Some day....
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Sunday, 5 January 2014
Just a clarification
Epiphany is tomorrow in my world....I wrote a book length drama in lyrics about the Magi in 1979 or so...it is in a box in storage, or I would share it. All based on the astronomy and Zoroastrianism etc.
Some day....
Some day....
The Hour Glass Part Eight
The Republic of Texas built 5,454 check points and towers on its long borders. The citizens of Texas owned more guns than the entire rest of North America. These men and women had refused to register these guns in 2014, and now, they were the only democratic body in the entire old United States. The citizens knew their existence was precarious, but precious and worth defending.
All people had to show their national or republic id cards at the check points. Antonio had both a national card and a Republic of Texas card, gratis of a conservative, mostly Catholic populace. In the aftermath of the nuclear blast, millions of conservative Catholics fled to Texas and were welcomed by all. Conservative millionaires of all religions, afraid of the complete take over of assets of the new government in Washington, had fled to Texas and were pleased to live under the Lone Star flag. Many invested in Texas industries and businesses. New churches were being built across the republic.
The Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the United States left 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, lock, stock and barrel and moved to Houston under the protection of the new president of the Republic of Texas, someone who looked a lot like Jeb Bush.
The only area in America to have a free and working grid was Texas. The only place to have freedom of religion was Texas. The only place where abortion was outlawed and same-sex-marriage declared a non-issue, causing the Congress of Texas to pass a Defense of Marriage Act, was the Republic of Texas.
The only place without a national disaster of health care was Texas. The population of Texas grew 1000% in three years, creating new towns in the desert and a healthy economy. Texas was the Old America.
Antonio was working in northern Louisiana but, was called to speak with the Apostolic Nuncio personally. Antonio, a real parish priest at heart, a real missionary, did not want to be in a chancery office or in any position of administration. He was very concerned that this visit would result in some sort of non-pastoral position. But, he had to go. One month had passed since the ordination of the bishops and already Anselm in Rome had quickly declared one a saint. Bishop James Carter of Jerome had been killed by an anti-Catholic mob two weeks into his new position. He had been ripped to shreds. The cause was hatred of the Church and Her stance on homosexuality. James was now Blessed James, martyr. He was only one of the first, but not the first. The community of Jerome would not get another priest, unfortunately, and the glacier advance daily, slowly but perceptibly.
Antonio had grieved until he had an extraordinary experience in the northern corner of Louisiana, when he was saying Mass for a small group of about 32 Catholics who lived on a farm in a remote location near the border of Arkansas. After Communion, in the quiet of the small barn, Antonio thought he heard his name being called, softly, but firmly. The good priest looked up, and there, in front of the altar, was James, in brilliant white, with his hands open towards Antonio. The vision lasted but a few minutes, but long enough for Antonio to understand that James was in a much happier and glorious place of love and peace. In fact, Antonio felt a new peace enter his own mind and heart after this "vision".
James was still with him. And, Antonio had not received another traveling companion, as there were no priests in the area but himself. He did not mind, now, and kept up with his prayers and peripatetic mission work, knowing that somehow, James was with him.
Walking to the border meant crossing open land which was dangerous for a travelling priest. But, Antonio could see the towers in the distance, towers placed so that one Texas Ranger could see the next in the closest tower. Antonio was about ninety feet away from one tower when he saw dogs running towards him. Then, he saw military men, but he could not tell which army they represented, the Chinese or the new government's. Antonio was not a fast runner and the three dogs bearing down on him were large mastiff hounds. He "froze". Shots rang out-three shots, and the dogs lay dead on bare ground. Antonio heard some one shout, "Padre, here, run, now!" And, the young priest obeyed. The four foot soldiers began shooting at him, but again shots came from two towers, just as Antonio reached the gate at the check point. The gate opened and he ran in, crashing against the armed guard. "Slow down, Padre. You're ok now."
"How did you know I was a priest?" Antonio was confused. "We have orders to look for a lone priest and we figured out you were him. Those thugs are from the national army not the Chinese, so we took them out. Sorry, if we offend you, Padre, but we were ordered to defend you at all costs." The young Texas Ranger smiled a big toothy smile.
Antonio took a deep breath. "Thank you, thank you. I understand."
"We have a car to take you to Houston, Father. Follow me." Antonio could not believe it. He had not seen a car for three years. But, then, the oil and gas in Texas was legendary, and the Republic held the offshore drills against both the Chinese, who were out of ammunition, and the national army, called NATS or GATS, for global army troops, for short, by those who hated the new regime in the East which was ruled from Greenland-the underground global government.
Antonio was given a quick drink of coffee, another rare treat, and escorted to a small car. It was one made in Texas, on the border with Mexico, where two automobile factories had started up in the last three years. Texas and Mexico, still free, though suffering from incursions from the Chinese, had an agreement with Texas. Steel and other needed materials were exchanged for defense. This was called the Texas-Mexican Defense Treaty. Mexico had broken all treaties and agreements with the new national government, which was openly anti-religious.
Once in the backseat of the military car, Antonio noticed a rosary and a scapular hanging from the rear-view mirror. Antonio felt strange, as if he had fallen, like Alice into a wonderland, into the set of a movie, an old movie. But, this was Texas.
To be continued....
All people had to show their national or republic id cards at the check points. Antonio had both a national card and a Republic of Texas card, gratis of a conservative, mostly Catholic populace. In the aftermath of the nuclear blast, millions of conservative Catholics fled to Texas and were welcomed by all. Conservative millionaires of all religions, afraid of the complete take over of assets of the new government in Washington, had fled to Texas and were pleased to live under the Lone Star flag. Many invested in Texas industries and businesses. New churches were being built across the republic.
The Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the United States left 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, lock, stock and barrel and moved to Houston under the protection of the new president of the Republic of Texas, someone who looked a lot like Jeb Bush.
The only area in America to have a free and working grid was Texas. The only place to have freedom of religion was Texas. The only place where abortion was outlawed and same-sex-marriage declared a non-issue, causing the Congress of Texas to pass a Defense of Marriage Act, was the Republic of Texas.
The only place without a national disaster of health care was Texas. The population of Texas grew 1000% in three years, creating new towns in the desert and a healthy economy. Texas was the Old America.
Antonio was working in northern Louisiana but, was called to speak with the Apostolic Nuncio personally. Antonio, a real parish priest at heart, a real missionary, did not want to be in a chancery office or in any position of administration. He was very concerned that this visit would result in some sort of non-pastoral position. But, he had to go. One month had passed since the ordination of the bishops and already Anselm in Rome had quickly declared one a saint. Bishop James Carter of Jerome had been killed by an anti-Catholic mob two weeks into his new position. He had been ripped to shreds. The cause was hatred of the Church and Her stance on homosexuality. James was now Blessed James, martyr. He was only one of the first, but not the first. The community of Jerome would not get another priest, unfortunately, and the glacier advance daily, slowly but perceptibly.
Antonio had grieved until he had an extraordinary experience in the northern corner of Louisiana, when he was saying Mass for a small group of about 32 Catholics who lived on a farm in a remote location near the border of Arkansas. After Communion, in the quiet of the small barn, Antonio thought he heard his name being called, softly, but firmly. The good priest looked up, and there, in front of the altar, was James, in brilliant white, with his hands open towards Antonio. The vision lasted but a few minutes, but long enough for Antonio to understand that James was in a much happier and glorious place of love and peace. In fact, Antonio felt a new peace enter his own mind and heart after this "vision".
James was still with him. And, Antonio had not received another traveling companion, as there were no priests in the area but himself. He did not mind, now, and kept up with his prayers and peripatetic mission work, knowing that somehow, James was with him.
Walking to the border meant crossing open land which was dangerous for a travelling priest. But, Antonio could see the towers in the distance, towers placed so that one Texas Ranger could see the next in the closest tower. Antonio was about ninety feet away from one tower when he saw dogs running towards him. Then, he saw military men, but he could not tell which army they represented, the Chinese or the new government's. Antonio was not a fast runner and the three dogs bearing down on him were large mastiff hounds. He "froze". Shots rang out-three shots, and the dogs lay dead on bare ground. Antonio heard some one shout, "Padre, here, run, now!" And, the young priest obeyed. The four foot soldiers began shooting at him, but again shots came from two towers, just as Antonio reached the gate at the check point. The gate opened and he ran in, crashing against the armed guard. "Slow down, Padre. You're ok now."
"How did you know I was a priest?" Antonio was confused. "We have orders to look for a lone priest and we figured out you were him. Those thugs are from the national army not the Chinese, so we took them out. Sorry, if we offend you, Padre, but we were ordered to defend you at all costs." The young Texas Ranger smiled a big toothy smile.
Antonio took a deep breath. "Thank you, thank you. I understand."
"We have a car to take you to Houston, Father. Follow me." Antonio could not believe it. He had not seen a car for three years. But, then, the oil and gas in Texas was legendary, and the Republic held the offshore drills against both the Chinese, who were out of ammunition, and the national army, called NATS or GATS, for global army troops, for short, by those who hated the new regime in the East which was ruled from Greenland-the underground global government.
Antonio was given a quick drink of coffee, another rare treat, and escorted to a small car. It was one made in Texas, on the border with Mexico, where two automobile factories had started up in the last three years. Texas and Mexico, still free, though suffering from incursions from the Chinese, had an agreement with Texas. Steel and other needed materials were exchanged for defense. This was called the Texas-Mexican Defense Treaty. Mexico had broken all treaties and agreements with the new national government, which was openly anti-religious.
Once in the backseat of the military car, Antonio noticed a rosary and a scapular hanging from the rear-view mirror. Antonio felt strange, as if he had fallen, like Alice into a wonderland, into the set of a movie, an old movie. But, this was Texas.
To be continued....
The Hour Glass Part Seven
Only fourteen people, ten men and four woman, showed up at the pub on Lion Road. The priests had expected twice as many, including children. After Mass, Columcille questioned Rob Coe, the self-appointed leader of the Mass group. "People are nervous, after your former guide disappeared. I mean som-a-us have children. I know the Masters did not want to bring the children because of the missing Kedge. You know, no one has seen him in weeks."
Columcille recognized fear. He also knew that if he did not encourage the men to come, that Catholicism would die in this area a slow but sure death. It had all happened before in families.
Samuel was in a corner of the long room talking with Carrie Archer, one of the few women to come this night. "My sister is scared, Samuel. She really is. And, she does not want to fight with John, you know John."
Samuel knew everyone in the area, and there parents and grandparents. "Yes, I understand, but the children need catechesis, and with their First Holy Communion coming up....."
Carrie put her hands on her head in frustration. "John has completely fallen away, Samuel, just like his dad did. I could see it coming, but there was nothing we could do. The children are torn."
The good priest had heard such stories before, of families torn by keeping, or abandoning, the one, true Faith.
He knew the history of many old families in this very place who had fought and betrayed each other under Oliver Cromwell. He shook his head. "Carrie, tell Abby that if she wants me to visit the house, I shall come."
Columcille heard this. He knew the directive from Rome was to avoid home visits, except for the protected large houses, in which dwelt families who could play the political games necessary to keep house and Mass going.
But, the party was breaking up and the men stood for a final blessing. Thomas Howard came over to Columcille.
"Father, I mean, Columcille, we need to move out now. All these people leaving at once creates suspicion, even though we made some good time at the bar downstairs. Let's go now."
Columcille put his hand on Thomas' arm and agreed. He then went to Samuel and said they should be going, now. Carrie looked disturbed and Columcille wished he had seemed less anxious and calmer.
"Columcille, is it getting worse. I mean, can't we keep coming?" Carrie was almost in tears.
"Of course, you can keep coming. We shall be back in a few days-our regular bi-weekly Mass. Please, do not worry."
Samuel and Columcille left behind Thomas who led the way on into the dark street. Without the gird, the landscape resembled the lane and dark houses so long ago in the first days of the recusant times. Columcille then saw a large police dog, coming towards them. Thomas spoke first. "Back into the pub, you two, and go upstairs and onto the low roof, until I whistle all clear."
Thomas stood between the dog and the priests, who returned inside, and went quickly up the stairs to the long room. then opened one of the large sash windows, and climbed up on the low roof. It was easy to hang on to the wooden juts. Columcille placed himself so that he could see Thomas, the dog and the policeman coming down the road. There were no lights except old oil lamps in the pub.
"Hey, you," the policeman yelled at Thomas. "What were all those people doin' here? Come on, now."
Thomas answered in such a cool tone, Columcille was a bit jealous at the man's nonchalance.
"Hey, officer, it is my birthday. Do ya want a drink with me?"
The policeman demanded Thomas' identity card and produce a torch to look at it. "Howards. This place still crawls with Howards. You're not special, you know."
Thomas picked up on the cue. "No sir, we are not. The special ones are way down south."
"Well, I was told their were priests here. And, this is a warning. Anyone harboring priests, or helping set up superstitious services are fined 1,000 pounds sterling for the first offense and imprisonment for the second offense. You remember that. I hate your lot."
Thomas actually reached out and shook the policeman's hand, but the dog growled. "Sir, thanks so much, but I do not have that kind of money to be playing hero."
"Alright, go on, but pay attention. I know you Howards are all trouble-makers. I am a peaceful man, and I do not want any trouble in this area. I do not want any difficulties from you lot. I have enough troubles without hedge priests."
Thomas could sense that this man was more afraid than he was. Thomas wondered why the policeman was so afraid. Something must have happened around here--but what?
The policeman turned and walked up the road, and the dog followed. Thomas stood there for a five minutes or so, and then whistled. The two priests just slide off the roof in the back and joined Thomas.
"Fathers, I mean, well, you know, we need to cut back over the fields and get out of here. And, I am afraid this is the end of this mission."
Samuel, who knew the young man was correct, felt the cold wind of history on his neck. This Mass would have to move elsewhere, but where?
As they crossed the road and climbed up into the field, Columcille said to Thomas. "Pass the word that there will be no more Masses here. We shall find another place."
To be continued....
Columcille recognized fear. He also knew that if he did not encourage the men to come, that Catholicism would die in this area a slow but sure death. It had all happened before in families.
Samuel was in a corner of the long room talking with Carrie Archer, one of the few women to come this night. "My sister is scared, Samuel. She really is. And, she does not want to fight with John, you know John."
Samuel knew everyone in the area, and there parents and grandparents. "Yes, I understand, but the children need catechesis, and with their First Holy Communion coming up....."
Carrie put her hands on her head in frustration. "John has completely fallen away, Samuel, just like his dad did. I could see it coming, but there was nothing we could do. The children are torn."
The good priest had heard such stories before, of families torn by keeping, or abandoning, the one, true Faith.
He knew the history of many old families in this very place who had fought and betrayed each other under Oliver Cromwell. He shook his head. "Carrie, tell Abby that if she wants me to visit the house, I shall come."
Columcille heard this. He knew the directive from Rome was to avoid home visits, except for the protected large houses, in which dwelt families who could play the political games necessary to keep house and Mass going.
But, the party was breaking up and the men stood for a final blessing. Thomas Howard came over to Columcille.
"Father, I mean, Columcille, we need to move out now. All these people leaving at once creates suspicion, even though we made some good time at the bar downstairs. Let's go now."
Columcille put his hand on Thomas' arm and agreed. He then went to Samuel and said they should be going, now. Carrie looked disturbed and Columcille wished he had seemed less anxious and calmer.
"Columcille, is it getting worse. I mean, can't we keep coming?" Carrie was almost in tears.
"Of course, you can keep coming. We shall be back in a few days-our regular bi-weekly Mass. Please, do not worry."
Samuel and Columcille left behind Thomas who led the way on into the dark street. Without the gird, the landscape resembled the lane and dark houses so long ago in the first days of the recusant times. Columcille then saw a large police dog, coming towards them. Thomas spoke first. "Back into the pub, you two, and go upstairs and onto the low roof, until I whistle all clear."
Thomas stood between the dog and the priests, who returned inside, and went quickly up the stairs to the long room. then opened one of the large sash windows, and climbed up on the low roof. It was easy to hang on to the wooden juts. Columcille placed himself so that he could see Thomas, the dog and the policeman coming down the road. There were no lights except old oil lamps in the pub.
"Hey, you," the policeman yelled at Thomas. "What were all those people doin' here? Come on, now."
Thomas answered in such a cool tone, Columcille was a bit jealous at the man's nonchalance.
"Hey, officer, it is my birthday. Do ya want a drink with me?"
The policeman demanded Thomas' identity card and produce a torch to look at it. "Howards. This place still crawls with Howards. You're not special, you know."
Thomas picked up on the cue. "No sir, we are not. The special ones are way down south."
"Well, I was told their were priests here. And, this is a warning. Anyone harboring priests, or helping set up superstitious services are fined 1,000 pounds sterling for the first offense and imprisonment for the second offense. You remember that. I hate your lot."
Thomas actually reached out and shook the policeman's hand, but the dog growled. "Sir, thanks so much, but I do not have that kind of money to be playing hero."
"Alright, go on, but pay attention. I know you Howards are all trouble-makers. I am a peaceful man, and I do not want any trouble in this area. I do not want any difficulties from you lot. I have enough troubles without hedge priests."
Thomas could sense that this man was more afraid than he was. Thomas wondered why the policeman was so afraid. Something must have happened around here--but what?
The policeman turned and walked up the road, and the dog followed. Thomas stood there for a five minutes or so, and then whistled. The two priests just slide off the roof in the back and joined Thomas.
"Fathers, I mean, well, you know, we need to cut back over the fields and get out of here. And, I am afraid this is the end of this mission."
Samuel, who knew the young man was correct, felt the cold wind of history on his neck. This Mass would have to move elsewhere, but where?
As they crossed the road and climbed up into the field, Columcille said to Thomas. "Pass the word that there will be no more Masses here. We shall find another place."
To be continued....
The Hour Glass Part Six
Louisiana at this time of year should have been about 83 degrees Fahrenheit, but today the temperature did not rise above 43 or so. The three priests wore the same jackets all year round, with layers in their knapsacks for warm. With the beginning of the new ice age, most plants which needed temperate or hot temperatures had died. The other plants struggled, as the cold brought rain, ice and snow to most parts of the northern and central states and intermittently to the southern parts.
The central administration of the Catholic Church had moved to Texas, although bishops were encouraged to stay in their dioceses as long as they could work in safety. The East was in schism as the National American Catholic Church. Only two bishops had refused to join the large group, and they were missing. One of the missing was a cardinal. This church was really run from the underground global government, but most schismatic Catholics still had not come to that realization.
That this meeting of the priests with some bishops was happening in a small town indicated the danger for many of those attending. The meeting would be in a private home, and priests had been given instructions to come at staggered times.
No one but a few knew that the subject of the meeting was the complete overhauling of the diocesan structures which had existed for over two-hundred years.
At exactly eight o'clock at night, a gathering of twenty-two priests and two bishops met at the house of the local doctor, Dr. Singh. The men were from all the states outside the Wilderness on the southern edge-in other words, from the Old South and a few states just south of the Mason-Dixon Line, There was one exception. Bishop John Brent of Lincoln had been in the south visiting his sister before going on a retreat when all the chaos happened. His was told by Rome to stay in Texas until further orders came. Those orders had finally come.
Bishop Brent, being the senior clergyman, chaired the meeting. "The Holy Father sent a letter to me and a copy to Bishop Jensen, who is also present, as you all can see, indicating his wishes to consolidate dioceses and dissolve dioceses which are no longer functioning.
We have made a map for each priest here. You can see that all the dioceses of Minnesota, Wisconsin, western Indiana, Illinois, except for Belleville, Illinois are all suppressed. Two dioceses remain in Missouri, St, Louis, although city was severely damaged by the floods, and Kansas City-St. Joseph. One diocese remains active in Kansas, and that is the Kansas City, Kansas diocese. As you all know, most of The Wilderness is now under the new, fast growing glaciation.
Other suppressed dioceses owing to the destruction in the Wilderness are all those in Iowa, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, western Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and Idaho. Hawaii, being completely destroyed, is of course, suppressed. The Ecclesiatical Provinces of St. Paul and Minnesota, Miwaukee, Indianopolis, Los Angeles, Omaha, Portland, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Anchorage, Dubuque, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, are dissolved.
Those diocese which are not in The Wilderness, but under the military rule of the Chinese, that is, dioceses in the states of Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington and western Utah will be assumed as under siege. As far as the Pope knows, all the bishops are either in prison, or dead. We actually do not know. Three of the bishops which were in Arizona and New Mexico are safely in Texas.
Three new areas, new dioceses, will be covering the Pacific Coast, and one will combine western Utah and Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. New bishops, including auxiliaries, will be placed in authority in these new dioceses. I shall announce the names this evening of the priests who will be ordained bishops.
The Ecclesiastical Provinces of St. Paul and Minnesota, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Omaha, Portland, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Anchorage, Dubuque, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, are dissolved.
The Pope has left Oklahoma under the existing dioceses, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, but has moved the see of the bishop to Tulsa, although the western part of the state has some Chinese occupation.
All the other dioceses will be left in the same diocesan administrations even though these are under martial law in the states not mentioned.
All other dioceses not mentioned remain in place, such as the Diocese of Little Rock and so on.
The Wilderness damage cannot be understood by those who have not seen the destruction caused by the nuclear blast. I myself have taken a trip with one other bishop, Bishop Kendall of Houston, to see the damage in some places. Let me only say that Dante's Inferno is now on earth. We can assume, as has the world, that no one who lived within the states affected by the direct blast and the weather patterns which forces the radioactive clouds into other states, that no one is alive in The Wilderness. We pray daily for the souls of all the faithful departed, even after all this time.
It has taken this long for the Pope to decide how to approach the problem of the bishops who are cooperating with the military rule of Washington run by the "globals", and those independent bishops. Of those bishops in the east who have created a shadow church, I shall not discuss at this meeting. In the future, however, it is the will of the Holy Father to send missionaries into military territory and rescue souls from the schism."
Here the bishop put down his papers and the map and directly addressed the small group.
"It is the intention of both Bishop Jensen and myself to ordain seven men this evening to take over some of those new diocesan administrative areas. We shall also give the names of those dioceses and administrative areas now.
The new dioceses and administrative areas are as follows, and I shall just list the city and state names. The Pope's expectation is that the new bishops will find their way to these places and set up some type of diocesan headquarters, even if underground. The new bishops will be missionaries in mission territories, as we do not know how many Catholics remain in these places. Some are in the enemy territory of the Chinese, some are at the edges of The Wasteland.
The dioceses are as follows: Ventura, and Tehama, covering all of California at this point; Tehema at the edge of the glaciation, is a temporary center; Jerome, Arizona; Magdalena, New Mexico; Goldfield, Nevada, and one new diocese in Higgins, Republic of Texas. One of these diocese will have an auxiliary bishop as well. I know that some of you are being sent into extremely dangerous territories."
The enormity of the changes slowly began to sink into the small group. That seven men would be made bishops for these new areas made some of the men nervous.
"Now, I ask you all to listen to Bishop Jensen on the men chosen by the Pope to set up these missionary dioceses and start up the Catholic Church, from scratch, as it were."
The two bishops changed places in the tense atmosphere of the small room. Bishop Jensen began by asking the priests to pray. Bowing their heads, some felt as if the responsibility of starting up missionary dioceses would be too difficult.
Bishop Jensen, a small and gentle man said this first, "If any man's name is announced and that man feels he cannot take on this duty, please do not nod your head in assent. I assure you, no one will think less of you. I ask you to nod in assent if you feel you can respond to the call of the Holy Father."
Philip Scott will be Bishop of Ventura. I already have his assent.
John Sikora, Auxiliary Bishop of Ventura. (John, a small man of about 40, nodded his head)
James Carter will be Bishop of Jerome. (James nodded in assent).
Edward Sczepanska, Bishop of Tehama. (Edward, a man of about fifty, nodded his head).
Thomas Bauer, Bishop of Higgins. (Thomas, a handsome man of about 50, nodded yes).
Thomas Gomez-Kappel, Bishop of Magdalena. (Thomas nodded. He looked just over the canonical age for a bishop).
Patrick Rebideux, Bishop of Goldfield. (Patrick, a large and striking Canjun nodded yes).
We shall now commence with Mass and the ordinations."
Antonio felt a bit ill. He was losing his great friend and mentor. And, he was losing the company of Philip Scott, who he had seen at least three times a year. He wondered who his new travelling companion would be.
To be continued.....
The central administration of the Catholic Church had moved to Texas, although bishops were encouraged to stay in their dioceses as long as they could work in safety. The East was in schism as the National American Catholic Church. Only two bishops had refused to join the large group, and they were missing. One of the missing was a cardinal. This church was really run from the underground global government, but most schismatic Catholics still had not come to that realization.
That this meeting of the priests with some bishops was happening in a small town indicated the danger for many of those attending. The meeting would be in a private home, and priests had been given instructions to come at staggered times.
No one but a few knew that the subject of the meeting was the complete overhauling of the diocesan structures which had existed for over two-hundred years.
At exactly eight o'clock at night, a gathering of twenty-two priests and two bishops met at the house of the local doctor, Dr. Singh. The men were from all the states outside the Wilderness on the southern edge-in other words, from the Old South and a few states just south of the Mason-Dixon Line, There was one exception. Bishop John Brent of Lincoln had been in the south visiting his sister before going on a retreat when all the chaos happened. His was told by Rome to stay in Texas until further orders came. Those orders had finally come.
Bishop Brent, being the senior clergyman, chaired the meeting. "The Holy Father sent a letter to me and a copy to Bishop Jensen, who is also present, as you all can see, indicating his wishes to consolidate dioceses and dissolve dioceses which are no longer functioning.
We have made a map for each priest here. You can see that all the dioceses of Minnesota, Wisconsin, western Indiana, Illinois, except for Belleville, Illinois are all suppressed. Two dioceses remain in Missouri, St, Louis, although city was severely damaged by the floods, and Kansas City-St. Joseph. One diocese remains active in Kansas, and that is the Kansas City, Kansas diocese. As you all know, most of The Wilderness is now under the new, fast growing glaciation.
Other suppressed dioceses owing to the destruction in the Wilderness are all those in Iowa, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, western Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and Idaho. Hawaii, being completely destroyed, is of course, suppressed. The Ecclesiatical Provinces of St. Paul and Minnesota, Miwaukee, Indianopolis, Los Angeles, Omaha, Portland, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Anchorage, Dubuque, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, are dissolved.
Those diocese which are not in The Wilderness, but under the military rule of the Chinese, that is, dioceses in the states of Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington and western Utah will be assumed as under siege. As far as the Pope knows, all the bishops are either in prison, or dead. We actually do not know. Three of the bishops which were in Arizona and New Mexico are safely in Texas.
Three new areas, new dioceses, will be covering the Pacific Coast, and one will combine western Utah and Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. New bishops, including auxiliaries, will be placed in authority in these new dioceses. I shall announce the names this evening of the priests who will be ordained bishops.
The Ecclesiastical Provinces of St. Paul and Minnesota, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Omaha, Portland, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Anchorage, Dubuque, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, are dissolved.
The Pope has left Oklahoma under the existing dioceses, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, but has moved the see of the bishop to Tulsa, although the western part of the state has some Chinese occupation.
All the other dioceses will be left in the same diocesan administrations even though these are under martial law in the states not mentioned.
All other dioceses not mentioned remain in place, such as the Diocese of Little Rock and so on.
The Wilderness damage cannot be understood by those who have not seen the destruction caused by the nuclear blast. I myself have taken a trip with one other bishop, Bishop Kendall of Houston, to see the damage in some places. Let me only say that Dante's Inferno is now on earth. We can assume, as has the world, that no one who lived within the states affected by the direct blast and the weather patterns which forces the radioactive clouds into other states, that no one is alive in The Wilderness. We pray daily for the souls of all the faithful departed, even after all this time.
It has taken this long for the Pope to decide how to approach the problem of the bishops who are cooperating with the military rule of Washington run by the "globals", and those independent bishops. Of those bishops in the east who have created a shadow church, I shall not discuss at this meeting. In the future, however, it is the will of the Holy Father to send missionaries into military territory and rescue souls from the schism."
Here the bishop put down his papers and the map and directly addressed the small group.
"It is the intention of both Bishop Jensen and myself to ordain seven men this evening to take over some of those new diocesan administrative areas. We shall also give the names of those dioceses and administrative areas now.
The new dioceses and administrative areas are as follows, and I shall just list the city and state names. The Pope's expectation is that the new bishops will find their way to these places and set up some type of diocesan headquarters, even if underground. The new bishops will be missionaries in mission territories, as we do not know how many Catholics remain in these places. Some are in the enemy territory of the Chinese, some are at the edges of The Wasteland.
The dioceses are as follows: Ventura, and Tehama, covering all of California at this point; Tehema at the edge of the glaciation, is a temporary center; Jerome, Arizona; Magdalena, New Mexico; Goldfield, Nevada, and one new diocese in Higgins, Republic of Texas. One of these diocese will have an auxiliary bishop as well. I know that some of you are being sent into extremely dangerous territories."
The enormity of the changes slowly began to sink into the small group. That seven men would be made bishops for these new areas made some of the men nervous.
"Now, I ask you all to listen to Bishop Jensen on the men chosen by the Pope to set up these missionary dioceses and start up the Catholic Church, from scratch, as it were."
The two bishops changed places in the tense atmosphere of the small room. Bishop Jensen began by asking the priests to pray. Bowing their heads, some felt as if the responsibility of starting up missionary dioceses would be too difficult.
Bishop Jensen, a small and gentle man said this first, "If any man's name is announced and that man feels he cannot take on this duty, please do not nod your head in assent. I assure you, no one will think less of you. I ask you to nod in assent if you feel you can respond to the call of the Holy Father."
Philip Scott will be Bishop of Ventura. I already have his assent.
John Sikora, Auxiliary Bishop of Ventura. (John, a small man of about 40, nodded his head)
James Carter will be Bishop of Jerome. (James nodded in assent).
Edward Sczepanska, Bishop of Tehama. (Edward, a man of about fifty, nodded his head).
Thomas Bauer, Bishop of Higgins. (Thomas, a handsome man of about 50, nodded yes).
Thomas Gomez-Kappel, Bishop of Magdalena. (Thomas nodded. He looked just over the canonical age for a bishop).
Patrick Rebideux, Bishop of Goldfield. (Patrick, a large and striking Canjun nodded yes).
We shall now commence with Mass and the ordinations."
Antonio felt a bit ill. He was losing his great friend and mentor. And, he was losing the company of Philip Scott, who he had seen at least three times a year. He wondered who his new travelling companion would be.
To be continued.....
Saturday, 4 January 2014
The Errors of Pro-Lifers
I am increasingly concerned with three errors which are being promulgated by pro-lifers, both in the States and in England. The reason why I am concerned, is that, possibly, heresies are behind these errors.
The first one was corrected by the Pope Emeritus and announced at a retreat I attended in 2011. In England, some one was pushing a prayer which identified those poor babies who are aborted with martyrs of the Faith.
Thankfully, this was clarified by Rome and the prayer which was being used was altered to reflect the correction. Aborted children are not martyrs. These victims of murder are not witnesses to Christ. They cannot be compared with the Holy Innocents, who died directly because of Jesus Christ.
Aborted babies do not experience either the martyrs Baptism of Blood, or the adult's Baptism of Desire. And some one cannot desire this for them, sadly. This second type of baptism is connected with error two.
That is the first error and it has been officially corrected.
The second error is that is that aborted babies are innocent children of God. They are innocent as far as being innocent victims of murder, but as captives in Original Sin, these poor babies are not children of God and do not have sanctifying grace. Can God intervene and take away that first sin of Adam, which causes spiritual death? Yes, but we cannot suppose that. Otherwise, we are denying the efficacy of baptism.
None of us are born innocent and none of us are children of God and heirs of heaven until we are baptized.
Here is one of the sections in the CCC on this point.
1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
The heresy of universal salvation, which claims that all men and women are saved may be behind this false thinking. Also, the heresy of Pelagianism states that man's nature is basically good. This is not true. We are born in sin. Look at Romans 5:12 and the CCC on baptism if confused.
The third error is that these babies are in heaven. Just this afternoon, I saw this on twitter. We cannot say that for sure, and as Blessed John Paul II stated, and as stated in:
CCC, 1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"64 allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.
Too often, pro-lifers want to feel good about the destruction of these poor babies by stating opinions as facts which may or may not be true. We know what Christ has taught about baptism. We know that God can do all things. But, we must not be presumptuous in order to hide the real horror of abortion, which is not only the death of a body, but the possible denial of a soul experiencing the Beatific Vision.
This last fact must be considered if we are to face the entire horror of this slaughter of millions of children through-out the world. We should weep and grieve, indeed, and work to end abortion.
Here is a good site for more information.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/BAPTISM.TXT
The first one was corrected by the Pope Emeritus and announced at a retreat I attended in 2011. In England, some one was pushing a prayer which identified those poor babies who are aborted with martyrs of the Faith.
Thankfully, this was clarified by Rome and the prayer which was being used was altered to reflect the correction. Aborted children are not martyrs. These victims of murder are not witnesses to Christ. They cannot be compared with the Holy Innocents, who died directly because of Jesus Christ.
Aborted babies do not experience either the martyrs Baptism of Blood, or the adult's Baptism of Desire. And some one cannot desire this for them, sadly. This second type of baptism is connected with error two.
That is the first error and it has been officially corrected.
The second error is that is that aborted babies are innocent children of God. They are innocent as far as being innocent victims of murder, but as captives in Original Sin, these poor babies are not children of God and do not have sanctifying grace. Can God intervene and take away that first sin of Adam, which causes spiritual death? Yes, but we cannot suppose that. Otherwise, we are denying the efficacy of baptism.
None of us are born innocent and none of us are children of God and heirs of heaven until we are baptized.
Here is one of the sections in the CCC on this point.
1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
The heresy of universal salvation, which claims that all men and women are saved may be behind this false thinking. Also, the heresy of Pelagianism states that man's nature is basically good. This is not true. We are born in sin. Look at Romans 5:12 and the CCC on baptism if confused.
The third error is that these babies are in heaven. Just this afternoon, I saw this on twitter. We cannot say that for sure, and as Blessed John Paul II stated, and as stated in:
CCC, 1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"64 allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.
Too often, pro-lifers want to feel good about the destruction of these poor babies by stating opinions as facts which may or may not be true. We know what Christ has taught about baptism. We know that God can do all things. But, we must not be presumptuous in order to hide the real horror of abortion, which is not only the death of a body, but the possible denial of a soul experiencing the Beatific Vision.
This last fact must be considered if we are to face the entire horror of this slaughter of millions of children through-out the world. We should weep and grieve, indeed, and work to end abortion.
Here is a good site for more information.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/BAPTISM.TXT
A Very Interesting Article
Thanks to Lisa Gras for the heads-up on this article. It is worth reading. Here are a few selections.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/10550800/Rise-of-the-exorcists-in-Catholic-Church.html
The diocese of Milan recently nominated seven new exorcists, the bishop of Naples appointed three new ones a couple of years ago and the Catholic Church in Sardinia sent three priests for exorcism training in Rome, amid concern that the Mediterranean island, particularly its mountainous, tradition-bound interior, is a hotbed of occultism....
In Spain, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, the archbishop of Madrid, chose eight priests to undergo special training in May to confront what he described as “an unprecedented rise” in cases of “demonic possession”. The Church in Spain was coming across many cases that “go beyond the competence of psychologists” and they were occurring with “a striking frequency”, the archbishop said.
“Diabolical possessions are on the increase as a result of people subscribing to occultism,” said Fr Francesco Bamonte, the president of the Italy-based International Association for Exorcists. “The few exorcists that we have in the dioceses are often not able to handle the enormous number of requests for help,” he told La Repubblica last month.
The Hour Glass Part Five
One book, at least, survived the purge of books. As Samuel, Ann, and Max entered the cave and went down to the central large cavern which was heated by underground hot springs to a temperature of about 18C, Columcille noticed an old paperback book stuffed in one of Max's pockets.
"Well, this is interesting," he exclaimed. Max look right at Columcille. "I am here because of this book. I did not know we had it and when I gave over our library to the government years ago, I honestly thought I had passed all the pesky books of Ann and her recusant family on."
They all sat down on old, very old wicker chairs. In another day, long ago, in a conservatory some where, this conversation may have seemed like a group of friends having tea and biscuits. Max continued, "Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, a book of things I hated-religion, myth, ideological history. Then I began to read it. Oh, I found it in a crack in the attic. When I got to the section on Chad, Theodore, and Wilfrid, something happened to me. I saw real men in really hard times being sensible, rational, humble."
Max stopped. Samuel had come back with water for all. Ann sat in the chair looking more vibrant than she had in years.
"When Chad stated that he did not want or desire a bishop's ordination if it were not to be. Suddenly, I saw a man who give up status and even his love for his people for a higher good. I saw that I was never able to do that, that I only wanted status, money, love or rather, admiration. Why could I not be like this Chad? Then for the first time in my life, I said a prayer. I said "God, if you are real, like Ann believes, not only heal her completely but give me this humility which looks manly."
Ann was beaming like a bride. Samuel reached over and touched her hand.
Max continued, "Then, Samuel came in to give Ann a last blessing or whatever. I went downstairs and stood at the end of the bed. Just as Samuel was saying some words of absolution, I honestly felt something envelope me like a huge clear bubble. I then saw Ann for the first time like I have never seen her before-a gift to me, a real gift." Max halted and put his hands to his face.
"I closed my eyes and just said, 'Thank you, God, for Ann.' Then, I heard her call me by name. She was sitting up, looking like my healthy Ann, and she was so happy."
Ann finished the story, "I knew God had given Max new sight. I knew I was healed because of Max's prayer."
Samuel asked Max, "Do you want to be baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith, Max, here and now?"
Max stood up, "Yes, what do I have to do?" Samuel took Max to a corner and explained that Max should make a general confession. Max and Samuel talked for about a half-hour. Then, they stood up.
Samuel walked over to the pool of warm water. "Come here, Max."
Max and Samuel took off light shoes and step into the water, "I baptized you, Max Bede, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Then, Samuel and Max went through the sacrament of Confirmation, with Ann as his sponsor.
Samuel said, "Come back tomorrow morning for Mass and receive you First Holy Communion. Take Ann back home and we shall see you tomorrow."
Columcille led the couple to the door, opening and closing the stone door.
He walked back to the warm pool. "Well, one never knows how God works..."
"Book of all kinds are important," answered Samuel.
Samuel reminded Columcille that today was the day to visit the families on the seaside, about eleven miles away. In this place, in this series of caves, the waters of the ocean did not impinge on the underwater springs.
There were about thirty Catholic families in and around Lowestoft. More families came in for Mass when word got around that Samuel and Columcille were coming for confessions and Mass. Many Catholics from other places in East Sussex would find their way from other areas as quietly and as unobtrusively as possible.
Of course, as in the remnant days, the days of trial, one large family in one large house was the known gathering place for the Catholics of East Suffolk. One of these houses was on the coast, a house set up by the Howard Family; a long lost secret was that one of their safe houses still existed on the coast near Lowestoft. This old house had been turned into a museum for awhile, then was a National Trust property. When the National Trust was dissolved, the house moved into the hands of a private family. This family was now Catholic and the confessions and Mass occurred in this small house on the coast.
The Earl of Suffolk, Thomas Howard, left his mark in the area with many people protected over the hundreds of years by the old families, who had all but died out. Tomorrow, Samuel and Columcille would meet a new Thomas Howard, a man of the same name, but not the same lineage, who had agreed to bi-weekly escort the two priests to the small house, called, simply East Beach House. He was the new guide, as the other had mysteriously disappeared.
But, at the end of this day, the two priests would walk inland, towards Diss, an old town, still somewhat isolated, where a few Catholics lived and worked.
Mass would be held in the afternoon on the Lion Road in a small pub. This was a bi-weekly Mass only, and about thirty people would attend that one. Samuel knew all the families well, as his family once had a farm off the Old Bury Road. The parents and the farm were all gone, a long time ago. Samuel came from an old recusant family, his family belonging to an elite group of a few families, about seven, which had not died out, although his was not the "aristocratic" side. A few cousins dotted the Suffolk landscape, and all were strong, active Catholics. Samuel wished, now and then, that the times could be like years ago, when families worshiped freely and could attend all the high holy days together.
One cousin was the very Thomas Howard, who was the priests' guide along the way, as well as cousin to the other Thomas Howard of tomorrow's journey. The Howards seemed to lack creativity in the naming of their boys.
They had to travel very late in the day. There was no curfew in this area, as it was not highly settled. In fact, there were fewer people living here than in the days of the First Earl of Suffolk. Until the late afternoon, both priests would spend the day in Adoration, and in hearing each other's confession, as they always did before this particular trip.
To be continued...
"Well, this is interesting," he exclaimed. Max look right at Columcille. "I am here because of this book. I did not know we had it and when I gave over our library to the government years ago, I honestly thought I had passed all the pesky books of Ann and her recusant family on."
They all sat down on old, very old wicker chairs. In another day, long ago, in a conservatory some where, this conversation may have seemed like a group of friends having tea and biscuits. Max continued, "Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, a book of things I hated-religion, myth, ideological history. Then I began to read it. Oh, I found it in a crack in the attic. When I got to the section on Chad, Theodore, and Wilfrid, something happened to me. I saw real men in really hard times being sensible, rational, humble."
Max stopped. Samuel had come back with water for all. Ann sat in the chair looking more vibrant than she had in years.
"When Chad stated that he did not want or desire a bishop's ordination if it were not to be. Suddenly, I saw a man who give up status and even his love for his people for a higher good. I saw that I was never able to do that, that I only wanted status, money, love or rather, admiration. Why could I not be like this Chad? Then for the first time in my life, I said a prayer. I said "God, if you are real, like Ann believes, not only heal her completely but give me this humility which looks manly."
Ann was beaming like a bride. Samuel reached over and touched her hand.
Max continued, "Then, Samuel came in to give Ann a last blessing or whatever. I went downstairs and stood at the end of the bed. Just as Samuel was saying some words of absolution, I honestly felt something envelope me like a huge clear bubble. I then saw Ann for the first time like I have never seen her before-a gift to me, a real gift." Max halted and put his hands to his face.
"I closed my eyes and just said, 'Thank you, God, for Ann.' Then, I heard her call me by name. She was sitting up, looking like my healthy Ann, and she was so happy."
Ann finished the story, "I knew God had given Max new sight. I knew I was healed because of Max's prayer."
Samuel asked Max, "Do you want to be baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith, Max, here and now?"
Max stood up, "Yes, what do I have to do?" Samuel took Max to a corner and explained that Max should make a general confession. Max and Samuel talked for about a half-hour. Then, they stood up.
Samuel walked over to the pool of warm water. "Come here, Max."
Max and Samuel took off light shoes and step into the water, "I baptized you, Max Bede, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Then, Samuel and Max went through the sacrament of Confirmation, with Ann as his sponsor.
Samuel said, "Come back tomorrow morning for Mass and receive you First Holy Communion. Take Ann back home and we shall see you tomorrow."
Columcille led the couple to the door, opening and closing the stone door.
He walked back to the warm pool. "Well, one never knows how God works..."
"Book of all kinds are important," answered Samuel.
Samuel reminded Columcille that today was the day to visit the families on the seaside, about eleven miles away. In this place, in this series of caves, the waters of the ocean did not impinge on the underwater springs.
There were about thirty Catholic families in and around Lowestoft. More families came in for Mass when word got around that Samuel and Columcille were coming for confessions and Mass. Many Catholics from other places in East Sussex would find their way from other areas as quietly and as unobtrusively as possible.
Of course, as in the remnant days, the days of trial, one large family in one large house was the known gathering place for the Catholics of East Suffolk. One of these houses was on the coast, a house set up by the Howard Family; a long lost secret was that one of their safe houses still existed on the coast near Lowestoft. This old house had been turned into a museum for awhile, then was a National Trust property. When the National Trust was dissolved, the house moved into the hands of a private family. This family was now Catholic and the confessions and Mass occurred in this small house on the coast.
The Earl of Suffolk, Thomas Howard, left his mark in the area with many people protected over the hundreds of years by the old families, who had all but died out. Tomorrow, Samuel and Columcille would meet a new Thomas Howard, a man of the same name, but not the same lineage, who had agreed to bi-weekly escort the two priests to the small house, called, simply East Beach House. He was the new guide, as the other had mysteriously disappeared.
But, at the end of this day, the two priests would walk inland, towards Diss, an old town, still somewhat isolated, where a few Catholics lived and worked.
Mass would be held in the afternoon on the Lion Road in a small pub. This was a bi-weekly Mass only, and about thirty people would attend that one. Samuel knew all the families well, as his family once had a farm off the Old Bury Road. The parents and the farm were all gone, a long time ago. Samuel came from an old recusant family, his family belonging to an elite group of a few families, about seven, which had not died out, although his was not the "aristocratic" side. A few cousins dotted the Suffolk landscape, and all were strong, active Catholics. Samuel wished, now and then, that the times could be like years ago, when families worshiped freely and could attend all the high holy days together.
One cousin was the very Thomas Howard, who was the priests' guide along the way, as well as cousin to the other Thomas Howard of tomorrow's journey. The Howards seemed to lack creativity in the naming of their boys.
They had to travel very late in the day. There was no curfew in this area, as it was not highly settled. In fact, there were fewer people living here than in the days of the First Earl of Suffolk. Until the late afternoon, both priests would spend the day in Adoration, and in hearing each other's confession, as they always did before this particular trip.
To be continued...
The Hour Glass Part Four
The early morning sky glowed pink and orange at the horizon when the two priests finished Mass in a small copse of trees in a corner of Louisiana. A third priest, Philip Scott from Texas, a vicar-general to four bishops in that Republic, had met them the night before. He approached the two, walking out of a small field of old, dried corn. He had said Mass at four, while the others slept. They took turns sleeping and watching.
Outside The Wilderness, food could be found. One of the strange phenomena was the proliferation of small animals, such a squirrel and rabbit. Also, if one could catch a Canadian Goose, such birds flourished in the southern states below the glacier line, which was covering Canada and the upper states.
Philip could be seen from a distance. He was a large African-American, In his hands were two rabbits.
One of the great tools in Antonio's backpack was a complete trapper's set and knives. The priests would have a good breakfast today.
"And I will move them to jealously with those who are not a people, " laughed Philip. He was an Anglican convert as well, and still quoted the psalms from the old Longmans and Green Breviary. No one minded.
"I also have some Manna Berries," he exclaimed. Manna Berries, named by the southern Americans, were a strange type of red berry which grew on small, short bushes which proliferated after the nuclear blast. People called them Manna Berries for three reasons. One, these berries could be found every where from the western boundary of the Republic of Texas to the Atlantic coast of Florida. One could make sauce out of the Manna Berries to put on rabbit, for example. Two, they just appeared after the first blast, and three, one got thoroughly sick of them. Rabbit and Manna Berries was the most common dinner in the South.
This dish was becoming the ordinary daily dinner of most people.
"All we need is a food kiosk," said Antonio. The three priests got to work cooking. Antonio's backpack was a traveling survival kitchen. He even had salt, a rare commodity.
"Do you trust the tenders of the food kiosks, Philip? Antonio was curious about the new, small bartering stations which had sprung up in the South. People who horded food in cans or dried food stuffs, mostly stolen from huge warehouses, such as the old WalMarts, people who did not have traps like Antonio had in his backpack, traded canned goods for rabbits and squirrels. Four cans of carrots, peas, spinach, or peaches could be traded for one squirrel. A rabbit bought five cans, or four cans and a dried packet of soup stuff.
That the small animals flourished was considered by most people, the enduring Christians of the South, as a direct blessing from God. All people prayed a prayer of thanks before eating, knowing that people farther north were starving to death in many areas.
Another anomaly was a new species of green grape, which grew wild at the edge of forests. When Anselm in Rome had heard this, he declared these grapes the official wine-making grapes for the altar wine in America.
In the Republic of Texas, there were vineyards cultivating these wild grapes and wine makers specifically created a vinum mustum, an approved young wine for sacramental use. The apostolic letter from Anselm on the use of young wine greatly helped the priests in America continue saying the Mass.
All priests felt that God had given them the new wild grapes as sheer gift. The common name for these grapes, and the wine from them was Meribah, because of the complaints of the laity of the odd taste when first used, especially if the priest could only use the juice he himself made by pressing the grapes in the chalice.
Priests joked about Meribah Must, but it was, literally a God-send.
"OK, we have time for news. What is this great news from Texas you promised to share, Philip", asked James.
"Well, in one word, conversions. We are seeing, literally, thousands of people asking to become Catholics. Near San Antonio, we baptized at least 3,000 people over Christmas, and near Houston, more than that came in . The bishops are also ordaining more priests. We think there are as many as 700 new priests ready to go out into other areas for ministry. In fact, several were sent into occupied territory, in Oklahoma, and contact was made with some of the Benedictines in exile there."
James passed around the stew of Manna Berries and rabbit. "Good, and I imagine this will be shared at the meeting."
Philip took his plate, "Yes, we all need good news. There is too much bad news. I also have to share that more executions in New Mexico and Arizona by the Chinese Army have basically decimated the Catholic populations in those two states. We only know of one bishop who has escaped and is in hiding. Three bishops were killed in January."
"It is amazing how the Texans have kept the Chinese out of the Republic," said Antonio. "Truly amazing."
"Well, we have guns. Most people outside The Wilderness have no guns owing to the registrations of 2014. The government took away guns in most states. Thankfully, Texans were stubborn. And, thankfully, the Chinese have run out of ammunition, as the glaciers have interrupted movement through Canada and the seaports no longer exist. Who would have thought after the first invasion that Nature would stop the largest army on earth from completing a take-over of America."
"You mean God, not Nature," noted Antonio and all three priests nodded.
After breaking camp and making sure no one could tell where they had eaten, the three proceeded south and east from their corner of Louisiana. The walk to the meeting would take at least two more full days. "At least it is not raining, " said James. "Or snowing, " said Antonio.
To be continued....
Outside The Wilderness, food could be found. One of the strange phenomena was the proliferation of small animals, such a squirrel and rabbit. Also, if one could catch a Canadian Goose, such birds flourished in the southern states below the glacier line, which was covering Canada and the upper states.
Philip could be seen from a distance. He was a large African-American, In his hands were two rabbits.
One of the great tools in Antonio's backpack was a complete trapper's set and knives. The priests would have a good breakfast today.
"And I will move them to jealously with those who are not a people, " laughed Philip. He was an Anglican convert as well, and still quoted the psalms from the old Longmans and Green Breviary. No one minded.
"I also have some Manna Berries," he exclaimed. Manna Berries, named by the southern Americans, were a strange type of red berry which grew on small, short bushes which proliferated after the nuclear blast. People called them Manna Berries for three reasons. One, these berries could be found every where from the western boundary of the Republic of Texas to the Atlantic coast of Florida. One could make sauce out of the Manna Berries to put on rabbit, for example. Two, they just appeared after the first blast, and three, one got thoroughly sick of them. Rabbit and Manna Berries was the most common dinner in the South.
This dish was becoming the ordinary daily dinner of most people.
"All we need is a food kiosk," said Antonio. The three priests got to work cooking. Antonio's backpack was a traveling survival kitchen. He even had salt, a rare commodity.
"Do you trust the tenders of the food kiosks, Philip? Antonio was curious about the new, small bartering stations which had sprung up in the South. People who horded food in cans or dried food stuffs, mostly stolen from huge warehouses, such as the old WalMarts, people who did not have traps like Antonio had in his backpack, traded canned goods for rabbits and squirrels. Four cans of carrots, peas, spinach, or peaches could be traded for one squirrel. A rabbit bought five cans, or four cans and a dried packet of soup stuff.
That the small animals flourished was considered by most people, the enduring Christians of the South, as a direct blessing from God. All people prayed a prayer of thanks before eating, knowing that people farther north were starving to death in many areas.
Another anomaly was a new species of green grape, which grew wild at the edge of forests. When Anselm in Rome had heard this, he declared these grapes the official wine-making grapes for the altar wine in America.
In the Republic of Texas, there were vineyards cultivating these wild grapes and wine makers specifically created a vinum mustum, an approved young wine for sacramental use. The apostolic letter from Anselm on the use of young wine greatly helped the priests in America continue saying the Mass.
All priests felt that God had given them the new wild grapes as sheer gift. The common name for these grapes, and the wine from them was Meribah, because of the complaints of the laity of the odd taste when first used, especially if the priest could only use the juice he himself made by pressing the grapes in the chalice.
Priests joked about Meribah Must, but it was, literally a God-send.
"OK, we have time for news. What is this great news from Texas you promised to share, Philip", asked James.
"Well, in one word, conversions. We are seeing, literally, thousands of people asking to become Catholics. Near San Antonio, we baptized at least 3,000 people over Christmas, and near Houston, more than that came in . The bishops are also ordaining more priests. We think there are as many as 700 new priests ready to go out into other areas for ministry. In fact, several were sent into occupied territory, in Oklahoma, and contact was made with some of the Benedictines in exile there."
James passed around the stew of Manna Berries and rabbit. "Good, and I imagine this will be shared at the meeting."
Philip took his plate, "Yes, we all need good news. There is too much bad news. I also have to share that more executions in New Mexico and Arizona by the Chinese Army have basically decimated the Catholic populations in those two states. We only know of one bishop who has escaped and is in hiding. Three bishops were killed in January."
"It is amazing how the Texans have kept the Chinese out of the Republic," said Antonio. "Truly amazing."
"Well, we have guns. Most people outside The Wilderness have no guns owing to the registrations of 2014. The government took away guns in most states. Thankfully, Texans were stubborn. And, thankfully, the Chinese have run out of ammunition, as the glaciers have interrupted movement through Canada and the seaports no longer exist. Who would have thought after the first invasion that Nature would stop the largest army on earth from completing a take-over of America."
"You mean God, not Nature," noted Antonio and all three priests nodded.
After breaking camp and making sure no one could tell where they had eaten, the three proceeded south and east from their corner of Louisiana. The walk to the meeting would take at least two more full days. "At least it is not raining, " said James. "Or snowing, " said Antonio.
To be continued....
Prayers Needed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/01/03/an-astonishing-dangerous-cold-snap-is-about-to-descend-on-the-u-s/
I have asthma and this cold air makes life very hard for asthma sufferers. Please remember to pray for me and all who suffer with breathing problems at this time.
Thank you.
STM
I have asthma and this cold air makes life very hard for asthma sufferers. Please remember to pray for me and all who suffer with breathing problems at this time.
Thank you.
STM
The Hour Glass Part Three
Before joining the priests in England, a digression on the great burning of books must be inserted here.
The global government began to push, through the dying EU and the American government, a banning, then a burning of books. The reasoning behind the burning of books in all western countries was that leaders began to realize that liberal education created the legions of rebels against their efforts. Instead of hitting the rebel groups individually, the two governing bodies, which became the United Government of Europe and the Provisional Military Government of America, (the names created by the globalists), the first step was to seize all religious books, all history books not published by the governing bodies and all literature before the year 2018.
Anyone found hoarding books not only had their books taken from them, but these people or organizations were fined and imprisoned. The great universities had agreed to a compromise, which involved an agreement that the governments would allow certain books, but have in place government overseers in charge of the university libraries. Those libraries which refused were taken over and the contents burned. Fines accompanied the burnings.
Most of the Catholic new universities were fined and shut down.
In Europe, the anarchists volunteered to control the burning. All the cities of Europe were purged of religious books, literature, poetry, and history books. In some places, the Muslem communities helped the government destroy the infidels books. This seemed like a good idea until the government began destroying the holy books of Islam. Civil war waged in some countries, like Germany and England, until the great endless winters overtook most activities.
But, the books were gone, or at least, seemed to be. During this time, and even before, the Pope had ordered all clergy to memorize the texts mentioned earlier.
In Rome, the Pope had also organized the shipment of libraries and art work to places in Africa. Some thought Anselm himself was there in hiding, but no one knew for sure. Like the contraband books, Anselm was, at least temporarily, safe.
In England, the glaciers were diverted but the snows and ice storms interrupted life. Columcille and Samuel worked together as did all priests.
And, this morning, Columcille was relieved to see Samuel returning as the laity were leaving Mass. But, Samuel was heading for the cave with two other people. One was Ann Swallow, and the other was her husband, Max. What was most astounding was that Ann was walking and smiling, not at all looking like a woman of 75 facing death. And, what was also amazing, was that Max was with her, the same agnostic husband who had caused the most pain in this good woman's life by openly deriding her beloved Catholicism most of their married life.
to be continued....
The global government began to push, through the dying EU and the American government, a banning, then a burning of books. The reasoning behind the burning of books in all western countries was that leaders began to realize that liberal education created the legions of rebels against their efforts. Instead of hitting the rebel groups individually, the two governing bodies, which became the United Government of Europe and the Provisional Military Government of America, (the names created by the globalists), the first step was to seize all religious books, all history books not published by the governing bodies and all literature before the year 2018.
Anyone found hoarding books not only had their books taken from them, but these people or organizations were fined and imprisoned. The great universities had agreed to a compromise, which involved an agreement that the governments would allow certain books, but have in place government overseers in charge of the university libraries. Those libraries which refused were taken over and the contents burned. Fines accompanied the burnings.
Most of the Catholic new universities were fined and shut down.
In Europe, the anarchists volunteered to control the burning. All the cities of Europe were purged of religious books, literature, poetry, and history books. In some places, the Muslem communities helped the government destroy the infidels books. This seemed like a good idea until the government began destroying the holy books of Islam. Civil war waged in some countries, like Germany and England, until the great endless winters overtook most activities.
But, the books were gone, or at least, seemed to be. During this time, and even before, the Pope had ordered all clergy to memorize the texts mentioned earlier.
In Rome, the Pope had also organized the shipment of libraries and art work to places in Africa. Some thought Anselm himself was there in hiding, but no one knew for sure. Like the contraband books, Anselm was, at least temporarily, safe.
In England, the glaciers were diverted but the snows and ice storms interrupted life. Columcille and Samuel worked together as did all priests.
And, this morning, Columcille was relieved to see Samuel returning as the laity were leaving Mass. But, Samuel was heading for the cave with two other people. One was Ann Swallow, and the other was her husband, Max. What was most astounding was that Ann was walking and smiling, not at all looking like a woman of 75 facing death. And, what was also amazing, was that Max was with her, the same agnostic husband who had caused the most pain in this good woman's life by openly deriding her beloved Catholicism most of their married life.
to be continued....
Notes
The first novella starts on December 13th-one must scroll up to follow the story, of course.
This one will continue over the next several days.
STM
This one will continue over the next several days.
STM
The Hour Glass Part Two
James and Antonio never worked apart. It was the wish of the Pope in hiding that all priest work in twos, if possible. And, the job of this team, to go through The Wasteland and minister to Catholics and gather information of the remnant, demanded that each support the other in prayer, in brotherhood.
James Carter was older than Antonio. He had been an Anglican priest for 20 years and had converted and been ordained before the establishment of the Ordinariate in North America. His wife and three daughters had tragically died in the nuclear blast, as they had traveled to Colorado Springs to visit the grandparents for Christmas. All the Carter Clan had perished.
James had been prepared for horrible times, but the fact that his entire living family had been taken all at once in a huge gathering at Christmas had take an long time to sink in. His brother, Robert and Robert's wife and children, his uncles and aunts, his nieces and nephews all died immediately, as the center of the blast was Denver. James had the small wedge of peace that his family has not suffered long, if at all.
Antonio had also lost his entire family in Chicago, in the great tidal wave. Antonio had been in Rome at the time, finishing up a course in Canon Law, as he was only recently ordained, when the terrible flooding of the Midwest had occurred.
He knew, instinctively, that his mother, sisters, and nieces were all gone, along with the rest of the family in Roger's Park. Although Antonio had never received word of their deaths, all the Guzmans and Costellos had perished immediately in the great tidal wave, which had been caused by the largest earthquake ever witnessed on earth, located just north of Toronto, making all the waters of Lake Michigan move north and then flow back down in a great tidal wave over the middle west. The waters filled the great Mississippi Valley up to the tops of the cliffs and destroyed any cities below that line.
Like James, Antonio was grateful that his good family had perished immediately and quickly and did not witness the violent anarchy which overtook the states of northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and parts of Minnesota and Iowa. Sadly, the great Catholic Bruderhoff in Mundelein, with about 1,000 Catholics, had been destroyed in the great tidal wave as well. No knowledge of that group had trickled down into other parts of the state. It was assumed all had died. Antonio, being from the Archdiocese of Chicago, had to bear other sorrows, as many of those people in the Catholic Bruderhoff had been his personal friends. Antonio did not know for years that, indeed, many of that group had left to go south to the new community outside of Irondale, having been warned in prayer to do so...but not all had heeded the warning.
The two priests were bound in grief as well as duty.
All transcripts were written out in notebooks in pencil and sent via an underground of priests and deacons to the southern part of Appalachia, and then to the coast of Florida, where some wealthy Catholic families maintained two shipping businesses which allowed communication to England and then to Rome.
Besides ministering the sacraments and saying Mass on the road, travelling from place to place, Antonio and James were commanded by Anselm to get as much information as possible about the state of the Catholic Church in America.
Small, excellent surprises had encouraged these two men, as they quickly discovered that many people from the north had moved to southern Illinois, inland Missouri, and most of the southern states, creating instant communities of survivors.
Other good news was that there were many priests already serving these new itinerant communities and as the dioceses had to go underground, many were just working as "lone rangers" as they were fondly called.
Antonio was the most serious of the two. His youth was clouded by so much trauma and loss, that James had to help him with this transition to missionary priest and emissary to Rome. James was a typical intellectual, almost "effete" and still wore the traces of his long Anglican life in his manner.
But James loved Antonio like a son, and the two worked well together. Prayer sustained them, and even on the road, they found time to talk and share ideas.
One of the great treasures in James' back pack was a Summa of the Summa. James' background in Aquinas, (he had done his doctoral thesis on the virtues in the Summa) gave him the ability to teach Antonio, who, like the proverbial sponge, soaked up the wonderful insights of James. In turn, Antonio was teaching James both Spanish and Tagalog, as Antonio had spent a year in the Filipino community in Chicago as a deacon and was a whiz with languages.
The conversation and prayer of these two priests on the road grew into long discussions on virtues and the intricacies of language.
On this trip, James and Antonio were leaving The Wasteland and moving into Louisiana to meet up with some other priests for a small American conference. Rumor had it that at least three bishops would also be attending.
This secret meeting was to be held in Bienville.
As all priests across the world had taken on other skills, James had learned basic architecture, the old way, with pencil, paper and the old tools of the trade. He was actually quite talented. Antonio was a carpenter.
Recently, both has met a priest who had travelled up from Texas and had word on the Catholics in that state.
Again, the state had been spared the take-over of China in the western states and western Canada, as the great tidal wave had stopped the fighting and because the Texans had waged a huge war in the north, holding off until the Chinese army retreated back to Arizona and New Mexico. There still was a stand-off.
Texas had also declared itself a Republic again and taken over all federal rule. No one cared. Texas was thriving in some ways and more and more people who had survived the blast and the brief war straggled into Texas, making it the most crowded state, before it declared independence in 2023. The fast onset of the glacial era had forced the Chinese back, as their own country was rapidly being covered in ice and supplies to the army interrupted. Weapons were scarce, and none of the Chinese wanted to use nuclear weapons after witnessing the horrible destruction of western Canada and America by the rogue government of North Korea, which no longer existed, being blasted out of existence by the orders of the dying American president, in Hawaii at the time, in sheer revenge. China was no longer in a position to finish taking over America, although it held all The Wasteland west from the Pacific to the Red River Valley in the north, and to the borders of Texas to the south, excluding Arkansas and Missouri, which for some reason, lay like islands surrounded by the mighty waters of the Mississippi on one side and the waters of the Missouri and the Arkansas creating dry spaces, large areas of clear land. Basically, all the states west of the upper Missouri were in the hands of the rapidly shrinking Chinese army or destroyed by the great nuclear blast. Some areas of Arizona and New Mexico had not been destroyed by the blast, but now lay under Chinese rule. Those two states were the only states in the west where there was some semblance of normality, except for martial law and conquest. Water was a problem, however, as most of the water was polluted.
That communications were almost non-existent, as the gird was gone, and as the major communication companies, mostly located in Los Angeles, were gone, there was no real news. Most Americans simply were existing in survival mode. The east coast has been taken over by the global government immediately after the blast and those places had become, like the west, states under martial law-but under a different warlord. America, therefore, was divided into several areas and under two tyrannical governments, neither of which could hold things together. Much of the northeast had experiences anarchy. New York was a battleground of looters, criminals, and the military.
James and Antonio were making their way to Lousiana when they met the priest from Texas. Something interesting was happening there.
To be continued....
James Carter was older than Antonio. He had been an Anglican priest for 20 years and had converted and been ordained before the establishment of the Ordinariate in North America. His wife and three daughters had tragically died in the nuclear blast, as they had traveled to Colorado Springs to visit the grandparents for Christmas. All the Carter Clan had perished.
James had been prepared for horrible times, but the fact that his entire living family had been taken all at once in a huge gathering at Christmas had take an long time to sink in. His brother, Robert and Robert's wife and children, his uncles and aunts, his nieces and nephews all died immediately, as the center of the blast was Denver. James had the small wedge of peace that his family has not suffered long, if at all.
Antonio had also lost his entire family in Chicago, in the great tidal wave. Antonio had been in Rome at the time, finishing up a course in Canon Law, as he was only recently ordained, when the terrible flooding of the Midwest had occurred.
He knew, instinctively, that his mother, sisters, and nieces were all gone, along with the rest of the family in Roger's Park. Although Antonio had never received word of their deaths, all the Guzmans and Costellos had perished immediately in the great tidal wave, which had been caused by the largest earthquake ever witnessed on earth, located just north of Toronto, making all the waters of Lake Michigan move north and then flow back down in a great tidal wave over the middle west. The waters filled the great Mississippi Valley up to the tops of the cliffs and destroyed any cities below that line.
Like James, Antonio was grateful that his good family had perished immediately and quickly and did not witness the violent anarchy which overtook the states of northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and parts of Minnesota and Iowa. Sadly, the great Catholic Bruderhoff in Mundelein, with about 1,000 Catholics, had been destroyed in the great tidal wave as well. No knowledge of that group had trickled down into other parts of the state. It was assumed all had died. Antonio, being from the Archdiocese of Chicago, had to bear other sorrows, as many of those people in the Catholic Bruderhoff had been his personal friends. Antonio did not know for years that, indeed, many of that group had left to go south to the new community outside of Irondale, having been warned in prayer to do so...but not all had heeded the warning.
The two priests were bound in grief as well as duty.
All transcripts were written out in notebooks in pencil and sent via an underground of priests and deacons to the southern part of Appalachia, and then to the coast of Florida, where some wealthy Catholic families maintained two shipping businesses which allowed communication to England and then to Rome.
Besides ministering the sacraments and saying Mass on the road, travelling from place to place, Antonio and James were commanded by Anselm to get as much information as possible about the state of the Catholic Church in America.
Small, excellent surprises had encouraged these two men, as they quickly discovered that many people from the north had moved to southern Illinois, inland Missouri, and most of the southern states, creating instant communities of survivors.
Other good news was that there were many priests already serving these new itinerant communities and as the dioceses had to go underground, many were just working as "lone rangers" as they were fondly called.
Antonio was the most serious of the two. His youth was clouded by so much trauma and loss, that James had to help him with this transition to missionary priest and emissary to Rome. James was a typical intellectual, almost "effete" and still wore the traces of his long Anglican life in his manner.
But James loved Antonio like a son, and the two worked well together. Prayer sustained them, and even on the road, they found time to talk and share ideas.
One of the great treasures in James' back pack was a Summa of the Summa. James' background in Aquinas, (he had done his doctoral thesis on the virtues in the Summa) gave him the ability to teach Antonio, who, like the proverbial sponge, soaked up the wonderful insights of James. In turn, Antonio was teaching James both Spanish and Tagalog, as Antonio had spent a year in the Filipino community in Chicago as a deacon and was a whiz with languages.
The conversation and prayer of these two priests on the road grew into long discussions on virtues and the intricacies of language.
On this trip, James and Antonio were leaving The Wasteland and moving into Louisiana to meet up with some other priests for a small American conference. Rumor had it that at least three bishops would also be attending.
This secret meeting was to be held in Bienville.
As all priests across the world had taken on other skills, James had learned basic architecture, the old way, with pencil, paper and the old tools of the trade. He was actually quite talented. Antonio was a carpenter.
Recently, both has met a priest who had travelled up from Texas and had word on the Catholics in that state.
Again, the state had been spared the take-over of China in the western states and western Canada, as the great tidal wave had stopped the fighting and because the Texans had waged a huge war in the north, holding off until the Chinese army retreated back to Arizona and New Mexico. There still was a stand-off.
Texas had also declared itself a Republic again and taken over all federal rule. No one cared. Texas was thriving in some ways and more and more people who had survived the blast and the brief war straggled into Texas, making it the most crowded state, before it declared independence in 2023. The fast onset of the glacial era had forced the Chinese back, as their own country was rapidly being covered in ice and supplies to the army interrupted. Weapons were scarce, and none of the Chinese wanted to use nuclear weapons after witnessing the horrible destruction of western Canada and America by the rogue government of North Korea, which no longer existed, being blasted out of existence by the orders of the dying American president, in Hawaii at the time, in sheer revenge. China was no longer in a position to finish taking over America, although it held all The Wasteland west from the Pacific to the Red River Valley in the north, and to the borders of Texas to the south, excluding Arkansas and Missouri, which for some reason, lay like islands surrounded by the mighty waters of the Mississippi on one side and the waters of the Missouri and the Arkansas creating dry spaces, large areas of clear land. Basically, all the states west of the upper Missouri were in the hands of the rapidly shrinking Chinese army or destroyed by the great nuclear blast. Some areas of Arizona and New Mexico had not been destroyed by the blast, but now lay under Chinese rule. Those two states were the only states in the west where there was some semblance of normality, except for martial law and conquest. Water was a problem, however, as most of the water was polluted.
That communications were almost non-existent, as the gird was gone, and as the major communication companies, mostly located in Los Angeles, were gone, there was no real news. Most Americans simply were existing in survival mode. The east coast has been taken over by the global government immediately after the blast and those places had become, like the west, states under martial law-but under a different warlord. America, therefore, was divided into several areas and under two tyrannical governments, neither of which could hold things together. Much of the northeast had experiences anarchy. New York was a battleground of looters, criminals, and the military.
James and Antonio were making their way to Lousiana when they met the priest from Texas. Something interesting was happening there.
To be continued....
Sequel to The Novella-The Hour Glass Part One
Columcille woke up with a headache. He always work up with a headache in the tunnels, as the air was stale and dank. As he unraveled his long body from the sleeping bag, he fumbled around for his watch. Five, GMT.
Thankfully, his seminary training has included the discipline of memorizing the entire Breviary, as well as the entire Roman Missal, the Pontifical, the Ritual, the Martyrology, the Gradual, and the Antiphonary.
All the priests left in the world had been instructed by Pope Leo XIV to memorize the Scriptures as well.
All priests could work, could provide the sacraments, could say the Mass and preach without any books.
Of course, computer access had ended thirteen years before with the complete collapse of the electronic grid in all the countries, except for a small place in Greenland, where the one government ruled over the world from places hidden in ice and snow.
The beginning of the world-wide glaciation had corresponded with the one nuclear blast which had destroyed one-third of the United States in 2019. The cold had been setting in before that date, but accelerated. Most people over the age of 75 had succumbed in Europe and in Canada, where daily temperatures hovered at minus 20 C. No one knew exactly how many old people had died in America.
Columcille was the last surviving member of his family. His old parents had seen him ordained, and then passed on in the first winter in England after 2019.
The priest went over to a small cupboard which was leaning up against a wall of the cave and took out a large crucifix completely made of wood. It was old, Flemish, 15th century, and had been in Columcille's family since recusant times. as were his entire collection of relics of the saints prior to 1435.
The old house had been taken over by the United Government of Europe in 2020. And, Columcille was glad his parents had not witnessed the sacrilege of the old chapel. The beautiful Sussex home had been one of three places where the Mass had never ended up to this time. A heavy burden on Columcille's heart was the knowledge that Mass would never be said there again.
The young priest knelt on the cold ground, after putting on a heavy anorak, and prayed his morning office.
He would wait for the few faithful in the area to join him for Mass in about 90 minutes. This would give Columcille enough time to say his office and enter into his daily contemplation. He was content to have this time before Mass and before meeting Samuel, the only other priest in the area for house visitations.
No one was allowed to use the name of "Father". No one was allowed to wear blacks or any indication of the priestly vocation. To outsiders, Columcille looked like a workman. His identity card stated that he was a plumber, and Columcille did know how to be a plumber. The other great wise decision of Pope Leo XIV had been that all seminarians would learn a skill, such as plumbing, carpentry, and brick work.
Thankfully, for the Catholics, when the grid disintegrated, all electrical life ended and electrical surveillance also ended, for a time. The government was working on a world-wide grid again, but things were moving slowly.
Columcille finished his prayers. He always kept a long fast from 10 the night before until after Mass. This was also a necessity, as food and water were scarce. Columcille stopped and thanked God again that Great Britain had been spared the nuclear fall-out and that the waters were good to drink.
Such was not the case in much of North and Central America, where all the great rivers and lakes were so heavily polluted that they were labelled the "Death Waters".
The western states died first, all plants, all animal, all people. Then, when the waters of the Great Lakes backed up and returned to fill the great Mississippi River Valley, most of the great cities of the Midwest died as well. Chicago had been completely destroyed in the first tidal waves, followed by all the major cities along the coasts of the other Great Lakes, and those cities in the Mississippi Valley.
Diseases followed the flooding, and what nature did not kill, the looters and murderers who spread out from the ruins of Chicago and the other great cities finished.
If there were any Catholics left in any area north of the Mason-Dixon Line, no one knew for sure.
No one except Samuel, who regularly got dispatches from two priests in America in what was now called The Wasteland.
The Wasteland priests were one Latino from Illinois and one Anglican convert, ordained in the last days before the great blast. Antonio and James worked as a team in the Wasteland and reported back to Samuel, who passed information back to Rome, to Pope Leo XIV, who was in hiding and know only as Anselm, his given name at birth. The Pope was English. It was strange to many that the Pope in these times would be English, as if this had to happen, once even noted in a famous novel now lost to most, as most books were destroyed by law by the United Government of Europe in 2019, just before the nuclear blast.
Anselm, however, even though he was English by birth and name, was of mixed background. His mother had been Scottish. His brother had been named Angus, but he was lost in the riots of 2021, a priest killed by a mob in Paris, where Angus had gone to help the suffering Church there.
Anselm had named all those Catholics killed in Paris in 2021 martyrs. His brother would now help him in a different way.
Columcille rose and went down the long tunnel to the entrance of the cavern. The doorway looked like stone and was amazingly well-constructed not to be noticed. The priest rolled the stone into a secret wall and then saw the small crowd in the morning light waiting. There were about twenty people of all ages coming to hear and participate in Mass.
As they shuffled into the tunnel, Columcille saw Samuel at the end of the small queue. He was gesticulating.
"A word, Columcille, a word." The young priest went over to the mouth of the cave to where the old priest was standing.
"Ann Swallow is dying. I need to go and give her the Last Rites. Can you manage? She is too weak to come here."
Columcille looked worried, "Her husband is not a Catholic. You could be trapped."
"I cannot let her die without the sacraments. She has been so good to us all these years, and she is the last Catholic in her family of faithful people I knew growing up. I need to go."
"God be with you, Samuel. I shall offer up my Mass for both of you."
The old priest left and Columcille rolled the rock back into place. Then, he joined the others in the largest room in the set of caverns, and Mass began.
To be continued....
Thankfully, his seminary training has included the discipline of memorizing the entire Breviary, as well as the entire Roman Missal, the Pontifical, the Ritual, the Martyrology, the Gradual, and the Antiphonary.
All the priests left in the world had been instructed by Pope Leo XIV to memorize the Scriptures as well.
All priests could work, could provide the sacraments, could say the Mass and preach without any books.
Of course, computer access had ended thirteen years before with the complete collapse of the electronic grid in all the countries, except for a small place in Greenland, where the one government ruled over the world from places hidden in ice and snow.
The beginning of the world-wide glaciation had corresponded with the one nuclear blast which had destroyed one-third of the United States in 2019. The cold had been setting in before that date, but accelerated. Most people over the age of 75 had succumbed in Europe and in Canada, where daily temperatures hovered at minus 20 C. No one knew exactly how many old people had died in America.
Columcille was the last surviving member of his family. His old parents had seen him ordained, and then passed on in the first winter in England after 2019.
The priest went over to a small cupboard which was leaning up against a wall of the cave and took out a large crucifix completely made of wood. It was old, Flemish, 15th century, and had been in Columcille's family since recusant times. as were his entire collection of relics of the saints prior to 1435.
The old house had been taken over by the United Government of Europe in 2020. And, Columcille was glad his parents had not witnessed the sacrilege of the old chapel. The beautiful Sussex home had been one of three places where the Mass had never ended up to this time. A heavy burden on Columcille's heart was the knowledge that Mass would never be said there again.
The young priest knelt on the cold ground, after putting on a heavy anorak, and prayed his morning office.
He would wait for the few faithful in the area to join him for Mass in about 90 minutes. This would give Columcille enough time to say his office and enter into his daily contemplation. He was content to have this time before Mass and before meeting Samuel, the only other priest in the area for house visitations.
No one was allowed to use the name of "Father". No one was allowed to wear blacks or any indication of the priestly vocation. To outsiders, Columcille looked like a workman. His identity card stated that he was a plumber, and Columcille did know how to be a plumber. The other great wise decision of Pope Leo XIV had been that all seminarians would learn a skill, such as plumbing, carpentry, and brick work.
Thankfully, for the Catholics, when the grid disintegrated, all electrical life ended and electrical surveillance also ended, for a time. The government was working on a world-wide grid again, but things were moving slowly.
Columcille finished his prayers. He always kept a long fast from 10 the night before until after Mass. This was also a necessity, as food and water were scarce. Columcille stopped and thanked God again that Great Britain had been spared the nuclear fall-out and that the waters were good to drink.
Such was not the case in much of North and Central America, where all the great rivers and lakes were so heavily polluted that they were labelled the "Death Waters".
The western states died first, all plants, all animal, all people. Then, when the waters of the Great Lakes backed up and returned to fill the great Mississippi River Valley, most of the great cities of the Midwest died as well. Chicago had been completely destroyed in the first tidal waves, followed by all the major cities along the coasts of the other Great Lakes, and those cities in the Mississippi Valley.
Diseases followed the flooding, and what nature did not kill, the looters and murderers who spread out from the ruins of Chicago and the other great cities finished.
If there were any Catholics left in any area north of the Mason-Dixon Line, no one knew for sure.
No one except Samuel, who regularly got dispatches from two priests in America in what was now called The Wasteland.
The Wasteland priests were one Latino from Illinois and one Anglican convert, ordained in the last days before the great blast. Antonio and James worked as a team in the Wasteland and reported back to Samuel, who passed information back to Rome, to Pope Leo XIV, who was in hiding and know only as Anselm, his given name at birth. The Pope was English. It was strange to many that the Pope in these times would be English, as if this had to happen, once even noted in a famous novel now lost to most, as most books were destroyed by law by the United Government of Europe in 2019, just before the nuclear blast.
Anselm, however, even though he was English by birth and name, was of mixed background. His mother had been Scottish. His brother had been named Angus, but he was lost in the riots of 2021, a priest killed by a mob in Paris, where Angus had gone to help the suffering Church there.
Anselm had named all those Catholics killed in Paris in 2021 martyrs. His brother would now help him in a different way.
Columcille rose and went down the long tunnel to the entrance of the cavern. The doorway looked like stone and was amazingly well-constructed not to be noticed. The priest rolled the stone into a secret wall and then saw the small crowd in the morning light waiting. There were about twenty people of all ages coming to hear and participate in Mass.
As they shuffled into the tunnel, Columcille saw Samuel at the end of the small queue. He was gesticulating.
"A word, Columcille, a word." The young priest went over to the mouth of the cave to where the old priest was standing.
"Ann Swallow is dying. I need to go and give her the Last Rites. Can you manage? She is too weak to come here."
Columcille looked worried, "Her husband is not a Catholic. You could be trapped."
"I cannot let her die without the sacraments. She has been so good to us all these years, and she is the last Catholic in her family of faithful people I knew growing up. I need to go."
"God be with you, Samuel. I shall offer up my Mass for both of you."
The old priest left and Columcille rolled the rock back into place. Then, he joined the others in the largest room in the set of caverns, and Mass began.
To be continued....
The Ozark
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| Thanks to Wiki |
My dad, who is 90, spent his youth fighting in WWII. He was in the Battle of the Bulge. His 12nd Infanty Division was in Maxey, Swift (Texas), Redball, Holland, Siegfiedline, Roer, Rhine, Elbe, Bavaria, Havre and Kilmer.
Dad never, never talks about this, and when the neighbor, who was at the Italian front went to Europe with his wife (he is now 93 and she is 85), they asked my parents to go. Dad did not want to go.
We need to remember what all these veterans did for us.
We need to honor our vets.
I know few details, like Dad and his group eating eggs for two weeks at Fort Swift, as the food had not come down yet.
Or how, he went for a walk and ended up in the women's nurses' corp camp and they almost kidnapped him.
Or how, he was in charge of men who had to bury all the dead bodies of all the Jews in every little village between the French border and Berlin, as the people, even though they knew the war had been lost, were burning the last, few remaining Jews alive.
In 1965, at the twentieth anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, my dad told me that he and his men (he was in charge) would see smoke coming out of a barn and they knew that the villagers had burned the last few Jews. He and his men buried the burnt corpses, most of which were found huddled by the barn doors, trying to get out.
They died in the flames.
This happened over and over again on the route to Berlin. This is one reason why my dad does not talk about the war.
Here is one of the incidents from wiki-but it was not the only one.
On 15 April the division discovered a war crime in Gardelegen. About 1,200 prisoners were herded into the empty barn measuring approximately a hundred by fifty feet on the outskirts of the town. The barn was then burned down, killing those inside. About 1,016 people were killed. The division commander ordered that the civilian population be forced to view the site and to disinter and rebury the victims in a new cemetery. After digging the graves and burying the bodies, they erected a cross or a Star of David over each grave and enclosed the site with a white fence. [2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/102nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
Remember all the vets in your prayers today, please.
Here is the link to the Battle of the Bulge. My dad was on the North Shoulder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Popcorn with A Few Jewels
One of my friends, who wants me to rewrite and edit my poetry, short stories, and fairy tales, which I do not, calls my writing "popcorn with a few jewels".
That is because I write fast, and like the popcorn machine, produce something often, over and over and over.
With a few jewels.. quoth he.
A photo for him today....
I am interested in taking some of my novellas and making them into anime or mangas for Catholics. Does anyone know people involved in such who may be interested? There is a need for the new evangelization of mangas-and so many of my stories are fairy tales and political fantasies, this genre would suit the message.
Ideas?
That is because I write fast, and like the popcorn machine, produce something often, over and over and over.
With a few jewels.. quoth he.
A photo for him today....
I am interested in taking some of my novellas and making them into anime or mangas for Catholics. Does anyone know people involved in such who may be interested? There is a need for the new evangelization of mangas-and so many of my stories are fairy tales and political fantasies, this genre would suit the message.
Ideas?
Friday, 3 January 2014
Please join me in private prayer for my intentions
O God, merciful Father, you granted your servant Álvaro, Bishop, the grace of being an exemplary pastor in the service of the Church, and a most faithful son and successor of Saint Josemaría, the founder of Opus Dei. Grant that I too may respond faithfully to the demands of the Christian vocation, turning all the circumstances and events of my life into opportunities to love you and serve the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Deign to glorify your servant Álvaro, and through his intercession grant me the favor I request ... (here make your petition). Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.
In conformity with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII, we declare that there is no intention of anticipating in any way the judgment of the Church, and that this prayer is not intended for public use.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.
In conformity with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII, we declare that there is no intention of anticipating in any way the judgment of the Church, and that this prayer is not intended for public use.
My favorite post of 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
White Roses on the Shore: a Long Poem by Supertradmum
White Roses on the Shore: Sea, ships and the bend of the coast
Part One: Ancona- "A star rises in midwinter"
Here, at this Ancona
I am beginning to forget you,
like we forget the histories of towns,
or the names of beautiful harbours.
But, memory, say the ancient holy ones,
can either aid us or be great rocks
in the heart and the mind-who recalls
the Valley of the Brambles, or
the Broken Bridge, or the Land
of the Grand Master. The henge is wrapped
in bureaucracy and Glastonbury ’s martyrs
forgotten in silly action and false colours.
“But love, when perfect, is so powerful,
that we forget our own pleasure
in order to please God, whom we love”
wrote the Great Teresa—but what should
we keep in memory and what forget, as
I am forgotten in these walls? The sea and
the ships bring my heart back in waves to you,
in greys, whites, reflecting my Clairvaux moods.
How can I grieve, like Odysseus on Circe’s isle,
waking out of drugged slumber from the depths
of the Middle Sea
the sea contains the hottest blood of all.” This sea
holds mine and if I could send Love like ripples
to your shore, like tides to all whom I love, these
would be small white roses, riding on the dark sea,
small tokens lapping up on the far shores….
moving through time and memory, tossed over
the largest heart of all with a memory as old
as the song it sings, but it cannot sing the songs
of purged memory, the nocturnes of this day.
No white prayers come up from the deep, only
the praise of being warm in the cold, cold sea,
under the sail boats, under the rain and mist, the songs
vary outside my door—do those creatures on board
praise Him with persistent longing as the whales
below? What do they remember and what forget?
We have the missa and Word Incarnate, to remind
us of who we are and what we should remember.
Part Two: Telemachus- "They took a terrible vengeance"
Persistent love cannot be false, purified in the
gem polisher, made into some perfect stone
not born of passion, but compassion and pity;
not lust, but a reaching of the heart for completeness.
The young prince’s beard made mater’s decision
strong in pain and promise, being queen true to
her word, watching, weaving, weeping in the night
weary of those burning in envy and hatred.
Greed pitted itself against her age of fast happiness,
she wanted peace; but, cannot the past be washed away,
the blood purified cleansed by the Blood of Him
Who showed Himself to a tribe unknown to
Telemachus? “Love is as strong as death” could
have been mater’s song as well as the desert groom,
coming up from the sheepfold, coming into the tent
looking for her who was dark and comely. Remembering.
Youth’s ascendancy tossed him into the sea of Mnemosyne
into Menelaus’ grand company, but no wisdom there.
Sailors brought the son back to miracles and a goddess
he did not know. He became a man, true, unlike others.
Wrapped in the courage of Pallas Athena, he did not see
like another youth of the sheepfold, He, Who broke the Seal of Death,
Ever-Young in the dawn of a foreign day. Did the bearded youth
look south, as I do today, towards the hot lands for courage,
missing the purple sea, far from this cold land of grey mist
this land rimmed by sunsets of orange and duck-egg blue?
Telemachus’ sun set quickly, like yours, fame for a thousand
years without a twilight, but there is no other way
than to be taught by one’s father the ways of war and wooing.
The Hyperborei knew this and blessed their bards, placing them
in the front lines of battle for fame and fortune. Such is the play
of poetry and war, youth and death, marriage and separation.
Part Three: Penelope- "How can I cherish my man?"
Orion’s Belt melts the clouds in this night’s brightness,
but Penelope’s constellation seemed smaller than mine,
this one who strides across the Bay and meets the hot
cliffs of the other lands of deeper waters and older tribes.
Memory and reflection were her gifts of love, she
affectionate emblem of faithfulness, like me, always
monogamous, notoriously faithful beyond waiting days.
A woman’s face grows old while the heart is purified.
She undid her weary work until minds of lust and greed
jackals, predators, circling her and showing themselves
not to be real men of the Middle Sea
she mourned the lion, the whelps played war.
Searching the shore in the grey mist of morning, she
with spring-love in her heart gave in for a moment, but
what we have is greater, stronger, divine Love holding
all in His Heart, Humanity reaching down to earth
like Orion capturing the sea. Penelope’s god was her
husband, but now God becomes the Husband, and even such
a man as her’s striving with Neptune to get home, could
not compare with the Crucified One.
Odysseus of collective memory regained his bride through
suffering, a man purified in water and wind, Poseidon’s
plaything, until humility was learned and earned.
Some of us, like the Poet, are “rememberers”,
the bards with bow and arrow in the line of honour,
passing on the muir Desunt caetera, repetition, memory,
love in names and titles never to be forgotten unless
carved in foreign lands. We forget to our own peril.
The missing have forgotten who they are and were and
what they were supposed to be. Like Adam, thrust out
of the green home, reflecting in nine-hundred years of
remorse, waiting for death, and then the harrowing.
Profane love, like coal, becomes a diamond heart over time
and heat and pressure. The God of History changed all,
for Penelope, for me, renewing hope in the heart
making one young in vision and mastery.
Without memory, there would be no people,
no poem, no bard in the front line of fire;
no children to carry on the reflections of the
mater and pater; nothing but death.
Part 4: Ithaca- "The soul of man"
I would sit quietly in the southern sunlight
and bring you tea, sitting not too close in
the heat of the day, in silence, where the
geraniums bloom under the low sierras
which hid the pain crying out for healing
and completeness. So much has been lost
in this generation lost to the confusion of
each Child of Our Time, like the sailors
stopping up their stubborn ears in order to reach
the wineskin of wind, of curiosity, destroying
years of peace and Odysseus’ domesticity, pushing
out again into the Ionian Sea ; none returned but one.
Love and will were separated. We threw away chances,
for completeness, renewable, yes, but not the same, like
the queen’s lost years of childbearing. But, there is
a greater mercy than Athena’ magic. The shore is in view.
from my cove, but love rides the white waves, regardless
of the temperature of the sea and shore. Odysseus’ soul
was healed before he found Penelope again. So, climb
up and see the small raft and like the man of the Middle Sea
come home to who you are. The New God is not Poseidon,
ruler of horses, but the One Who walked on the waves,
proving a new King of the blue sea not far from you.
The ships sail away. My heart stays with the Babe in the Womb
silent in waiting for the fullness of time, and here we have
our being, if we look in the same place for this healing God.
Find the raft hidden beneath the cliff and come home.
Part 5: The Unknown God-"I would know my shadow and my light"
The sons of Telemachus may have seen the sons
of the red-haired man, in the market place of Athens ,
speaking the words of Epimenides for we are indeed,
people of memory; “Men of Athens , I perceive that
in every way you are very religious,” or a varied translation.
Damaris and Dionysius heard with the blood of Odysseus
calling them home to a different Love, choosing a Known
God faithful to time and memory, the One Who entered history
again and again and again, changing the darkness into dawn.
in a Resurrection some derided. The long song of Homer
created a space for a new mimesis, heart, home, memory, will,
understanding, for new descendants of the wandering man.
The Blood washed away the obstacles, the encumbrances,
the imperfections of the tribe, purging our own hearts so
that we could decide to do something somewhere, somehow.
The Vulnerable God gave us His courage.
Spousal love so praised by Homer and Solomon becomes
the norm for you, for me, for those who care to listen
to the song. Love is now my occupation-let it be yours.
Let the heart follow us home….
Per lumen gloriae fit creatura rationalis Deiformis
Cum enim aligius intellectus creatus vidit
Deum per essentiam—ipsa essentia Dei fit intelligibilis
Deum per essentiam—ipsa essentia Dei fit intelligibilis
infellectus.
The waters by the dry sands will not let my voyage
be delayed—for we are humans, semper idem,
semper paratus waiting for God. And, “seven times
a day, I praise Thee for Thy righteous ordinances.”
Benedict took up the heart and home of the Known God.
“Let me live, that I may praise Thee.” And the God of
time and memory redeemed the grass, redeemed the springs,
redeemed the Middle Sea
Small waves like white roses on the sea gather on the sand.
I would send them out again, in wind and sun to the south,
to lap up on another shore, like small prayers in the dark.
Yield, bend, gather the signs of memory at your feet in the waters.
copyright, 2013
copyright, 2013
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