Deceit: The Epidemic in America

A strange poem, incorrectly attributed to William Blake, and of an unknown writer gives the source of a popular child's refrain--"liar, liar, pants on fire".

 The Liar

Deceiver, dissembler

Your trousers are alight

From what pole or gallows

Shall they dangle in the night?

 

When I asked of your career

Why did you have to kick my rear

With that stinking lie of thine

Proclaiming that you owned a mine?

 

When you asked to borrow my stallion

To visit a nearby-moored galleon

How could I ever know that you

Intended only to turn him into glue?

 

What red devil of mendacity

Grips your soul with such tenacity?

Will one you cruelly shower with lies

Put a pistol ball between your eyes?

 

What infernal serpent

Has lent you his forked tongue?

From what pit of foul deceit

Are all these whoppers sprung?

 

Deceiver, dissembler

Your trousers are alight

From what pole or gallows

Do they dangle in the night?

One the other hand, we have this sublime truth from Our Lord Himself.

John 14:6 Douay-Rheims

6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.

This passage from Scripture is not merely a strong statement of the Identity of Christ, as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but a clarion call to choose Him over deceit and eternal death. If Christ is the Truth, and He is, the Antichrist will be the Deceiver. Get ready.

People comment almost daily about the political leaders who have consistently lied to the public about foreign affairs, finances, even personal sins, which cannot be hidden and should not, in a public person's life.

People talk to me about betrayal in their families, children who lie, adult children who lie and, tragically, husbands and wives who live in various levels of deceit. When married couples lie to each other, this symptom of the complete breakdown of the trust in marriage leads to the inevitable break-up,

The world, and America face an enemy which does not consider lying to their enemies as a sin, as in their religious code, one may do so.

I have been told by some people "that everyone lies". Of course, this is not true. Many good Christians do not lie. Some good "nones" do not lie. However, this culture of deceit, which includes big business, as well as the kid on the block, seems to have been created almost overnight.

Perhaps one can blame the mad pursuit of money and status. Perhaps one can blame advertising, which is based on deceit. Perhaps one can blame the "texting culture", which fudges communication.

Or, perhaps we forget who is the Father of Lies and has managed, rather succinctly to undermine society and a civilization which must have trust in commerce and relationships as a basis for normal interactions.

I found these statistics, which is a way, do not surprise me, but show the prevalence of deceit in our culture. From here.

The Most Honest Cities for Online Dating

MEN
1. Houston
2. Phoenix
3. Boston
4. Pittsburgh
5. Chicago

WOMEN
1. Charlotte
2. Houston
3. Minneapolis
4. Seattle
5. Phoenix
The Least Honest Cities for Online Dating

MEN
1. Washington D.C. (Career & Education) 37%
2. San Francisco (Career & Money Earned) 35%
3. New York (Everything) 34%
4. Philadelphia (Height & Money Earned) 33%
5. Miami (Relationship Status & Height) 31%

WOMEN
1. Las Vegas (Age & Career) 39%
2. Washington D.C. (Career & Education) 37%
3. Atlanta (Age & Weight) 36%
4. Los Angeles (Age & Weight) 35%
5. New York (Age & Career) 33%

Scary, and I had a friend years ago who had to take out a restraining order on a man from a Catholic dating website. His life consisted of a huge spider's web of lies, including hiding a violent temperament.

Deceit is born in the desire not to suffer, to avoid suffering. Deceit denies Providence. Deceit covers other sins, like greed, gluttony, adultery, stealing, fornication, and contraception. When life is denied, in abortion and euthanasia, this denial comes from the deceit that God is God and is in charge of life, from conception to natural death.

But the real source of lying, the deep root of small and large lies, is self-deceit. When one refuses to face one's sins, when one refuses to admit evil in one's own soul, the pattern of deceit becomes a habit.

Some of us know compulsive liars. Some of us know those who always "get a deal" by lying or doing underhand business deals.  Some of us know those who lie about their own state of grace, thinking they will get to heaven without repentance or penance. Some of us know men and women who persist in unhealthy, even abusive relationships, because they lie about their boyfriend or girlfriend "changing" after marriage. The pursuit of security or "love" creates a life of deceit.

Now, with the recent SCOTUS decision, lying has been enshrined into law, a false law contrary to God's natural and revealed law.  This huge unnatural lie permeates the family lives of so many, that lies will not be able to be ignored to the cost of individual souls. People will go to hell not only for lying about God's perfect plan for humans and the real meaning of marriage, but for tolerating evil, which is a lie against conscience.

Tolerating evil is based on deceit, coupled with a fear of rejection. I know too many families which tolerate the evil of fornication, adultery, and sodomy in their families, creating an atmosphere of lies, setting up an entire false structure of family unity and security.

Christ instructs us plainly as to what Truth is--Himself, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

When we lie, we reject Christ, choosing other gods, such as family members, or status, or security.

One of the greatest lies has to do with the reality of "love". Love is not sex, or passion, or lust.

We cannot label something love which is impure, immoral, unnatural.

But, the greatest lie is the denial of God being God. Idolatry of any kind comes from self-deceit.

The other day, I posted an article about a bishop who may go to prison for up to six years for upholding Church teaching regarding ssm in his diocese in Switzerland.

What struck me most in that article was the great lie that the Bible truths cannot be applied to daily life. Can you imagine laws of this land and in Europe no longer being based on Biblical truths, on Revelation? Can you imagine a life lived without Bibles, and the trust in God's Own Word?

Recall this statement, 

The bishop had crossed a “red line,” said the head of Pink Cross, in a statement reported by Newsweek. “We believe in freedom of expression, and taking quotes from the bible is fine. But then he said the words should be applied to real life, which is the equivalent of calling for the death penalty for gay people. We were worried about that. He is the leader of a big church, and he was calling for people to follow his words, and we thought this could be dangerous.”

Two lies can be spotted here. The first is that the passage quoted called for the death of homosexual people; the second is that the Bible cannot be used to apply to life.

See how far Western culture has fallen into deceit?

If one is not faithful in small things, one cannot be faithful in large things. Those who grew up lying, or fell into deceit through repeated sin, must heed Christ's words.

Luke 16:10-12 Douay-Rheims

10 He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater.

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon; who will trust you with that which is the true?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's; who will give you that which is your own?

Teach your children to be honest. Do not think that deceit is a lesser sin. It comes out of the damned spirit, the Father of Lies. Christ addressed those living in lies, as those in the religious system had created a false religion, far from the deep spirituality of the Revelation of the Old Testament.

May God preserve us from such hypocrisy.

John 8:44 Douay-Rheims 

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

Lying about one's spiritual life has to be the worst symptom of deep-seated deceit. Some think that they are holier than they are because they act holy, do good works, or attend Sunday, even daily Mass.

Years ago, I had to speak with a priest about my trying to understand how a woman I know who was embezzling money, (I tried to tell her board members of her company as I discovered this, as well as another woman with whom I was working),  I could not understand how this woman could go to daily Mass, receive Christ, and continue her stealing and misuse of funds. Several of us tried to convince those who ran the company that this was happening. They did not want to admit this, as the people were all "friends" as well as business partners.

The priest, from the FSSP congregation, told me that one does not receive grace if one receives Communion unworthily. I was struck by the level of deceit, not only in this woman, but in those who refused to admit what she was doing. Some did come to the truth later, after I left the company, but they did not press charges. Fear kept them from doing so. Fear and the fact that they had chosen to live in self-deceit for years concerning this problem involving their friend kept the lie going. They would have had to face repentance for not listening to me and others. who brought this sin to their attention. One person was fired, and two of us resigned rather than take part in this charade.

Fear of repercussions makes people accept deceit. I do not mind telling people that I was a whistleblower years ago, and acted honestly, which interfered with and finally ended an academic career. Before I brought a serious situation to light, some of my friends told me to be quiet and not bring the evil thing to light. However, the situation was serious, very, and I suffered the consequences of not being able to continue in my position, being forced out, not being protected by those in authority who said they would do so.

I could not have lived with myself for overlooking a dangerous situation for students.  And, I am convinced that if more people were willing to suffer for the truth, evil would vanish from this land. But, no, people allow evil to grow and grow and grow. They cooperate with evil.

There is no doubt that God will judge us for complicity with evil.

When we lie, or ignore others lies, reparation has to be made. God will have His Justice done. I have seen this in my own life as well, that personal purgation involves facing one's sins not only of the day, but of the past. Thank God if He lets you be purged now, in this world, accepting your purgatory not only for your own sake, but for the sake of the Church. Purgation brings self-knowledge and truth into one's own life and into the society around one.

The Holocaust happened because people were complicit with evil, not ignorant, but willing to either turn a blind eye, or tolerate, or even support great evil. This type of persecution, but against Catholics, will happen for the same reasons--cowardice, fear, and deceit.

Cowardice and fear allow deceit to flourish.  We allow lying to flourish by compromise and false tolerance.  A civilization, a culture, a family, a marriage, a friendship, cannot endure in deceit. Our nation will not endure, lying about Who is God and what are His eternal laws.

When the Bible is attacked, deceit has been allowed to have the upper hand. 

The Church, even you, even me, will be persecuted for upholding the Truth.

But, being that strong involves the daily encounter with one;s own sins. Self-knowledge marks the saint.

Choices

American Catholics must begin to make serious choices concerning daily life. We are living in such evil times, satan is trying to destroy the Church, and we know we are in a crisis of Faith. Therefore, to pretend that life is the same as it was in our childhood must be a believing a lie which is one of the greatest victories of the great deceiver, satan.

None of us can be living as if we are not on the edge of one of the greatest persecutions coming to the Church across the Western world. 

No one likes to suffer, but we all who are living, will suffer, terribly. For years, I have written about the American desire for comfort only. I have written about the need for purification and purgation of all of our sins, predominant fault, and even concupiscence. 

Christ redeemed the world in suffering. We are all called, now. to some type of redemptive suffering.

If Catholics are not thinking of reparation for horrible sins, which we hear about daily in the media, and the great paganism, which has now has been accepted into law in our country, they are living a lie.

We need to help each other with reality therapy, and getting ready for all the things about which I have written on this blog and elsewhere.

We needed to make choices-to prepare spiritually, and perhaps, to prepare physically, for persecution.

We also need to learn prudence, to become more and more hidden, yet deep in our Faith.

I pray for all my readers to become saints. Pray for me to become a saint.

May I add that some souls cannot be won except by suffering, In the suffering to come, join with Christ in order to save souls.

Scapegoating

One of the marks of saints had been that they were balanced in their mental health. Saints do not fall into paranoia, or hatred, or fear.

They manage to cooperate with grace. They manage to respond in love in all situations.

What one sees in times of crisis, such as in the history of Nazi Germany, or even that of the Soviet Union, are the hidden sins and tendencies of people coming to the fore. In other words, because they have not dealt with their own sins, or have not dealt with the predominant fault, they fall into great sins of compromise, deceit, even betrayal.

Paranoia stops love. One cannot love others, or even God properly if one fears other people. Sometimes this fear causes great pain, and the roots may be abuse, so that people default to defensive positions, even lying.

A great priest said once that lying is the running away of suffering. If one told the truth in a crisis situation, one may suffer certain consequences. One may lose a job, or even experience violence from a spouse, or alienate so-called friends because of the truth being said.

Fears actually harm thinking. One cannot think clearly or logically if one is experiencing craven fear.

What was seen in these two historical times of tyranny were people making very bad decisions, even betraying friends, out of fear, paranoia, or hatred. The Germans cooperated with the killing of the Jews out of fear, paranoia, or hatred.

Thousands of martyrs died in England, in Mexico, in China, because of fear, paranoia, or hatred. If one is not pursuing purity of heart and mind, one can easily fall into habits of sins which lead to the sin of Judas, betrayal of the innocence.

Sometimes people sin against others in order to cover up their own sins, which they are afraid would come to light if defensive measures were not put into place to protect their own status in a community. If any readers have worked in tense and paranoid offices, where people only cared about their own advancement, these readers understand perfectly how a fear culture can be created quickly.

Many years ago, for a while, I worked in a government office which was dominated by fear. This fear culture was so inequitous that the manager had spies who reported to him about other people in the office. She was paranoid because she was a compulsive liar and needed to keep on top of her web of lies. Sadly, she found others to cooperate in keeping others "in place" within this fear culture.

We are heading into such a culture now in America. Fear, paranoia and hatred will stalk the faithful Catholics, even to their death.

I have written about this before, as in a tyranny and in times of war or financial crisis, scapegoats have to be found to blame for the lack of national unity.

Now that paganism is the official religion of America, the Christians will naturally be these scapegoats, blamed for a lack of peace and harmony in a so-called tolerant nation.

Balance only comes with reason and faith. With the use of reason and without faith, men and woman default to fear, paranoia and hatred.

There is no middle ground.

Narcissists are particularly vulnerable to creating scapegoats in order to protect their grand, false views of themselves.  They will do anything to protect their secret overblown idea of themselves in order to survive an outburst of truth.

The narcissist needs to put others down in order to keep up the false image of themselves which they honestly believe is true. When narcissists rule nations or even a group of nations, those who go against them in any way are labelled trouble-makers, even terrorists.

Of course, this attitude reveals a lack of reason, rational thinking and balance.

Get ready for a huge lack of balance. Get ready for the three-pronged attack against the one, true, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

Fear, paranoia, and hatred will have their day, at least for awhile, as God allows havoc for the sake of souls.

Pray to be rid of hidden sins and the predominant fault so that you do not suddenly default to the great sins of compromise, abuse, and betrayal. There, but for the grace of God, go anyone of us.

If this post does not convince you of what is coming, you might want to read these:

Many Catholics Will Fall Away in Persecution

27 Aug 2013

Examples of subjective and objective thinking in three minutes in this video. I am convinced, and in great grief, at the realization that many Catholics will fall away and join those against the good orthodox Catholics for one ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: What Some Catholics Do Not Understand ...

23 Jul 2013

Many younger Catholics understand we are headed for real persecution. Those who do not can read my previous posts on the stages of such persecution. We are in the beginning of the last stage. But, many Catholics think ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Why The Church Will Be Persecuted

17 Jan 2015

We are and shall be persecuted because we first of all belong to the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church; for those of us who take this seriously, we shall be set aside as outsiders. It has all happened before and is ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Persecution of Catholics and other ...

26 Nov 2012

Persecution of Catholics and other Christians steady and increasing.... Posted by Supertradmum. http://www.persecution.org/. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in these places. Pray for the media of all Western countries to stop ignoring Christian persecution and calling it "sectarian violence". Pray. ...... Perfection Series Will Continue on Wednesday · Errors of Doctrine Found in Conversations with Tra... Persecution of Catholics and other Christians stea.

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Try again, stages four and five of persecution

01 Feb 2013

I know this. Adoption agencies in England and in the US, which will not allow same-sex couples to adopt, and rightly so. 33% of the hospitals in the States are Catholic. They will go out of business or go under secular control.

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Nuns in Persecution Part Four

01 Mar 2014

The first of two of the reasons why I am posting this series on recusant nuns rest in my conviction that unless there are relationships among Catholics, some type of Catholic community, the Faith will die in many areas.

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Repeat Posts on Why Persecution and Stages Of

03 Jul 2015

There are NO safe havens. One may be able to withstand evil in an excellent Catholic community for awhile, but persecution will come. First, the established Church will be more openly attacked, then priests, nuns, sisters and ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Why Persecution? Why Tribulation?

18 Nov 2014

Since 2007, I have written about the coming persecution of real Catholics. One can follow the tags. Here is one post. http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2012/11/what-to-do-after-losing-war.html. I have also ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Persecution Watch 1,003

06 Feb 2015

Noting that Manhattan College's own admission brochure does not even include any reference to the Catholic Church or Catholicism, the NLRB issued a 26-page report which concluded that the college cannot claim a ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: The Forced Acceptance of Sin

10 Apr 2014

Catholic schools and Catholic churches must not accept government money. I have said this for years. The Catholic Church will be a remnant. Priests will disappear. I have written about this on this blog on the two postings on false marriages. As one priest said in England at Mass, the passing of the ... change to life of all people, all Catholics. Are you ready? Are you getting you children ready for the onslaught of evil and the great persecution of the organized Church?

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Nuns in Persecution Part Two

01 Mar 2014

I have been researching the number of women who left England in order to become nuns on the continent, owing to the persecution of the Catholic Church in Great Britain. ... Terry, thanks and maybe we can meet someday.

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Persecution Review

07 Oct 2014

Many younger Catholics understand we are headed for real persecution. Those who do not can read my previous posts on the stages of such persecution. We are in the beginning of the last stage. But, many Catholics think .

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: New Series This Week-February 24, 303

02 Feb 2014

This series will be called "February 24, 303." This was the day which witnessed the largest and worst persecution of Catholics in Rome, called after Diocletian asked the Oracle of Apollo approval for such an empire-wide ruling ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: The Persecution Stage LAST

06 Oct 2014

Persecution for Catholics, dioceses, clergy, bishops, cardinals in America beginning of the last stage. ... Yes the persecution stage has already stated, with business that will not make a wedding cake as a example. All we can ...

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

Etheldredasplace: Thoughts on St. Stephen Part One

26 Dec 2014

As we know, midwives and, perhaps doctors in England who are Catholic will be forced to leave their professions. In America, some people have had to shut down private businesses of photography, baking and catering in order to uphold their Catholic identity. The problem with too many Catholics is that they are willing to compromise. I see it ... I have written about persecution dozens of times, but, today, St. Stephen reminds us that it can happen anywhere, quickly.

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/

At Wit's End

Those who are called to be prophets in the world, and a good priest last week told me I was one, which I have known since 1972, frequently complain to God for several reasons.

The most prevalent reason for a prophet's complaints is the dullness of the people who simply are not listening. My long-term readers will remember all my ostrich postings of the last several years.

Since I have been back in the Midwest, it has been my complaint to God that people just do not want to hear anything about the reality of the chaos of our world and in the Church. I am living in a part of America where the god Mammon is adored above all other gods. Gross consumerism runs peoples' lives. Buying and selling seems to be an addiction, and the materialistic philosophy which underpins consumerism, that this world is all that there is, (the spiritual world is ignored), seems the main impetus for daily decisions.

Today, I have been at my wit's end. Women who go to daily Mass do not follow Catholic news. They admit it. They did not know about the Satanic statue, or the new curriculum, or the law-suit pending in Georgia against the Catholic school.

The men do not want to talk about these things, either. They talk about baseball, football, and fishing.

The women only want to talk about food, vacations, and social activities. If one tries to move the conversation to serious matters, people simply move away.

Why? Are people afraid and hiding from the truth because they lack faith in God? Why do they not want to get ready for the hard times?

To this day, I have not heard a sermon about the ssm decision in my parish. I am switching parishes.

Not one word on the Synod, not one word on the growing evil around us, not one word about the growing threat to religious freedom.

One of my friend's went to a pastor who has yet to refer to the SCOTUS decision and asked him why he has not said anything. His reply was so vague that she could not believe his apathy. "The bishops statement was in the local Catholic paper." Actually, it was not mentioned in the Catholic paper at all.

Another priest told her that if he brought this up, people would walk out of Mass.

Those Catholics, including priests, who refuse to understand what is happening around us will not be prepared for the real onslaught of evil to come upon us soon.

I predict at least one priest will be in jail by the end of this year because of the new amendment to the Constitution.

Jeremiah was frustrated and at his wit's end, as one sees in his words taken down by Baruch. And, he was persecuted for speaking the truth to his people.

Jeremiah 38:1-6 Douay-Rheims 

38 Now Saphatias the son of Mathan, and Gedelias the son of Phassur, and Juchal the son of Selemias, and Phassur the son of Melchias heard the words that Jeremias spoke to all the people, saying:

2 Thus saith the Lord: Whosoever shall remain in this city, shall die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: but he that shall go forth to the Chaldeans, shall live, and his life shall be safe, and he shall live.

3 Thus saith the Lord: This city shall surely be delivered into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.

4 And the princes said to the king: We beseech thee that this man may be put to death: for on purpose he weakeneth the hands of the men of war, that remain in this city, and the hands of the people, speaking to them according to these words: for this man seeketh not peace to this people, but evil.

5 And king Sedecias said: Behold he is in your hands: for it is not lawful for the king to deny you any thing.

6 Then they took Jeremias and cast him into the dungeon of Melchias the son of Amelech, which was in the entry of the prison: and they let down Jeremias by ropes into the dungeon, wherein there was no water, but mire. And Jeremias sunk into the mire.

Daily, I see the blindness, willful blindness, of those Catholics who just think life will go on as it has before a month ago.

No.

No.

No.

Part of my problem is that I do not have people around me daily who understand the depth of the evil unleashed upon our nation. I have a few friends close by who understand, but they do not have time to pray together and have their own families. I need to pray more and do more penance.

I repeat the prophecy of Our Lady in Akita, an approved apparition of our times, just to console myself that what I see coming is, indeed, dire, and needing penance.

If I tell people I fast or do penance, I am accused of being fanatical and extreme.

Without prayer and penance, most people living today will go to hell. We faithful Catholics must become more committed to deep prayer, and real penances.

People just do not "get it".

End of my complaint for the day...Here are Mary's words from Akita.

“Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with My Son, for souls who will repair, by their suffering and their poverty, for the sinners and ingrates.

“In order that the world might know His anger, the Heavenly Father is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind. With My Son, I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him and form a cohort of victim souls.

“Prayer, penance, and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger. I desire this also from your community, that it love poverty, that it sanctify itself and pray in reparation for the ingratitude and outrages of so many men. Recite the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist with awareness of its meaning; put it into practice: offer (whatever God may send) in reparation for sins. Let each one endeavour, according to her capacity and position, to offer herself entirely to the Lord.

“Even in a secular institute, prayer is necessary. Already souls who wish to pray are on the way to being gathered. Without attaching too much attention to the form, be faithful and fervent in prayer to console the Master.”

“If men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the Bishops and the priests.

“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see Cardinals opposing Cardinals, Bishops against other Bishops. The priests who venerate Me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.

“The demon will be especially implacable against the souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of My sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will no longer be pardon for them.

“...Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able to still save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in Me will be saved.”

Lamentations 1 Douay-Rheims

1 Aleph. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow: the princes of provinces made tributary!

2 Beth. Weeping she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies.

3 Ghimel. Juda hath removed her dwelling place because of her affliction, and the greatness of her bondage: she hath dwelt among the nations, and she hath found no rest: all her persecutors have taken her in the midst of straits.

4 Daleth. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come to the solemn feast: all her gates are broken down: her priests sigh: her virgins are in affliction, and she is oppressed with bitterness.

5 He. Her adversaries are become her lords, her enemies are enriched: because the Lord hath spoken against her for the multitude of her iniquities: her children are led into captivity: before the face of the oppressor.

6 Vau. And from the daughter of Sion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like rams that find no pastures: and they are gone away without strength before the face of the pursuer.

7 Zain. Jerusalem hath remembered the days of her affliction, and prevarication of all her desirable things which she had from the days of old, when her people fell in the enemy's hand, and there was no helper: the enemies have seen her, and have mocked at her sabbaths.

8 Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore is she become unstable: all that honoured her have despised her, because they have seen her shame: but she sighed and turned backward.

9 Teth. Her filthiness is on her feet, and she hath not remembered her end: she is wonderfully cast down, not having a comforter: behold, O Lord, my affliction, because the enemy is lifted up.

10 Jod. The enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things: for she hath seen the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, of whom thou gavest commandment that they should not enter into thy church.

11 Caph. All her people sigh, they seek bread: they have given all their precious things for food to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile.

12 Lamed. O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the Lord spoke in the day of his fierce anger.

13 Mem. From above he hath sent fire into my bones, and hath chastised me: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate, wasted with sorrow all the day long.

14 Nun. The yoke of my iniquities hath watched: they are folded together in his hand, and put upon my neck: my strength is weakened: the Lord hath delivered me into a hand out of which I am not able to rise.

15 Samech. The Lord hath taken away all my mighty men out of the midst of me: he hath called against me the time, to destroy my chosen men: the Lord hath trodden the winepress for the virgin daughter of Juda.

16 Ain. Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water: because the comforter, the relief of my soul, is far from me: my children are desolate because the enemy hath prevailed.

17 Phe. Sion hath spread forth her hands, there is none to comfort her: the Lord hath commanded against Jacob, his enemies are round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

18 Sade. The Lord is just, for I have provoked his mouth to wrath: hear, I pray you, all ye people, and see my sorrow: my virgins, and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 Coph. I called for my friends, but they deceived me: my priests and my ancients pined away in the city: while they sought their food, to relieve their souls.

20 Res. Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress, my bowels are troubled: my heart is turned within me, for I am full of bitterness: abroad the sword destroyeth, and at home there is death alike.

21 Sin. They have heard that I sigh, and there is none to comfort me: all my enemies have heard of my evil, they have rejoiced that thou hast done it: thou hast brought a day of consolation, and they shall be like unto me.

22 Thau. Let all their evil be present before thee: and make vintage of them, as thou hast made vintage of me for all my iniquities: for my sighs are many, and my heart is sorrowful.

Count It All Joy

Romans 5:3-10

3 And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience trial; and trial hope;

5 And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.

6 For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly?

7 For scarce for a just man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his charity towards us; because when as yet we were sinners, according to the time,

9 Christ died for us; much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him. 

A friend of mine and I had an amazing experience. 
We actually had an evening last night of "counting it all joy".  

After a day of tremendous malice and hatred from a group of people who support ssm, we went to his home after a late Mass, ate, and talked about Jesus for an hour. Then, we realized how happy we were, laughing and almost crying for joy because, as my friend said, God found us worthy enough to suffer for His Truth.

The ones who were tormenting my friend and I were miserable during the hours of this encounter. but my friend kept his head, was rational, while I phoned my "prayer team" (thanks, team), and then we went to Mass together.

As the day ended in this unexpected joy, we realized how fortunate we were to be resting in grace.

I am still smiling hours later....

Joy comes from love of Christ, and when we put Him and His Church first, joy follows, even through the pain of hostility.

Peace, joy, rest....the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church Militant.

Well, it has begun

Several families I know have been torn apart by the choices people in them, have made, are making, and talk about in groups...since the ssm ruling.

Some of these breaks began at parties on July 4th. I did not go to a party. I prayed and did mortification that day, as did some other readers and friends of mine.

For some who went to July 4th parties, the subject of ssm and marriage in general was raised by those who support the new amendment to the Constitution.

Some comments shared with me show how the attitude which will lead to persecution is ramping up.

"The Catholic Church is wrong."

"How can you be against the Constitution?"

"How can you be so unloving against couples who love each other?"

"We need more love in the world, not less." (Referring to ssm.)

"You are pushing your morality on us." (Ironic--it is the other way around.)

"How can you be so judgmental?"

"The Catholic Church is wicked." (The good Catholic who heard this could not believe what he had heard.)

And so on...

All these things were spoken to various family members across the United States, reported to me by friends, who are completely isolated now in their own families, and are experiencing real persecution and isolation in their families. This was inevitable. Constitution vs. the Church. Idolatry of the State vs. Faithfulness to Rome. We only have to think of SS. John Fisher and Thomas More.

One man told me recently that he is grateful for the opportunity to speak clearly the Truth. He said it makes him stronger. Interesting.

Matthew 10:34-42

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Future

http://www.afr.com/business/agriculture/billionaires-beef-up-in-bush-20150710-gi8qlk

The more I read about the shrinking of the middle class through debt and gross consumerism, as well as unemployment, and the more I read about the fast growing underclass completely dependent on the government, the more I am reminded of the old story The Time Machine.

Those with gobs of money seem to be buying up land in many areas, They will control the food supplies.

I predict, and I have thought this for a long time, that in the end, after financial chaos, there will be two classes-the mega-wealthy privileged, who belong to Bilderberg et al, and a slave class.

What I saw in Europe was the sadness of the middle class, from which most of us online have come, as they see their rights and status slipping into the ocean of big interests. In America, people pretend they have money by using credit, and have slipped into la-la land regarding their personal financial futures.

The American Dream was never a reality, but a progressive fallacy based on the isms of Americanism, materialism, consumerism. My intelligent wealthy friends are not in debt, have sold their investments, and are buying land. Why? They know the value of land, and the not-so-future need for access to food supplies. They can see the take-over of a few multi-national companies and they are nervous about this government's ability to control OWG interests.

Big is in, small is out.

The easiest examples to see must be the almost total lack of Ma and Pa shops of any kind. Yesterday, a friend of mine and I had to go through my old neighborhood on our way to a restaurant. He is much younger than I am and we had worked on moving my books in the afternoon.

Time for dinner at a new Middle Eastern place brought us through the streets which in the 1950s and 1960s were choc-a-bloc with all the shops necessary for baby-boomer parents-small independent shops and businesses, now all gone--all but one barbershop.

In two generations, small entrepreneurs, once the backbone of America business, have disappeared.

More than that, the good, old work ethic has been swept away as well.


Up and down those blocks were large houses of large families of children of Catholic and Lutheran parents, playing ball, swimming in the local pool, now gone, going in and out of each others' houses and walking to school.

That middle class and lower middle class groupings have contracepted themselves into extinction.

Churches have been decimated and at most daily Masses, I am one of the youngest in the pews, at 66!

The frenetic seeking for comfort has destroyed the middle and lower middle class ability to wait until one has the money to buy something, to put children before goods, to be content with small.

Catholics wanted to be Americans first and Catholics second--this lack of family life and the lack of a cohesive communities are results.

Bargain hunting is now the main entertainment for many people....and garage sales sell things people have bought in knee-jerk compulsive buying.  When I speak to people about frugality or simplicity of life, except for the few, most do not understand the language of temperance.

Less is more. But, the middle class has forgotten this. This class will be forgotten in the future, as a failed experiment growing out of the prosperity and new trade, family banking systems and businesses of the great boom of the birth of the bourgeoisie.

This demographic change will affect the Catholic Church, which historically in America, was made up of the lower middle class and the lower upper classes, not the middle class until the 20th century.

We were a Church of the poor and the wealthy who knew what noblesse oblige was all about. That concept went the way of gross greed and gross capitalism based on gross individualism.

Result: an underclass stuck dependent on the socialist system the Founding Fathers never dreamed of and would decry; and the institutionalized greed of the mega-wealthy.

I shall not see this future of master and slaves, as the process will escalate only after many other changes, which will give power to the few who have been planning this destruction of Christian lifestyles, but this cultural scenario has all happened before in pagan times. Now, that we are in the great time of the Neo-Pagans, one cannot expect either a work ethic or noblesse oblige.

The Church keeps us from the worst errors a civilization can endure and still continue. Without the Church, no family is protected, children are not protected, women are not protected, and the general communal spirit which brings people to work together in simplicity and sharing falls away, decays, and dies.

"See how they love one another" cannot merely be a dream but a reality in the face of the shock of the future, to make a pun out of a famous book.

God will allow us all to be purged of sins, all sins, and purified. Thanks be to God for these times in which we live, but saints are more necessary than ever.

My view of the future of the Church is that God will raise us mighty saints in these times-men like Bernard, Dominic, and Benedict, and women like Etheldreda, Mechthild, Catherine.

I may not see these great saints, but for the Church to survive in the future, families could be these great souls for the benefit of the universal Church.

Exciting but trying times ahead. From today's Lauds:

Habakkuk 3 The Lord will appear in judgement In spite of your anger, Lord, have compassion. Lord, I heard what you gave me to hear, and I was struck with awe of your work. In the midst of the years, bring it to life; in the midst of the years you will make it known. When you are angry, you will remember your mercy. God will come from Theman, the holy one from the mountain of Pharan. His glory has covered the heavens and the earth is full of his praise. His brightness shall be like light itself, rays shining from his hands – there is his strength hidden. You went forth for the salvation of the people, for salvation with your anointed one. You made a way through the sea for your horses, in the silt of many waters. I have heard you, Lord, and my stomach churns within me; at the sound of your voice my lips tremble. My bones rot away, my steps stumble. I will rest and be quiet on the day of tribulation and let it overtake those who have invaded us. For the fig will not flower, the vines will not fruit, the work of the olive will be lost. The fields will yield no food, the flocks will be cut off from the sheepfold, there will be no cattle in the stalls. But I will rejoice in the Lord, take joy in God my saviour. The Lord God is my strength. He will make me as sure-footed as the deer. He will lead me up to the heights. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. In spite of your anger, Lord, have compassion.