a city which was growing more and more Godless.
This external sense of the Presence of God helped me to pray daily, following my little Benedictine schedule with ease. That the world brought hassles into my life, like the local needed trips to the local restaurant, which we dubbed the "evil Mac's", where young people who dabbled in the occult gathered, or like the neighboring houses owned and dwelt in by those into porn, did not matter as I could shut the door and enter my little chapel and be in the Presence of God.
The exterior Presence of God may be experienced, of course, in every Catholic Church, and in some houses where holy people have lived or do live. Hopefully, many readers experience God's Presence in their own family homes. The creation of domestic churches, that is, holy families, allows God to dwell our midst.
However, I had to leave that little haven and be in a completely different type of situation, where God's Presence had to be perceived in a different manner-in the cell within. When one lives in places where God has been denied entrance, one must find Him within one's own soul.
If you recall my little series on the Indwelling of the Holy Trinity, you will remember that all baptized persons who live in sanctifying grace can find God within. This Indwelling of the Trinity, the interior Presence of God, transcends the experience of evil in particular places, and, even, in particular people.
Last night, I became aware of the God within, the Indwelling of the Trinity, and was able to rest in that Presence in the midst of some persistent and heavy spiritual warfare. God showed me in this situation that I could experience the type of peace anywhere once I was aware of His internal Presence.
This awareness belongs to all of us. This is not a dramatically emotional experience, but a steady peace, and a complete resting in God, without anxiety or stress, even when one finds one's self in the middle of chaos and the disorder of evil.
In the coming days of tribulation, the interior Presence of God will guide us and give us peace in the midst of turmoil and grave sin, as the darkness of evil will become more and more obvious.
I share this moment, which is becoming a way of life for me, a steady resting in the Indwelling of the Trinity, as God is calling His People to this state of the lack of anxiety and stress.
We shall be called upon soon to reach out to those who will not be able to withstand alone the coming onslaught of evil.
Places which exude the exterior Presence of God may become rare, or even, non-existent, in one's immediate areas.
Find the God Within now, and practice the Presence of God so that the Church may be manifested where you live.
And, please keep praying so that I can set up little place like I experienced on the plains of southern Illinois--a little house of prayer and rest for the Church Militant.
btw....What would America be like today if the French has won the Seven Year's War in the States?
Check out this map...https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nouvelle-France_map-en.svg And, some of my Canadian friends claim that their country was founded by a company, the Hudson Bay Company, which has an interesting history.
