A Short Story from Max

Max lived in a homeless shelter. He was given some change and saw a small stuffed animal in a Hallmark store which tickled his imagination. What few knew was that Max had been a war journalist. He had experienced a nervous breakdown in the Middle East and could not hold a job. His family, abandoning him, thought he should just "buck up" and find a job.

But, with a medical history of breakdowns, Max could only do things for a short while. Then, he would have nightmares. The small animal in the window of the shop reminded him of something he could not quite remember.

And, he did not have enough change to buy it. Max was 42, tall and very thin. He looked much older than his age. One of the few vets to have never taken drugs and one who did not drink, he did not fit into certain "programs" where he lived. Thankfully, Max lived in a southern state, so he could be outside most of the time. At night, he slept in the shelter.

Max did not go to church. He had been raised Jewish, and left that religion for a secularism, which no longer kept him steady. His modern philosophies died on the battlefield. Two of his buddies were blown up in front of him, which resulted in Max's first breakdown. But, Max had found God and Christ through his limited experiences. He knew that Jesus was really true God and Man. Now,  Max was no theologian and could not explain to others what had happened to him. He had seen Christ. He had walked with Christ.

Now, in early March, he found himself in the emergency room of a small hospital. He had been bitten by a stray dog and had to have rabies shots, as the dog could not be found. Max knew he was in for more pain.

He had been triaged, owing to a serious car accident involving a horse and rider, therefore, he waited patiently in the waiting area. Max sat down next to a well-dressed man, who was bent over. Max felt sorry for this man.

"Sorry you are so upset," Max said. The man, about 50 years old, sat up and stared at Max. "Thanks. My wife is in there in serious condition."

"I shall pray for her," Max said. The man stared at him again. "Do you pray?"

"Yes, I do."  The man said, "But, you look like you have had hard times."

"Yes, Sir, I have, but it all could be worse. But, you are lucky to have a wife."

The man answered, "I have not appreciated her enough. She is a lovely woman. Her horse bolted on the side of our property and ran into a lane, just as a car came up. Her pelvis is completely smashed and she has head injuries."

Max looked at the floor. "I shall pray right now." And, he did.

The man sat up straight and looked at Max. "Here, take this note I am writing and keep it until you need it."

Max took the folded sheet and put it in his pocket. He kept praying. Just then, a doctor came out and asked for Mr. Colridge. The rich looking man got up and followed the doctor into the back rooms.

Then, a nurse came up and asked Max to follow her. She said they were going to start a series of shots and that he would have to come back six times for shots and check ups.

Max nodded and went into his cubicle. The shot hurt, but Max offered the pain up for Mrs. Colridge.

As he sat there drinking juice the nurse brought in, Mr. Colridge walked past the opening to Max's cubicle.

"Hey, my wife is going to be airlifted to Memphis. She is going to be fine. Lots of work, lots of physio, but fine. I guess your prayers work."

Max answered, "God is good." And, the man nodded, leaving quickly.

The nurse came back. "Do you have someone to take you back to the shelter?"

Max answered, "No, Ma'am. I take a bus down to the park."

"Well, we shall keep you here for a bit, and then you can go. See you soon."

Max drank another carton of juice. He was thinking of the Colridges.

When Max finally got back downtown and sat on "his" park bench, he decided to look at the note Mr. Colridge had given him. The note stated, "This man helped me so give him anything he wants in the shop. Mr. James Colridge, owner of the Delrich Gift Shops."

Max laughed out loud. Then, he got up off his bench and walked a half-mile to the Delrich Gift Shop. He asked the girl for the red, small animal in the window. She obviously did not want to wait on Max, but she picked the stuffed toy out of the window and put it on the counter.

"Do you have money for this?" Max took the folded paper out of his pocket.

"I have this." The girl looked at the note and replied, "Stay here for a minute. I have to get the manager."

In a few minutes, a young man came out and looked at Max. He looked at the note. "Yes, this is Mr. Colridge's handwriting. Give the man the toy. If it is fake, I shall pay for it."

The young woman looked at both the manager and Max, but she obeyed. She put the small red animal in a bag. The manager grabbed some candy and small things off the side of the counter and put those in the bag as well.

"Thanks," said Max and he walked out, with his small parcel of goodies.

Sitting on the bench, Max took out the small red animal. It seemed to remind him of something. Then, he remembered. Sam, one of his buddies who was killed in front of him, had loved war games. He would talk of the Red Dragon Infantry where he could choose his weapons.  Max did not play games, but he and Sam were like brothers. The small red dragon reminded him of Sam.

Max said a prayer to God thanking Him for Sam, for Joe, the other man killed, for Mr. Colridge, for Mrs. Colridge. He wondered at the connections among all peoples. He wished these connections were more obvious to others.

Then, he began to eat the little candies in his bag. At the bottom of the bag lay a pen and a small tablet of paper. Max ate and wrote this story.....he felt his talent coming back. "Thanks, Sam, " he said, and wrote away.

Manifesto on Perfection Series

The perfection series exists for three reasons, Readers.

One, to help you love God more and experience the love of God.

Two, to help you skip purgatory-in other words, be a saint now.

Three, to build up the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. For, as you become purified and perfected, you will experience love of neighbor more and more, plus your gifts and virtues will finally blossom.

.

Cult of Personality Again

Years ago, I wrote an article on the "cult of personality", which has engulfed the imaginations of people all over the world. Whether a man or woman is good or bad, this cult of personality involves following famous or infamous individuals across the globe.

Now, I have never been a person to be attracted to personalities. I skipped seeing the Beatles as a teen in my area, as I could not stand the adoration of four not-so-perfect men which swept through my generation. In fact, as I have written on this blog, two girls broke down in hysteria in gym class, and had to be led to the nurse's office, the day they found out Ringo Starr had gotten married.

I did not idolize the local heroes of high school football. I did not idolize the president of the student government. Some girls did.

I never idolized the rich or the poor just because such people were rich or poor.

Being impervious to following rock stars or politicians, members of the monarchy or movie stars, I have not really understood the power of false charism. To be watching and following such people makes up a complete waste of time, time I can spend looking at the Cross on the wall here.

Are some people's lives so boring, or are some people so lacking in creativity that these folk must read about births, deaths, marriages, divorces of the rich and famous?

Ho-hum.

The following of Putin falls into the category of the "cult of personality". He has been made a saint by some who have given him the halo for just being a macho man or because our own president is weak, especially in foreign affairs.

Saints earn their stripes by being humble and loving God first, rather than themselves. The way to sainthood must be seen as an arduous journey, not a photo op.

In our own country of America, many idolize POTUS and wife; why I do not know.

I would not have idolized Washington or Lincoln. They were men with a job to do and they did it. Basta. Do I give honor to honorable people? Of course-but the key phrase in that sentence is "honorable".

I have one human idol and He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. I am allowed to idolize Him as He really is God, not a false god.

By the way, we become those we idolize. Think on that....

to be continued....

Promised Article from My Russian Friend

The confusion regarding Putin may be clarified by some of the points in the following post. A friend of mine who is Russian wrote this for me.

A lot of opinions have been expressed regarding the recent crisis in Ukraine and the Russian annexation of Crimea. I have especially been troubled by some comments I have read on traditional blogs. I would like to address some of the opinions expressed there.

Lest I be accused of being duped by the US government and media propaganda, let me assure you that until three days ago I had read reports from neither regarding this issue. Instead, I have been reading the very few remaining independent Russian sources (most of them have been shut down) and talking to friends and family still living in Russia.

1. Putin wants stability for his country.

This is true enough, but stability at what cost? If there was one thing we had in the Soviet Union, it was stability. All was stable and crystal clear. One knew exactly what to think and what to say, and if you did not think or say that, there was a provision in the criminal code that could be applied to such “de-stabilizing” individuals. Fingers on both hands are not enough to count the members of my family who were imprisoned and executed by that “stable” regime.

Putin has not re-opened the GULAGs, so far as I know, but he has systematically centralized power and struck down opposition, both through legislative measures and other kinds of pressure. These measures have been stepped up since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine. Most recently Putin’s government has passed a bill that allows the Russian authorities to block web sites, without a court order, for promoting rioting and extremism. What exactly constitutes extremism is left to the discretion of the officials. This measure was quickly applied to Putin’s political opponents. This occurrence is neither singular nor new. One of my former classmates is a political analyst who has been critical of Putin’s government for a number of years now, and for the same number of years he has been unable to publish anything in any major Russian newspaper or appear on any major TV station.

2. Putin is a Christian man who supports religion.

I don’t have insight into Putin’s conscience, but should we not at least be somewhat suspicious of this old union that is presented in a new light? A union between a man who made his previous career at KGB – an agency that has a history of persecuting Christians – and the same church hierarchy that not so long ago assisted that agency in this task?

Interestingly, Putin in a talk aired by the Russian TV channels a few years ago said: “As you know, we have eastern Christianity – the Orthodox Church. And some Christian theorists claim, that it is in many ways closer to Islam than, let’s say, Catholics.”

3. At least he is making laws that support the family. His government is giving financial assistance to families for having more children. He passed laws against homosexual propaganda.

Yes, Putin is encouraging people to have more children. He is doing so because the population of Russia is decreasing with catastrophic speed! Germany has similar laws in the hopes of increasing its population, and by the way, so did Joseph Stalin. And yes, Putin opposes homosexuality, but laws against it existed in the Soviet Union. The Soviets understood that they must support the family to avoid a population crisis that Russia is facing now.

It is ironic that Putin himself divorced his wife of many years during the year he declared to be the year of the family.

4. He went after Russia’s corrupt oligarchs who had stalled the development of the Russian economy.

That seems to be true on the surface, but in reality Putin only went after the oligarchs who politically opposed him. Very different was his treatment of wealthy supporters. One example is Roman Abramovich (one of the richest men in the world). He is not opposing Putin and is allowed to conduct his business “as usual.” The most significant oligarch bleeding Russia to the point of death is the gas-extraction company Gazprom – one of the largest companies in the world – in which the Russian government has the controlling stake (and believe me, one has to have the “correct” political views just to work there).

5. Crimea joined Russia following a legal referendum.

This one really puzzles me. The referendum was conducted on what was Ukrainian territory at the time without any involvement from Ukraine. The referendum was hastily cooked up in two weeks and conducted with the ubiquitous presence of individuals in unidentified military uniforms, while being boycotted by large Ukrainian and Tartar minorities. Should these facts not at least draw some questions? Should they not at least cast some doubt on the 99.5% “in favor” vote?

6. The coup in Ukraine was staged by Americans.

This is another puzzling one. Given the history of oppression by the Soviet regime and the treatment of the Ukrainians even prior to the revolution, is it really so unbelievable that Ukraine, as some other former republics, would want to practice self-determination and to distance themselves from Russia as far as possible? It is their unfortunate position that they must now choose their poison – alliance with Russia or the EU. But I am not at all surprised that they, without any edging from the Americans, would want to choose the latter.

.....Comments?

And thanks so much to my friend for this post.

Reposting from Advent in Lent

I am resposting this as I have had recently a realization of one of the greatest sins found in this country. Americans demand a certain standard of food and have lost the sensitivity to simplicity. In the doctor's office, the television was on and a morning show highlighted receipes. Do all Americans now eat desserts daily? At one time, desserts were served and eaten only on the high holy days and special occasions. I am shocked at the fact that desserts seem to be expected in many families.The amount of food eaten and the choices indicate an enslavement to food here in the States. God forgive us.
Sunday, 22 December 2013

The Sins of Christmas Time-Gluttony

It seems to me that nations have corporate sins; that is, that national cultures gravitate to some sins more than others.

If I had to identify the American culture with one sin it would be the deadly sin of gluttony.

If one travels anywhere in the world, and comes back to the States, what is most noticeable are these things.

One, the amount of food people eat daily.

Two, the amount of good people waste daily.

I was visiting two households lately where the freezers were full of outdated food-seriously outdated food.

The host in one told me he has to throw away food all the time as he buys too much, and then does not use it.

All the food he was throwing away was expensive meat and fish, mostly from Trader Joe's.

I was shocked.

25% of what Americans buy is thrown away. 40% of what we produce is not eaten.

http://organicconnectmag.com/america-wastes-nearly-half-its-food/#.UrY9CNJDuyY

The second shock is the amount of food people expect to have at one meal.

People also snack here. I wish all Americans would spend time in other countries and notice the dinners and such people eat.

Much, much less, even the middle classes eat less and restaurants serve smaller portions.

One gets use to eating less food and expecting less.

It is actually healthier.

That Americans eat all the time, and in such quantities, grieves me. And, there are many, many, more obese young people here.

Gluttony is over-indulgence and over-consumption of food and drink.

Gluttony is also taking too much pleasure, and spending too much time over food buying, or preparation.

There is an odd idea in the Midwest that to love is to feed-and to feed is to love. Men and boys are spoiled at home with food daily. I can see the difference here than in Europe, where excessive eating is not seen as a specific sign of love.

And, in some counties in England, wheelie bins are only emptied once every two weeks. Americans cannot imagine that.

Here is St. Thomas Aquinas on Gluttony: http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3148.htm

to be continued....

Back to The Dark Night and Venial Sin

I have written in the past two days on the Illuminative State, which follows the Dark Night of purification. Sadly, too many Catholics run a ring around the goal of suffering, and do not want to let God purify them. One can follow the tags on this subject.

Our example for the final state of Union is the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was without defect by the Will of God, but she is more than willing to help us pursue the road which leads away from sin. To be led away from sin, one must be willing to not even commit venial sin and root out the causes thereof.

Detachment is the key. 

Venial sin weakens the will and pollutes the soul. Too many bad teachers of the way of religion have ignored the detrimental effects of venial sin. 

One who reaches perfection is without sin. The tendencies to sin have been destroyed. We must ask God over and over to free us from such tendencies.

Finally, we must not forget that detachment from creatures was far greater in the Blessed Virgin than in the greatest saints, since she never committed the slightest venial sin. It was even greater still in the holy soul of Christ, who not only never actually sinned, but who was, even here on earth, absolutely impeccable. Therefore it is truly an exaggeration of simplicity to say: "It is impossible to find a mean between having and not having defects.

" What is true, is that there is no mean between being or not being absolutely impeccable, between continually avoiding or not avoiding every venial sin, between wishing or not wishing to strive henceforth to avoid them more and more. According to St. Thomas, "man (poenitens) needs to have the purpose of taking steps to commit fewer venial sins." (13) According as this will is more or less intense or fervent, he will actually avoid them more or less. Detachment from creatures will increase with the progress of charity or of attachment to God. Father Chardon strongly insisted on this point in his beautiful book, La croix de Jesus.

From all evidence, there are many degrees in what St. Thomas expresses in this manner: "Perfection can be had in this life. . . by the removal from man's affections not only of whatever is contrary to charity, but also of whatever hinders the mind's affections from tending wholly to God." (14) In this detachment there are many degrees even in regard to the exclusion of venial sins: "Those who are perfect in this life are said to offend in many things with regard to venial sins, which result from a weakness of the present life." (15) This statement is not exaggerated in its simplicity; it is rather the simple expression of Christian good sense.(16)

And more here....with more references to St. Thomas Aquinas.

The soul can free itself of certain moral defects only by docility to the special inspirations of the Holy Ghost. It would be entirely false to say that if the soul cannot deliver itself from them without these special inspirations, "these defects are no longer voluntary and therefore do not hinder perfection." The gifts of the Holy Ghost are given to all the just precisely to enable them to receive with docility these special inspirations, whose superhuman mode, that is at first latent, grows progressively more manifest if the soul is docile. St. Thomas says in fitting terms: "Whether we consider human reason as perfected in its natural perfection, or as perfected by the theological virtues, it does not know all things, or all possible things. Consequently it is unable to avoid folly and other like things mentioned in the objection. God, however, to whose knowledge and power all things are subject, by His motion safeguards us from all folly, ignorance, dullness of mind, and hardness of heart, and the rest. Consequently the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which make us amenable to His promptings, are said to be given as remedies for these defects." (18)

We hold, therefore, that the special inspirations of the Holy
Ghost are necessary that the soul may be purified of a certain rudeness or harshness, of dullness, of spiritual folly, and other similar defects, which are not only opposed to a certain psychological purity, but to moral purity. Without progressive docility to these special inspirations of the Holy Ghost, the depth of the soul will not be purified of its more or less unconscious egoism which mingles, under the form of indirectly voluntary negligence, in many of our acts and in many more or less culpable omissions.

To say that the passive purifications are not necessary to perfect moral purity would be to deny the necessity of the passive purification of the will, which frees the acts of hope and charity from all human alloy.(19) In this connection we may profitably recall what St. Teresa wrote in her Life: "For instance, they read that we must not be troubled when men speak ill of us, that we are to be then more pleased than when they speak well of us; that we must despise our own good name, be detached from our kindred, . . . with many other things of the same kind. The disposition to practice this must be, in my opinion, the gift of God; for it seems to me a supernatural good." (20) The meaning which the saint gives to this last expression is well known. Moreover, she remarks more than once that the progress of the virtues normally accompanies that of prayer, and that profound humility is ordinarily the fruit of the infused contemplation of the infinite grandeur of God and of our own wretchedness. This growth in virtue is not something accidental; it is the normal development of the interior life.

St. John of the Cross clearly holds that the passive purifications are necessary for the profound purity of the will. It will suffice to recall what he says of the defects that necessitate the passive purification of the senses and that of the spirit. In The Dark Night of the Soul (Bk. I, chaps. 2-9, and Bk. II, chaps. I f.) he speaks, especially in the last two chapters named, of the "stains of the old man" which still remain in the spirit, like rust which will disappear only under the action of an intense fire. Among the defects of proficients which require "the strong lye of the night of the spirit," he mentions rudeness, impatience, secret pride, unconscious egoism which causes some souls to use spiritual goods in anything but a detached manner, with the result that they fall into illusions. Evidently they lack not only psychological but moral purity. Finally, in the opinion of St. John of the Cross, these passive purifications (which belong to the mystical order) and infused contemplation of the mysteries of faith are indubitably in the normal way of sanctity since he wrote the two following propositions, which are of primary importance in his work: "The passive purification of the senses is common, it takes place in the greater number of beginners"; being passive, it belongs not to the ascetical but to the mystical order.(21) "The soul began to set out on the way of the spirit, the way of proficients, which is also called the illuminative way, or the way of infused contemplation, wherein God Himself teaches and refreshes the soul" (22) St. John of the Cross most certainly wished to note here not something accidental, but something that is produced normally in the way of sanctity when a soul that is truly docile to the Holy Ghost does not recoil in the face of trial.

Apologies

Russian friend has not sent the article promised....will post it if I get it.

From a reader. Comments?

http://www.theamericancause.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1062&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=29

God Bless The Pope

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-warns-mobsters-risk-going-hell-182557557.html;_ylt=AwrBEiT2hCxTG10AR8zQtDMD

I know two people whose lives were ruined in Sicily from the Mafia. They have suffered for years owing to bad, past business deals. Pray for them and pray for all who have been the target of such hatred and greed.

A Difficult Post

One wonders about the state of the Church in America not merely because of the large political movements supported by so-called Catholics, such as socialism, abortion and same-sex marriage, but because of the lack of holiness among the laity.

Before I begin to describe a terrible indictment of the Catholic laity, I refer to the Rule of St. Benedict. And, before I refer to the Rule, I want to quote two people who told me that it is the duty of monasteries to take in indigents. No, it is not. We are in the age of the laity, and it is our duty.

First, here is St. Benedict:

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ,
for He is going to say,
"I came as a guest, and you received Me" (Matt. 25:35).
And to all let due honor be shown,
especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims.
As soon as a guest is announced, therefore,
let the Superior or the brethren meet him
with all charitable service.
And first of all let them pray together,
and then exchange the kiss of peace.
For the kiss of peace should not be offered
until after the prayers have been said,
on account of the devil's deceptions.
In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving or departing,
let all humility be shown.
Let the head be bowed
or the whole body prostrated on the ground
in adoration of Christ, who indeed is received in their persons.
After the guests have been received and taken to prayer,
let the Superior or someone appointed by him sit with them.
Let the divine law be read before the guest for his edification,
and then let all kindness be shown him.
The Superior shall break his fast for the sake of a guest,
unless it happens to be a principal fast day
which may not be violated.
The brethren, however, shall observe the customary fasts.
Let the Abbot give the guests water for their hands;
and let both Abbot and community wash the feet of all guests.
After the washing of the feet let them say this verse:
"We have received Your mercy, O God,
in the midst of Your temple" (Ps.47[48]:10).
In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims
the greatest care and solicitude should be shown,
because it is especially in them that Christ is received;
for as far as the rich are concerned,
the very fear which they inspire
wins respect for them.

Moving on from here to my main point proves a painful journey, not in the telling of a tale, but in the condemnation of a lifestyle which has marginalized the poor and suffering. The lifestyle has a name-the American Dream-and it has showed itself to be a nightmare.

A while ago, I was temporarily staying in a house and I was ill. The Catholic woman who was talking to me about staying there said to me that I was "an intruder". Now, I did not take this personally, as I realized that there must be something in her philosophy which saw people needing help, even for a week, as not the norm for her way of living. She saw anyone coming into her house for any length of time (a week, for example) as an intruder.

Now, I found this curious, as when I had my own house, I had an open door policy. Frequently, my son was chucked out of his bed to sleep upstairs in the attic, so that a guest could use his bed. Son loved being upstairs, and all guests just became part of the family.  My favorite guests were two people who just put their toothbrush in the family holder, which indicated that they felt right at home-which is the point of hospitality.

Now, being called an intruder made me ponder why this person, otherwise an upstanding and popular Catholic woman in her church, who is known for charitable works, would use this term.

Being of a completely different mindset, and having experienced love and care from others in my consistent indigent life elsewhere, I was, honestly, baffled. I even talked to a dear friend of mine who said she has met other people in the Midwest who consider guests or those in need as intruders.

Interesting.

So, I formulated some reasons why an American Catholic would believe that firstly, she had no duty to help a homeless person, and two, why that person would be deemed an intruder.

By the way, I am related to this person.

First of all, coming from my perspective, I never considered my home as "mine". My house was God's house, as He had given me the means to have a house. I never took a house for granted, and I was happy to have one.

Second, "mi casa es su casa" was my motto. Now, in America, extended families simply do not live together outside the Latino cultures. All my cousins live miles away and have never had extended family live with them. Even though some still live in houses with five bedrooms and the kids are long gone, this idea of having an family member join them in their house is foreign. How did this mindset become the norm?
I think this mindset was purposefully pushed by the American government even as early as the First World War, to break up extended families. Perhaps Americans can no longer love the other.

Third, I have heard mothers and fathers of a certain age state that they would not want their children moving close to them. The Amish in my area build houses for the newly married across the street or as close as possible, maintaining relationships with their grown children and grandchildren. How did Americans outside these communities move away from wanting to be close to family members? How did parents come not to want their children close by?

Fourth, an "intruder" is an outsider. one who comes in without permission and without welcome, like a thief. An intruder is one who is unpleasant and rude. Long ago, I had an intruder come into a townhouse where I was living. I had to deal with this man. He had evil intentions. He was a true intruder.

But, a person in need, who is related can hardly be a real intruder. So, what did my Catholic relative think about opening her house to a temporary guest?

First of all, she obviously thinks her house is hers and not God's . She has no idea of "my house being your house". She must feel threatened by anyone coming in. 

Second, to enlarge on that last sentence, if a person feels threatened by someone coming into their house for any length of time, that threat must be connected to either some sort of insecurity or hurt, or is simply a revelation of a long life of selfishness. Could it be that one is hiding sin from the world and to open one's house simply causes fear of disclosure?  I merely reflect.

Third, now I am a real introvert. As an INTJ, I clock far on the side of introverts, and love my solitude and scheduling. I love long hours of silence. I never use a radio or have music or TV in the background. However, people who came into my house did not threaten my space. Curious. Perhaps because my space is internalized and not externalized, this space "walks around with me".  Is it possible that many American Catholics have not internalized "space"-that little cell where we find God? Do they need ten or twelve rooms for "space"?

Now, the American Dream holds that one can be anything one wants to be and that one will have a house, a yard and chickens. One of the common things women tell me when I talk to them about community building is that they are for it, but their husbands do not want the reach out to others and do not want to deal with others outside the family, or even extended family members.

Again, does the American Dream either cause judgement or fear-a fear that "if one somewhat talented and intelligent person can end up on my sofa, I may be in position one day" and that would mean that the American Dream simply does not work? Not all people have a house, a yard and chickens.

Musing on this, I find that the Catholic rule of hospitality, which should be picked up by the laity in the Age of the Laity, is sadly missing in the Church.  The evil of socialism has caused some to say, "Is there no government plan for this" or that? No. Many people live in areas where the government has no housing, and has run out of emergency aid. There are few monasteries and most, if not all, charge for guests.

The time for being open to those who have not will come upon us, and I am merely a forerunner.

Treat all guests as Christ....

Thoughts on Mary This Saturday Morning

The Blessed Virgin Mary experienced the love of the Trinity from the moment of her conception. Her life was on of union with God. She is the true Bride of the Bridegroom. Her entire life on earth was one lived in the complete Presence of God, as she was created without sin, with no faults and no proclivity to sin.

Her complete innocence made her the perfect Mother of the Incarnate Christ. She exuded on earth every virtue, every gift from God.

That she experienced the horror of the Passion and Death of Christ was part of that life of love.

We suffer with those we love. Love binds us to the Beloved in peace, in suffering, in joy.

This Lent, meditate on Our Mother, experiencing through love, the pains of Christ.

Sorrowful Mother, pray for us.

Novena Prayer in Honor of the Sorrows of The Blessed Virgin Mary

The Novena finds it's origin in ancient Church tradition. A Novena is simply any prayer said faithfully for a period of dedicated time. Generally it is said for nine consecutive days, nine Sundays, Fridays or Saturdays, or even nine hours in a row. Novenas have traditionally been known to be very powerful ~ used since the time of the Apostles when most notably, they and the other disciples prayed and fasted for nine days prior to receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentacost. 

Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, you stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying Son. Look with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before you. I venerate your sorrows and I place my requests with filial confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded heart. Present them, I beseech you, on my behalf to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred passion and death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Through the united efficacy of both, obtain the granting of my petition. To whom shall I have recourse in my wants and miseries if not to you, Mother of Mercy? You have drunk so deeply of the chalice of your Son, you can compassionate our sorrows. Holy Mary, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of your Divine Son. Intercede for me and obtain for me from Jesus (mention request) if it be for His honor and glory and for my good. Amen.

Perfection Series II: lxiii--Signs of the Illumination State Three

The most obvious sign, besides peace and love, of the person in the Illuminative State, is orthodoxy. If a person seems to be living the life of the virtues, but objects to any item held by Rome, that person is most likely not even through the Dark Night. Purgation allows for humility and prudence to shine forth in the soul.

One cannot be unorthodox and a saint. Some liberals think that saints can be anyone who is "good" and "happy", for example. Some iconographers make icons of those who were never orthodox and, even, outside the Church.

A great person in the eyes of the world who positively rejects Catholic teaching is not a saint. Even the depictions of such people show a confusion, as in this one below. I note, again, this Vatican document on the dangers of New Age religions and Eastern Religions.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html

This trap of believing that good people who seem to do good in the world may be saints causes confusion in the Church, and outside the Church.

No one is canonized without being straight down the wicket orthodox. In the wisdom of the Church, those canonized reveal obedience and dutiful humility towards Church teaching. No wiggle room for those cooperating with grace....

to be continued...

Part Two-Signs of The Illuminative State: Perfection Series II: llxii

Continuing with some signs of the person in the Illuminative State, at the highest stage, here are a few more characteristics.

Eleven: the person is no longer living in a subjective reality, but in objectivity, taking nothing "personally" and being immune to the slurs and slanders, as well as the carelessness of others.

Twelve: the person has no fears of sufferings, but welcomes sufferings as raw material for growth in holiness.

Thirteen: the Scriptures open up in new depths as infused knowledge enters the mind, soul, and imagination.

Fourteen: the person has been found by God and has found God. These words apply to the person in the Illuminative State:

Song of Solomon 2

Douay-Rheims 

2 I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys.

2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3 As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his fruit was sweet to my palate.

4 He brought me into the cellar of wine, he set in order charity in me.

5 Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with apples: because I languish with love.

6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

7 I adjure you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and the harts of the, fields, that you stir not up, nor make the beloved to awake, till she please.

8 The voice of my beloved, behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills.

9 My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices.

10 Behold my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come.

11 For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone.

12 The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land:

13 The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come:

14 My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely.

Fifteen, people sense this person is different than others and want to be in this person's presence, as the man generates a deep peace. What people are sensing in the Presence of the Holy Trinity.

To be continued....

Signs of The Illuminative State: Perfection Series II: lxi

Here are a few signs of someone who is in the Illuminative State. These are taken from Garrigou-Lagrange, St. Catherine, and from observation.

One, the person easily lives a life of virtue, without constraints and with joy, as well as a complete self-forgetfulness.

Two, the person is not sinning even with venial sins, or rarely.

Three, the person is separated from pride and acts of self-aggrandizement. Humility marks the person in the Illuminative State.

Four, this person makes an impression on others with the least effort; for example, one or two words spoken by this person creates changes in others.

Five, the person does not care for mercenary or other rewards, but is complete without expectations for consolations either from humans or from God.

Six, the person walks with God daily, and is given infused knowledge about things and people. Even though this walk may not include consolations, the person knows by a deep conviction that the Bridegroom is with her.

Seven, the conscience is keen and one sees imperfections immediately if the purgation is not complete. However, for those truly in the last stage of the Illuminative State, there are no imperfections left.

Eight, the predominant fault has been utterly destroyed.

Nine, the person walks in light, and is no longer affected by the dark, but transcends the darkness with the awareness that God is always with him.

Ten, good works, great deeds, the real building of the Kingdom of God form the work of the person in the Illuminative state, the last stage.

To be continued.....

International Recipe Contest

I have been looking for a deep fat friend plum dumpling recipe with sweet plum sauce. My ancestors made plum dumplings in boiling water.

Contest time.

See whose plum dumplings may be the best.

Challenge to The Laity

Mediocrity kills education, business, the health systems, the Church...I taught the play Amadeus for years at the college and university level. Some of my students "got it"

Salieri turned his back on God when the composer did not get the fame and fortune he desired. He wanted to be the best, but God gave talents superior to Salieri to someone else. Salieri refused to be purified and scorned God, choosing evil.

Salieri knew that he was mediocre and, therefore, thwarted Mozart's success.

Pure evil...

Remember Salieri calling himself the patron of the mediocre?

Those who are mediocre hate those who are gifted and reaching for perfection.

Such is the ideal of satan-to ruin the road to perfection for all men and women; he encourages mediocrity.,

Whether the play is really "truth" or not does not matter, as the main idea resonants in this day and age.

Those who are superior in any way, daily, are shut down, marginalized, condemned.

This is the message of the Common Core Curriculum. My parents had trigonometry and calculus in high school.  Gone are the days of classical education in this country.

Cooperate with the purification of the Dark Night and allow God to give you the graces of the Illuminative State.

Why? Because the Church needs holy lay people. Quit moaning about poor clerical leadership and become the saint God has called you to be.

We are no longer children past middle-twenties. There are no excuses in wallowing in a long adolescence spiritually.

And, the many, many young saints, I have highlighted on this blog, put us older ones to shame. Mediocrity cripples the Church and may even destroy the presence of the Church in certain areas.

Read this from Garrigou-Lagrange:

When the liturgy recalls these words during Advent and at the beginning of Lent, it addresses not only souls in the state of mortal sin that are in need of conversion from evil to good, but also many Christians already in the state of grace who are still very imperfect and have to be converted from a relatively mediocre to a fervent Christian life. On Ash Wednesday it recalls to them Joel's words: "Now, therefore, saith the Lord: Be converted to Me with all your heart, in fasting and in weeping and in mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil." (7) These words are so much the better understood in proportion as the soul that hears them is more advanced and, although in the state of grace for many years, feels the need of a more profound conversion, the necessity of turning the depths of its will more completely toward God. The laborer who has plowed a furrow goes over it a second time to force the plow deeper and turn over the earth which must nourish the wheat.

Do not turn your back away from suffering or complain about suffering. See this time of purification as the great preparation for the Illuminative State.

How desperately does the Church need saints  now. Do not keep saying, "If only we had holy priests."

If only we had holy lay people.

A repeat of Garrigou-Lagrange quoting Lallemant:

"Such people ordinarily direct their lives by the common feeling of those with whom they live, and as the latter are imperfect, although their lives are not disorderly, they will never reach the sublime ways of the spirit, because the number of the perfect is very small. They live like the ordinary run of people, and their manner of governing others is imperfect.

"The Holy Ghost waits some time for them to enter into their interior and, seeing there the operations of grace and those of nature, to be disposed to follow His direction; but if they misuse the time and favor which He offers them, He finally abandons them to themselves and leaves them in their interior darkness and ignorance, which they preferred and in which they live thereafter amid great dangers for their salvation." (16)

Coming Tomorrow-A Russian's View

A friend of mine was raised and lived in Russia most of her life. She has been talking to me about what is really happening in the Ukraine and in Russia.

Some of you may be surprised, as some of the trads believe in a new Putin. Sorry, there is no new Putin...

Once a KGB man, always a KGB man.

Stay tuned...

St. Paul and His Thorn

Over the last two-thousand years, theologians have tried to decipher what St. Paul meant by this phrase on boldface type below.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Douay-Rheims 

7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

8 For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

Some claim it was an opponent, but most Catholic commentators in the past, note that this was a physical disability, or illness, of some sort.

Now, having endured the second worst winter of asthma in my life, and still not free from this keeping me up almost all night, I can identify with the Great Apostle to the Gentiles. One can pray and ask to be delivered from a physical oppression, but God does not always answer these prayers. 

The same has been true of many saints. Padre Pio and John Vianney were allowed by God to be oppressed by many outside enemies, even those in their own dioceses and, in Padre Pio's case, his own order. They also had trouble sleeping as the demons were allowed to keep them awake at night. 

Too many Catholics believe that if one is suffering, it is not God's Will.

Think again. 

Excuses for low output today

Have eye problems-not serious-but keeping me off the computer today.

Prayers please.


STM

A Real Leader -- Yea, Bishop!

http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/3103/Pittsburgh-Bishop-Says-%E2%80%98No%E2%80%99-to-Common-Core-in-Diocesan-Schools.aspx