The Sin of Presumption Part Three: The Denial of Natural Law, Free Will, Reason, and Revelation

Concluding this little three part series on the sin of presumption, I want to stress that this sin involves not only pride, but the denial of free will, reason, and revelation. Presumption also denies natural law.

I have been recommending the reading of Suarez, an overlooked writer on both moral and spiritual theology. Of course, I have remarked on this blog and elsewhere, that Pelagianism and Neo-Pelagianism are two of the most common heresies found today

Here is one of his quotations from the Catholic Encyclopedia: 

Suarez ("De spe", disp. 2a, sect. 3, n. 2) enumerates five ways in which one may be guilty of presumption, as follows:

1. by hoping to obtain by one's natural powers, unaided, what is definitely supernatural, viz. eternal bliss or the recovery of God's friendship after grievous sin (this would involve a Pelagian frame of mind);
2. a person might look to have his sins forgiven without adequate penance (this, likewise, if it were based on a seriously entertained conviction, would seem to carry with it the taint of heresy);
3. a man might expect some special assistance from Almighty God for the perpetration of crime (this would be blasphemous as well as presumptuous);
4. one might aspire to certain extraordinary supernatural excellencies, but without any conformity to the determinations of God's providence. Thus one might aspire to equal in blessedness the Mother of God;
5. finally, there is the transgression of those who, whilst they continue to lead a life of sin, are as confident of a happy issue as if they had not lost their baptismal innocence.

Now, the denial of both Original Sin and Hell add to the problem of presumption. If one believes in universal salvation, one would be presumptuous. If one thinks one can get to heaven without grace, the sacraments, conformity to the teachings of the Catholic Church and so on, one is presumptuous.

Again, the softening of the conscience by repeated sin and by the closing of the mind, heart and soul to God causes presumption. 

I suggest that this sin is one of the most common among our youth today, who have been raised without any consequences and no moral framworks with which to judge situations. However, as humans, they all have reason, free will, can find out about revelation, and they have natural law written on their hearts.

To excuse sin and to tolerate sin are two sins of parents and teachers.

But, societies, such as pagan Rome, have converted to Christ and His Church.

The challenge is twofold on our part-missionzing in a culture of false ecumenism and relativism. And, praying constantly.....

Presumption Part Two: Reason

The glorious teaching of the Catholic Church shows us that we all have the gift of reason. The CCC is, again, a good place to start. As humans, we have free will and reason, two of the ways in which we have been created in the image and likeness of God.

II. WAYS OF COMING TO KNOW GOD
31 Created in God's image and called to know and love him, the person who seeks God discovers certain ways of coming to know him. These are also called proofs for the existence of God, not in the sense of proofs in the natural sciences, but rather in the sense of "converging and convincing arguments", which allow us to attain certainty about the truth. These "ways" of approaching God from creation have a twofold point of departure: the physical world, and the human person.
32 The world: starting from movement, becoming, contingency, and the world's order and beauty, one can come to a knowledge of God as the origin and the end of the universe.

As St. Paul says of the Gentiles: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.⁷

And St. Augustine issues this challenge: Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky. . . question all these realities. All respond: "See, we are beautiful." Their beauty is a profession [confessio]. These beauties are subject to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One [Pulcher] who is not subject to change?⁸

^{One of the huge problems is the lack of reflection among the young. When do they stop their stampede towards pleasure in order to think about life, God, the universe...as it were......}

33 The human person: with his openness to truth and beauty, his sense of moral goodness, his freedom and the voice of his conscience, with his longings for the infinite and for happiness, man questions himself about God's existence. In all this he discerns signs of his spiritual soul. The soul, the "seed of eternity we bear in ourselves, irreducible to the merely material",⁹ can have its origin only in God.
34 The world, and man, attest that they contain within themselves neither their first principle nor their final end, but rather that they participate in Being itself, which alone is without origin or end. Thus, in different ways, man can come to know that there exists a reality which is the first cause and final end of all things, a reality "that everyone calls God".¹⁰
35 Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God. But for man to be able to enter into real intimacy with him, God willed both to reveal himself to man and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith. The proofs of God's existence, however, can predispose one to faith and help one to see that faith is not opposed to reason.

Section 33 is important for this discussion. All humans have reason and therefore a sense of goodness and a conscience. Reason separates us from the other animals which only have instincts. 

One of the gravest false teachings of the day is the denial of reason. Reasonable people can come to know God and be open to more knowledge which God has given us in revelation.

Reason and revelation form our faith. Here is the CCC again.

III. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH
36 "Our holy mother, the Church, holds and teaches that God, the first principle and last end of all things, can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason."¹¹ Without this capacity, man would not be able to welcome God's revelation. Man has this capacity because he is created "in the image of God".¹²
37 In the historical conditions in which he finds himself, however, man experiences many difficulties in coming to know God by the light of reason alone:

Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator; yet there are many obstacles which prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use of this inborn faculty. For the truths that concern the relations between God and man wholly transcend the visible order of things, and, if they are translated into human action and influence it, they call for self-surrender and abnegation. The human mind, in its turn, is hampered in the attaining of such truths, not only by the impact of the senses and the imagination, but also by disordered appetites which are the consequences of original sin. So it happens that men in such matters easily persuade themselves that what they would not like to be true is false or at least doubtful.¹³

38 This is why man stands in need of being enlightened by God's revelation, not only about those things that exceed his understanding, but also "about those religious and moral truths which of themselves are not beyond the grasp of human reason, so that even in the present condition of the human race, they can be known by all men with ease, with firm certainty and with no admixture of error". ¹⁴
IV. HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT GOD?
39 In defending the ability of human reason to know God, the Church is expressing her confidence in the possibility of speaking about him to all men and with all men, and therefore of dialogue with other religions, with philosophy and science, as well as with unbelievers and atheists.
40 Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally so. We can name God only by taking creatures as our starting point, and in accordance with our limited human ways of knowing and thinking.

41 All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God, most especially man, created in the image and likeness of God. The manifold perfections of creatures - their truth, their goodness, their beauty all reflect the infinite perfection of God. Consequently we can name God by taking his creatures" perfections as our starting point, "for from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator".¹⁵
42 God transcends all creatures. We must therefore continually purify our language of everything in it that is limited, image-bound or imperfect, if we are not to confuse our image of God--"the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, the invisible, the ungraspable"--with our human representations.¹⁶ Our human words always fall short of the mystery of God.
43 Admittedly, in speaking about God like this, our language is using human modes of expression; nevertheless it really does attain to God himself, though unable to express him in his infinite simplicity. Likewise, we must recall that "between Creator and creature no similitude can be expressed without implying an even greater dissimilitude";¹⁷ and that "concerning God, we cannot grasp what he is, but only what he is not, and how other beings stand in relation to him."<sup>18

I am convinced that young people choose and as the text highlighted above states, persuade themselves against reason to accept evil.

That children do not use reason at the age of adolescence is the fault of the parents and teachers, in this age of relativism. But, still, God gives grace to all and invites all to come to Him. 

Do we need revelation? Yes,and we need missionaries. But, reason can lead one to be open to the Gospel message.</sup> 

To deny reason and free will is heresy. Remember, Christ descended into hell, as stated in our creed, and released those who waited for His Redemption. Adam and Eve are the first who come to mind and we honor them as saints. 

Those in Judaism who accepted God's Law and revelation were also among those freed from hell. We call these men and women saints-Judith, Esther, Ruth, Joshua, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, the prophets, the Maccabees, etc. 

They believed in the promise without the fullness of revelation. These were the righteous, being made so by faith. They believed in the revelation given to them. And, through the use of reason. 

Revelation and Reason--both God's gifts to us....

To be continued....

The Sin of Presumption in Three Parts: Part One: Natural Law

One of the interesting conversations I have had of late has been with a young person who is concerned with her peers who are not at all pursuing a spiritual life.

Of course, the reasons for the deadening of the sensitivity of the spiritual life are myriad. But, I asked her to think about pre-Christian Rome. We know from history and from the Act of the Apostles, as well as the Epistles, that the apostles went to the Gentiles after the Gospel was refused by the Jewish people.

Those Gentiles were pagans of various sorts. There were the Cynics, the Skeptics, the Epicureans, the Stoics and so on. Some of these believed in gods and some did not. Some believed in an afterlife, and some did not. Some believed in the virtues, and some merely in the pursuit of pleasure.

How is it that so many Gentiles became Christians when today we see a huge growth in neo-paganism, especially Epicureanism, and few converting?

Today, in 2013, some statistics state that in this world, there are 300 million pagans.

These would not include heathens, the term for those who believe in false religions. Remember, there are only two revealed religions, Judaism and Christianity. All the others are man-made.

But, before Christianity, men and women are humans had a sense of good and evil. The natural law philosophy, which underlies much of our Catholic teaching, is that by the fact that each person has a soul, there is embedded in human a moral sense.

I have discussed with many people of late the question of invincible ignorance. I maintain that in this day and age in the West, at least, there is no such thing in modern society as complete moral ignorance  Here is the Catechism on natural moral law. 

I. THE NATURAL MORAL LAW
1954 Man participates in the wisdom and goodness of the Creator who gives him mastery over his acts and the ability to govern himself with a view to the true and the good. The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth and the lie:

The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man, because it is human reason ordaining him to do good and forbidding him to sin . . . But this command of human reason would not have the force of law if it were not the voice and interpreter of a higher reason to which our spirit and our freedom must be submitted.⁵

1955 The "divine and natural" law⁶ shows man the way to follow so as to practice the good and attain his end. The natural law states the first and essential precepts which govern the moral life. It hinges upon the desire for God and submission to him, who is the source and judge of all that is good, as well as upon the sense that the other is one's equal. Its principal precepts are expressed in the Decalogue. This law is called "natural," not in reference to the nature of irrational beings, but because reason which decrees it properly belongs to human nature:

Where then are these rules written, if not in the book of that light we call the truth? In it is written every just law; from it the law passes into the heart of the man who does justice, not that it migrates into it, but that it places its imprint on it, like a seal on a ring that passes onto wax, without leaving the ring.⁷ The natural law is nothing other than the light of understanding placed in us by God; through it we know what we must do and what we must avoid. God has given this light or law at the creation.⁸

1956 The natural law, present in the heart of each man and established by reason, is universal in its precepts and its authority extends to all men. It expresses the dignity of the person and determines the basis for his fundamental rights and duties:

For there is a true law: right reason. It is in conformity with nature, is diffused among all men, and is immutable and eternal; its orders summon to duty; its prohibitions turn away from offense . . . . To replace it with a contrary law is a sacrilege; failure to apply even one of its provisions is forbidden; no one can abrogate it entirely.⁹

1957 Application of the natural law varies greatly; it can demand reflection that takes account of various conditions of life according to places, times, and circumstances. Nevertheless, in the diversity of cultures, the natural law remains as a rule that binds men among themselves and imposes on them, beyond the inevitable differences, common principles.
1958 The natural law is immutable and permanent throughout the variations of history;¹⁰ it subsists under the flux of ideas and customs and supports their progress. The rules that express it remain substantially valid. Even when it is rejected in its very principles, it cannot be destroyed or removed from the heart of man. It always rises again in the life of individuals and societies:

Theft is surely punished by your law, O Lord, and by the law that is written in the human heart, the law that iniquity itself does not efface.¹¹

1959 The natural law, the Creator's very good work, provides the solid foundation on which man can build the structure of moral rules to guide his choices. It also provides the indispensable moral foundation for building the human community. Finally, it provides the necessary basis for the civil law with which it is connected, whether by a reflection that draws conclusions from its principles, or by additions of a positive and juridical nature.
1960 The precepts of natural law are not perceived by everyone clearly and immediately. In the present situation sinful man needs grace and revelation so moral and religious truths may be known "by everyone with facility, with firm certainty and with no admixture of error."¹² The natural law provides revealed law and grace with a foundation prepared by God and in accordance with the work of the Spirit.

Now, notice that the wise authors concede that grace and revelation are needed today in the growing darkness of the world.

But, God gives grace to all people. There is no one in this world to whom God has not given grace. His free gift to all for the enlightenment of the intellect, the soul, and the heart is available to all.

So, is the current level of evil owing to the lack of missionaries to help bring people to the fullness of truth? Is the current trend of denying the afterlife and emphazing pleasure deadening will power?

We cannot deny will power. We cannot deny that God loves all and wants all to be saved. We cannot deny that at least in the West, invincible ignorance would be rare.

Which leads me to the question of how people can fall into subhuman behavior and call it normal?

One of the reasons is presumption. In Dante's Inferno, the heretics, which pagans fall under, denying the truth of the Catholic Church, of Christ, are in Circle 6 in Canto 10. Here is one-Epicurus, with a summary from here.

Epicurus Epicurus was a Greek philosopher (341-270 B.C.E) who espoused the doctrine that pleasure--defined in terms of serenity, the absence of pain and passion--is the highest human good. By identifying the heretics as followers of Epicurus (Inf. 10.13-14), Dante condemns the Epicurean view that the soul--like the body--is mortal.

To be continued...

The Stupidity of Clubbing

All human activity has a purpose. Humans are mostly goal oriented people. 

To listen to classical music is the reason for attending a concert. To enjoy a good movie is the reason to go to the cinema. To play golf or tennis with friends is for exercise and companionship.

This is the most difficult post I have ever written.  C. S.  Lewis said he had to stop writing Screwtape Letters, as concentrating on evil got to him. That is how I feel about this post.

What is the goal of clubbing? I have had a sad but illuminating discussion with a twenty-something about clubbing. Clubbing in Ireland is a BAD scene. One does not go to dance. One does not go to get exercise. Most clubs do not have real dancing.

The goal of clubbing is sex. I have tried to find out today why young people club and have found out that they go for these reasons.

1) to meet up with new people; 2) because it is the "in" thing to do; 3) for the goal of casual sex.

Amazingly boring, really, imo.

Real name, not a joke, sadly....

But, the clubbing scene here in Ireland is huge. In Dublin, there are lists of the clubbing events.

The problem with clubbing is that it makes one stupid. What do I mean?

Getting drunk makes one stupid. Sinning, which some people do not even seem to understand, makes one stupid. In fact, the lack of the use of reason seems to be the main impetus for clubbing. And, do Catholic youth know that getting drunk is a mortal sin? NO?...so why do they go?

"Because all my friends go"  "Because it is the cool thing do do...." "Because that is what we do on Friday night.."

What about real entertainment, because clubbing is not about dancing, mostly or good music, mostly.

It is about casual sex. Here is a dress code from a famous club. 

Do Wear the Right Clothing – Girls can wear short dresses or even lingerie-inspired pieces while men can wear tight shirts....Do Dress to Impress. 

I looked at several sites on line for dresses for clubbing. Oh, my, goodness. The vast majority were actually pornographic. I cannot give any links to these shops.  And, the dress is worse here in Dublin. Here, young persons just wear tights and tops, no skirts, no slacks-just tights. 

Umm, it is pride to try to impress and immodesty causes sin in another--not Catholic attitudes, people.

I do not know how this generation moved so far away from real fun and real entertainment into sleaze.

Maybe some dewy-eyed college girls think that it is exciting and maybe they feel protected by their friends. This is stupid. 

Here is an interesting poll I found on line. Is it a sin for a Christian to go clubbing? About 52% said yes. http://www.talkjesus.com/polls/31893-sin-christian-go-night-clubbing.html#.Ui0I6casim4

• yes, it is a sin

I am saddened that some young people are so pressured by their peers that they go along to places which can actually be quite dangerous for them. Especially young women...

The immodest club clothing sends a message. And why Catholic parents let their kids go to these clubs is beyond me. Do they trust their 18 year olds in this type of environment? Are they afraid to be real parents and tell their kids not to go or be grounded? Are Irish kids grounded? Are there any real parents left out there giving guidance about the real predators? There are many predator men out there, young ladies. 

Sadly, recreational sex is so accepted that clubbing is just one more thing to do for this goal.

How this culture has lost the sense of sin. As Catholics, we are to both avoid the places of sin and to avoid the appearance of sin. Catholics should not go clubbing.

But, then, I am an old-fashioned mom. 

A small memory of a great priest...

There are more talks on this site, where I got the others posted in the last two posts.
http://www.proecclesia.com/page_free%20talks.htm

I thank proecclesia, plus my friend, David, for showing me these. I actually met Fr. Thwaites. A friend of mine told me about him and I made the trip out to see him. This was a memorable meeting. He talked about Mary, of course, and the importance of the rosary.

The room where we met was chock-a-block with books. The priest seemed almost lost in his library. But, when he began to speak to me, Father's voice filled the room with peace and the consolation of Truth.

More Talks by Rev. Hugh Thwaites-Part Two

	There are many many more at the site-http://www.proecclesia.com
Selected Encyclicals read by Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ
Pascendi Gregis by Pope St.Pius X: An encyclical on the Doctrines of the Modernists. This has been officially out of print for years. One would think that it, and its author, never existed. Fortunately, it was written in a manner which is ideal for spoken-word production. It is clear, forthright, concise, descriptive, it is like a mountain stream in a desert, with a reputation of miraculously curing spiritual blindness.
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	Pascendi Gregis - Part 1	talk_HTPascendi1.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	Pascendi Gregis - Part 2	talk_HTPascendi2.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	Pascendi Gregis - Part 3	talk_HTPascendi3.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	Humani Generis by Pope Pius XII: This encyclical concerns false opinions which threaten to sap the foundations of Catholic Teaching. It corrects the false notion that a position advanced by an encyclical does not ipso facto claim consent of all Catholics.	talk_HTHumani.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	Mortalium Animos by Pope Pius XI: Ecumenism means different things to different people. here Pope Pius XI tells us what it means in the mind of the Church.	talk_HTMortalium.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	Mysterium Fidei:	talk_HTMysterium.mp3

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis read by Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ  (Production by Arthur Johnson)  After the bible, there is no sounder spiritual reading than The Imitation of Christ. It encourages us gently, yet with firmness, to follow Christ more faithfully, and shows us how to do it. Fifteen minutes a day would give us a balanced spiritual diet. Since it was written, early in the 15th Century, thousands of editions and translations have appeared.
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Imitation of Christ - Part 1	talk_HTImit1.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Imitation of Christ - Part 2	talk_HTImit2.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Imitation of Christ - Part 3	talk_HTImit3.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Imitation of Christ - Part 4	talk_HTImit4.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Imitation of Christ - Part 5	talk_HTImit5.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Imitation of Christ - Part 6	talk_HTImit6.mp3

Talks from Rev. Hugh Thwaites Part One and Thanks, David and proecclesia

The Mystery of Faith: A beautiful explanation of the central act of worship - The Mass.
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 1	talk_HTMOF1.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 2	talk_HTMOF2.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 3	talk_HTMOF3.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 4	talk_HTMOF4.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 5	talk_HTMOF5.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 6	talk_HTMOF6.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 7	talk_HTMOF7.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	The Mystery of Faith - Talk 8	talk_HTMOF8.mp3

A Compendium of talks on Christian Doctrine by Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ. (Production by Arthur Johnson).
A Catechism of Christian Doctrine
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	A Catechism of Christian Doctrine - Part 1	talk_HTCat1.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	A Catechism of Christian Doctrine - Part 2	talk_HTCat2.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	A Catechism of Christian Doctrine - Part 3	talk_HTCat3.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	A Catechism of Christian Doctrine - Part 4	talk_HTCat4.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	A Catechism of Christian Doctrine - Part 5	talk_HTCat5.mp3
Rev. Hugh Thwaites SJ	A Catechism of Christian Doctrine - Part 6	talk_HTCat6.mp3

War Posts

I have about twenty-four posts on the possibility of war, but the search bar is not working. The tag is WWIII. Use the label chart at the side of this blog, and these will come up.

For Our Lady's Birthday-The Temple of the Trinity

Fr. Gabriels's book, referred to in the last post, is exquisite. His thoughts on Mary bring our imaginations and hearts to another level. Such is the gift of a good spiritual writer.

But, of course, this superb writing about the Blessed Mother stems, like that of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, from a great love for her. Being priests, the Lady Mary would be their lady.

Fr. Gabriel writes that the thirty years in Nazareth provided Mary with time to have Jesus as the total center of her life. She did everything for Him. As Fr. notes, all her affections, thoughts, all her actions, surrounded the needs of Christ. Her heart, states Fr., beat in "perfect harmony with His".

This is a description of the deepest love possible. Fr. Gabriel quotes St. Pius X from Ad Diem Illum: she "shared the thoughts of Christ and His secret wishes, in such a way that it can be said that she lived the very life of her Son."

But, Mary is part of the Trinitarian life, and was, in Nazareth. " She was (from the moment of the Incarnation), the beloved Daughter of the Father, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the Mother of the Word...Thus Mary is the temple of the Trinity."

Fr. Gabriel then writes that Mary is the great model for those of us desiring intimacy with God. "She leads us to Jesus and teaches us to concentrate all our affections on Him, to give ourselves entirely to Him, until we are completely lost and transformed in Him. Then, through Jesus, she guides us to the life of union with the Trinity. By reason of sanctifying grace, our soul is also a temple of the Trinity, and Mary teaches us how to abide in this temple as a perpetual adorer of the three divine Person who dwell therein." 

How wonderful to be thus lost in God, totally....

For Our Lady's Birthday-One-The World's First Love

I would like to share, for Our Lady's birthday, two thoughts from two famous authors. One is Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, whose book Divine Intimacy I am borrowing for a short while. The other is Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. Both have lovely meditations on Mary and today is a good day to share these.

First, Venerable Sheen. In a talk on Mary called "Mother of Jesus" from the book, Your Life is Worth Living, he gives a small but beautiful thought on the feminine principle in religion beginning as a dream, a dream of God's, of course. He writes, "All people have love in their mind and heart, a composite of memories, thoughts, dreams, ideals, and experiences. Then one day, someone appears. It's called love at first sight, but it is love at second sight. Every great love is a dream come true.  Did you ever see a dream walking? Well, I did. Love is very much like music. We hear music for the first time and we like it because we already have that music in our hearts!

When God became man, or when He willed it from the very creation of the world. He dreamed about a Mother who would decide the time of His birth, circumstances, and all of the detail. He thought of her long before she was born; the world's first love...God could make His own Mother the way artists can create...Almighty God pre-existed His own Mother and made her just as beautiful as He could. That is why she was immaculately conceived." 

What a beautiful thought we have here on the creation of Mary, from a love song in God. Such a thought will make us love Mary more and more.



For Fr. Gabriel's comment, you will have to wait for the next post.

Americans, are you worried, yet? You should be.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/john-kerry-congress-syria_n_3881200.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

http://www.globalresearch.ca/did-the-white-house-help-plan-the-syrian-chemical-attack/5347542

from the second article:

Meanwhile, additional data from Damascus about the actual chemical attack increases the doubts about Washington’s version of events. Immediately after the attack, three hospitals of Doctors Without Borders (MSF: médecins sans frontières) in the greater Damascus area treated more than 3,600 Syrians affected by the chemical attack, and 355 of them died. MSF performed tests on the vast majority of those treated.

MSF director of operations Bart Janssens summed up the findings: “MSF can neither scientifically confirm the cause of these symptoms nor establish who is responsible for the attack. However, the reported symptoms of the patients, in addition to the epidemiological pattern of the events — characterized by the massive influx of patients in a short period of time, the origin of the patients, and the contamination of medical and first aid workers — strongly indicate mass exposure to a neurotoxic agent.” Simply put, even after testing some 3,600 patients, MSF failed to confirm that sarin was the cause of the injuries. According to MSF, the cause could have been nerve agents like sarin, concentrated riot control gas, or even high-concentration pesticides. Moreover, opposition reports that there was distinct stench during the attack suggest that it could have come from the “kitchen sarin” used by jihadist groups (as distinct from the odorless military-type sarin) or improvised agents like pesticides

Humility is Humiliation, Gentleness, Modesty

 

St. Pachomius receiving the cenobite rule from an angel

"Be humble so that God guards and strengthens you, because God looks to the humble. Be humble so that God fills you with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, because it is written that He guides the humble and teaches His ways to the meek."  St. Pachomius wrote this. Most Catholics do not understand that to be humble is to be humiliated.

When one is poor, one meets humiliation daily, and it is hard. When one is ugly or sick, one is rejected daily. There is nothing nice or easy about being humbled by others.

When one can rejoice in that humiliation, when one can blame one's self and know that the humiliation is deserved, then one is holy.

A truly humble person does not care what other people think of him, as he knows his poverty is from God.

The world judges constantly and so do Catholics.

Recently, because I wanted to visit the States, I asked some relatives if I could stay with them. The answer was no.

Therefore, I changed my plans, as I cannot afford hotels. That is sad. 

Recently, as I needed to leave the country where I was, and go to another, I asked some friends who had said I could stay if I needed to do so, and they pulled back on their invitation. When they invited me for two months, they were not sincere.

People who are middle-class or wealthy assume that one is a sinner if one is poor.

That is true. One is a sinner

But, we are all sinners, rich and poor. 

And, if a poor, or sick, or ugly person is more of a sinner than you, does it make a difference?

To rejoice in rejection, one must face the pain first of all. 

A wise old priest told me a month ago that to be truly humble, one had to admit dependence on others and be dependent on others and God. He did not know me and he did not know my circumstances. He merely was talking to me about humility.

But, two things have destroyed the Catholic sensibility about humility. One is socialism. Socialism destroys how people look at individuals. Individuals no longer have a story, but are merely statistics with which the government has to deal. People no longer know how to help those who fall between the cracks. They assume there is a program, a plan, a government solution. This is not always the case.

Human dignity rests on the realization that one is capable of work in order to gain basic needs, to be earned by one's self. Human dignity is absolutely ruined by hand-outs from the State.

A person can avoid holiness and humility in a socialist state because everyone is treated the same. But, this hides the truth. We are not equal in gifts, nor in wealth, nor in looks, nor in status.

God decides those things.

Many people only want to be surrounded by beautiful people. The non-beautiful are excluded from their circles. This happened to me. Someone actually said to me, "Too bad we cannot be friends because of money." I did not answer. What could I say? I belong to the non-beautiful. No one can "get" anything from me except who I am. I cannot give wealth, or status, or security.

The second thing which destroys really accepting humility is pride. If one feels embarrassed, or stung, or hurt by rejection because of poverty or ill health or a lack of good looks, one is still harboring pride. It is only when one responds with complete freedom to rejection that one has come into holiness. It is only when one finally accepts one's degraded state that one is holy. Non-acceptance is rebellion and rebellion is pride. Blushing is pride. 

Humility is recognizing that God is in control even when people despise one for one's poverty, or ugliness, or ill health.

Yes, some people are despised because they represent failure or falling off the edge of society, which most people do not want to face. Security demands that some shut their eyes to pain and suffering.

Now, in Dublin, some beggars are almost professional. I have seen photos on line of the same persons begging years ago who are outside my church daily. Some pass the same baby around and beg with that baby. If one crosses certain streets, at different times of the day, one can see the same baby with three different "dads".  On another day about a month ago, I saw the same baby carriage with the same baby and two different women standing by the carriage with baby, begging at different times of the day. This is deceit, of course. 

However, some are truly ones who have fallen out of the system. Here is an interesting article from just less than a month ago http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/aggressive-beggars-putting-off-tourists-business-owners-claim-1.1488591  Heroin addiction is a huge problem here. I cannot find recent statistics, but in the past 11 years, Ireland has had twice the death rate from drug usage than the EU average.

Two days ago, I passed a man on the street who obviously has AIDS. I have seen AIDS patients before and in teacher training, we discussed this, studied these symptoms and those of  STDS. He was in very bad shape. He had the open sores on his face, and he was emaciated. I do not know why he was on the street. He looked terrified, as one staring death in the face.  Another man was with him, giving him water and praying with him. They sat on the side of the street near one of the churches. Because the sick man was being tended to, I did not have to intervene. The man helping him was young and strong and was obviously there to help. I am dirt poor, but when I can, I buy real beggars sandwiches and juice. I do not give money, as I have so little anyway, and I do not want someone buying drugs or alcohol. But, orange juice and a sandwich have never been refused by street people, of whom there are many in Dublin. I have not been able to do this of late, however.  C.S. Lewis wrote, "True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less." But, sometimes, like this summer, I just cannot help.

http://drugsinfonewslineireland.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/dublin-rising-tide-of-heroin-addiction-as-600-new-injectors-seek-charities-help/

I know that beggar could be me. That beggar could be anyone of us. And, that is why some hate those who have not.

The poor are always with us, states the Lord, but too many people do not want to deal with poverty, or the ugly, or the sick.

These are the humiliations God has allowed in my life-all three. I pray that I do not miss the chances for grace and holiness which come with being rejected.

Pray for me that I can rise up to the occasion. I am still too proud. It hurts.When it stops hurting, and I accept humiliation graciously, knowing deep down inside I deserve it, then I shall have found that peace which passes all understanding. 

And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. 

Christ, the Son of God said this in Matthew 8:20. As He is my Bridegroom, my Love, I go where He has gone before me. He leads and I follow. 

Humility is being able to say, "I deserve every bit of suffering for my gross sins." Humility is being grateful for grace. Humility is truth...

Continuing on the theme of humility, I read this quotation. Ephram El-Souriany "Inside the meek and humble man, the spirit of wisdom rests." 

In my life, I have only met one truly humble person. This person was very young. She was modest, which is a sign of humility, and she was wise. I taught her many years ago, and she never contradicted me, or insisted on her opinions.

She was always willing to learn, and thought herself lowly and stupid. She had an IQ of around 160. You would never know that she was that intelligent, as she did not put herself forward.

I watched her with others, her peers, and the main virtue she always showed was great gentleness. She was truly meek. She never butted into conversations. She never lied, and she always deferred to others, unless asked point blank for an opinion. When she gave it, the rest of the class was astounded. How could this seemingly ordinary, poor (she was) girl be so discerning, so wise? Students started asking her for help. She always gave it. She would stay after class and help other students. 

She was humble. She honestly thought that all people were better than she was. She did not need to gloat or put forth her knowledge or grace. Being around her taught me so much. 

Humility is gentleness and modesty.

Few recognized her great soul and her great mind. She was one of the unnoticed. But, I noticed her 

Among her peers she stood out because she was always happy. 

She spent most of her life in hospital with a rare disease. She never talked about that. She was in pain constantly her entire life. No one knew. As teachers, we were told privately how to deal with her illness, but she asked for no special attention. She never complained, ever.

When I think of her now, this psalm comes to my mind. 

Psalm 130 
Vulgate

Canticum graduum David. Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum, neque elati sunt oculi mei, neque ambulavi in magnis, neque in mirabilibus super me. 

[2] Si non humiliter sentiebam, sed exaltavi animam meam; sicut ablactatus est super matre sua, ita retributio in anima mea. 

[3] Speret Israel in Domino, ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.

Psalm 130

Douay-Rheims 

1 Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

2 If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.

3 Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

May God bless her where ever she goes. She exuded grace and humility. I want to be like her.

Answer to prayers in Rome and around the world? Keep praying.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Congress-Against-Syria-Strike/2013/09/07/id/524364?s=al&promo_code=14CCC-1

Another Reading from the Papal Vigil Tonight

John 20:19-29

Douay-Rheims 

19 Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you.

20 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.

22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you.

27 Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.

28 Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God.

29 Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.

One of the Readings from the Peace Vigil Earlier Tonight

Douay Rheims The Book of Jeremiah 

37   

20 Then king Sedecias commanded that Jeremias should be committed into the entry of the prison: and that they should give him daily a piece of bread, beside broth, till all the bread in the city were spent: and Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison.

38 

14 And king Sedecias sent, and took Jeremias the prophet to him to the third gate, that was in the house of the Lord: and the king said to Jeremias: I will ask thee a thing, hide nothing from me.

15 Then Jeremias said to Sedecias: If I shall declare it to thee, wilt thou not put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt not hearken to me.

16 Then king Sedecias swore to Jeremias, in private, saying: As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, nor will I deliver thee into the hands of these men that seek thy life.

17 And Jeremias said to Sedecias: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: If thou wilt take a resolution and go out to the princes of the king of Babylon, thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burnt with fire: and thou shalt be safe, and thy house.

18 But if thou wilt not go out to the princes of the king of Babylon, this city shall be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire: and thou shalt not escape out of their hands.

19 And king Sedecias said to Jeremias: I am afraid because of the Jews that are fled over to the Chaldeans: lest I should be delivered into their hands, and they should abuse me.

20 But Jeremias answered: They shall not deliver thee: hearken, I beseech thee, to the word of the Lord, which I speak to thee, and it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live.

21 But if thou wilt not go forth, this is the word which the Lord hath shewn me:

22 Behold all the women that are left in the house of the king of Juda, shall be brought out to the princes of the king of Babylon: and they shall say: Thy men of peace have deceived thee, and have prevailed against thee, they have plunged thy feet in the mire, and in a slippery place, and they have departed from thee.

23 And all thy wives, and thy children shall be brought out to the Chaldeans, and thou shalt not escape their hands, but thou shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and he shall burn this city with fire.

24 Then Sedecias said to Jeremias: Let no man know these words, and thou shalt not die.

25 But if the princes shall hear that I have spoken with thee, and shall come to thee, and say to thee: Tell us what thou hast said to the king, hide it not from us, and we will not kill thee: and also what the king said to thee:

26 Thou shalt say to them: I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not command me to be carried back into the house of Jonathan, to die there.

27 So all the princes came to Jeremias, and asked him: and he spoke to them according to all the words that the king had commanded him: and they left him: for nothing had been heard.

28 But Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison, until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and it came to pass that Jerusalem was taken.