Rumors of the fleet began months before the ships were sighted. Fishermen who travelled beyond Sicily and trading vessels disappeared, without any trace of ruin or survivors. Widows cried and lit candles to St. Publius and St. Paul all over the island. Spanish, French and Roman ambassadors came and discussed plans for a great sea battle with the commander of all the Knights, Jean Parisot de Valette. They came in stealth, and with little pomp due to their status. Plans made in secret need to be kept secret in a small place, on a small island.
Frederico was given orders to get more volunteers to fight and defend the coastlines of the west and south. All knew that the small peninsula would see the great part of the fighting. The harbor, so deep and easily accessible invited invasion.
Valette had been elected as Grand Master in 1557, because a battle would happen. The inhabitants looked towards him as a messiah, as a savior. As a monk as well as a soldier, Vallette gained admiration from Frederico, who honored the Grand Master's efforts to be an example of chastity, prudence, and obedience to God. Unlike so many of the Knights, Valette was stamped with an inner as well as exterior greatness. He inspired his men because he invoked God, and was, unusually, a humble man.
Frederico was called into a meeting in late July, on the Feast of St. Anne, to discuss plans for the inevitable. Tomas, also, had an invitation. When Frederico met the two in a small, quiet back street in Mdina, near the Cathedral, he was surprised, but pleased, with a third attendant. Immanuel walked into the cool room, resplendent in his newly acquired Italian clothes. But, on his face was joy and relief. Immanuel desired nothing more than to help with the battles to come. His youth and energy flushed his fair face. His mother had been beautiful.
"Immanuel, sit next to me, and look at these diagrams. I need your advice." Frederico smiled, but Tomas beamed. His decision to call back his son had proved to be right. He silently thanked his own judgement, with a nod to Claire's memory. He would have a Mass of thanksgiving said, as soon as possible.
"I need five large estates on which to grow necessary food stuffs in case of a siege. In my mind, at night, in the darkness of this small room, I see our dear people unable to get help from other Christian nations, for weeks, for months."
I want you to start what I shall call "state farms". Here, near Rabat, here on Gozo, on your father's estates, here in new city I want to build, and here in or near the Grotto of St. Mary. I want these estates to be so large that all the people will eat well, even if they must eat like rabbits, for as long as the battles take place. Can you do this? And continue to make wine, as well? I shall provide workers."
Immanuel remained quiet. Then, he cleared his throat and said gently, quietly, "With the Madonna's help, I shall do this. And, for Christendom, not merely for Malta."
Tomas could hardly conceal his pride. Here, his blond, blue-eyed son of the north and south, answered with a graciousness and humility Tomas could hardly believe.
Frederico thought, "And, Our Lady will help this good, young man."
Vallette took out several bags of gold coins from an old chest on the floor behind him. "I give you money from France and from Spain, good gold, for you to start now. Purchase what you need and pay your laborers well. We shall all be grateful, all the Maltese."
The Grand Master stood up, and the three began to leave. "Immanuel. I cannot accept you as a Knight, but if you succeed in feeding our people, I shall see if I can change the Order's rules. You understand."
Immanuel blushed and glanced at his father, who started forward. Frederico stopped Tomas, with his arm. "Be quiet, Tomas. You created this obstacle, not Immanuel."
Tomas stepped back and bowed. No one noticed his blush, perhaps the first blush in his long life.
As the three entered the dark night, Tomas slapped his son on the back. "I am so proud of you, my son."
"Father, I have never wanted to be a Knight. My example has not encouraged me to see the beauty of the order. Now, let me go do what I must."
Tomas dropped his arm, and the youth walked away quickly into the dark. The two brothers stood side by side. Frederico spoke, softly, "It is not too late to make your son proud of you brother. Think on this."
"I shall, but not tonight. Good night, Frederico. We all have work to do, you in the courtyards with swords and shields and me on the ramparts."
to be continued....
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
The Brothers of Malta Two
Tomas wandered over to the gate of his vineyards. The day had become stifling hot. He walked to the top of a small hill, crunching rock and sand under his boots. He wanted to look north, to the deep blue sea. For some reason, Frederico's words bothered him, like giant gnats flying into his face when he fought so long ago in Cadiz. These gnat-words would not leave his memory. Tomas did not respect Frederico, except as a solider respects another soldier who is more proficient and skilled in swordsmanship. Frederico had enough medals, which he kept in a drawer, to decorate half of the large wall of his small apartment. But, the ribbons and accolades lay in dark and in silence.
Tomas could not understand his brother. He could never understand his brother. Perhaps the priests got to the youth too early and perverted Frederico's imagination with views of heaven and the love to come.
Tomas liked to be loved now, and he distrusted dreams. He rarely remembered his dreams, as he slept so soundly, and so quickly, like an experience soldier in the field. But, today, looking over his vineyards to the deep sea, Tomas remembered a dream. It happened the day Immanuel was born, in July, on one of the hottest days of the year. Immanuel's mother had sent word to Tomas that her time for birth was happening, and the Knight rushed to the capital, to a small apartment near the village of Floriana, to watch his son being born. Mother and father had agreed that if the child was a girl, the mother would keep the infant, being supported by Tomas, but if the child were a boy, Tomas would come and take the child when he was weaned.
This child was a boy, handsome from birth and strong. As he was born on the feast day of St. John the Baptist, all thought Tomas would name him John. But, for some strange reason, Tomas chose an usual, albeit Catholic name for the infant, Immanuel.
Some thought the name seemed presumptuous. But, Frederico heartily agreed with the choice and prophesied, like the father of John of old, that Immanuel would help to save his people in the future.
Tomas liked the boy so much, that he took him everywhere. On his sea voyages, Tomas wrapped Immanuel in the best clothing, as if he were a little prince. In fact, the boy's nickname was "Prince." No one seemed to mind.
The night of the boy's birth, Tomas dreamt of Claire. She had drowned five years before, and the last view of this young beauty had been her terrified eyes and uplifted hands, as the currents pulled her down, down into the deep sea. Many tried to save her, but she was never found. Those Knights who jumped into the cold waters to save her could not believe how fast she sunk, so far beneath their abilities to breath. She was so small, so thin, and yet, she sunk as if being pulled by unseen hands.
In his dream, Tomas saw Claire in a field of wildflowers unknown to him. The flowers resembled those in paintings from England, where, Tomas was told, someone had written a book about gardening. None of the flowers in Tomas' dream would be found in Città Umilissima.
Claire walked among the flowers, picking a few to make a small posy. Her dress was white lined in red, and on her shoulder was a star embroidered in gold. As she walked, she sang. Then, suddenly, she stopped and turned to face Tomas, who was watching this charming scene. Claire reached out and gave the posy to Tomas, and then, she disappeared, like a small cloud fading on the horizon. But, when Tomas looked at the posy in his hand, it had changed into a large basket heavy and overflowing with fruit and vegetables, some he did not recognize.
Tomas thought of this dream in the context of Frederico's words about Immanuel. On the day of the youth's birth, did Claire come and give a sign to Tomas as to the boy's future? Why did the flowers, so small, so strange, turn into an abundance of food? Why flowers to fruit? Why on the day of Immanuel's birth?
Tomas had a painter paint the vision dream shortly after Immanuel's day of weaning, when the boy was four and came to live in the villa.
The artist had strict orders from Tomas to paint the flowers exactly as he saw them. Tomas made the painter create the largest, most abundant basket of fruits and vegetables one could imagine.
And, Claire? She looked like an angel.
Many years later, Caravaggio would see the painting in Valletta, and use the idea for one of his paintings of a boy with a basket of fruit. But even Caravaggio's painting could not match the splendor and excess of the unnamed painter from Sicily who worked this piece for Tomas.
The painter refused to put his name on the painting for one reason. He said it was not his creation, but a creation of God's, a vision, a dream.
Tomas thought about all of this today, on the hill overlooking his vineyards in Gozo. He resolved for the first time in his life to heed Frederico's words. When he returned to his house, Tomas wrote and sent a letter to Immanuel in Milan. The youth was to return immediately and help his father with the three estates.
But, Tomas rationalized that he was not listening to Frederico, but to Claire. Perhaps, although Tomas did not yet understand this, both Frederico and Claire had listened to a Higher Voice, the Voice of the Holy Ghost.
to be continued....
Tomas could not understand his brother. He could never understand his brother. Perhaps the priests got to the youth too early and perverted Frederico's imagination with views of heaven and the love to come.
Tomas liked to be loved now, and he distrusted dreams. He rarely remembered his dreams, as he slept so soundly, and so quickly, like an experience soldier in the field. But, today, looking over his vineyards to the deep sea, Tomas remembered a dream. It happened the day Immanuel was born, in July, on one of the hottest days of the year. Immanuel's mother had sent word to Tomas that her time for birth was happening, and the Knight rushed to the capital, to a small apartment near the village of Floriana, to watch his son being born. Mother and father had agreed that if the child was a girl, the mother would keep the infant, being supported by Tomas, but if the child were a boy, Tomas would come and take the child when he was weaned.
This child was a boy, handsome from birth and strong. As he was born on the feast day of St. John the Baptist, all thought Tomas would name him John. But, for some strange reason, Tomas chose an usual, albeit Catholic name for the infant, Immanuel.
Some thought the name seemed presumptuous. But, Frederico heartily agreed with the choice and prophesied, like the father of John of old, that Immanuel would help to save his people in the future.
Tomas liked the boy so much, that he took him everywhere. On his sea voyages, Tomas wrapped Immanuel in the best clothing, as if he were a little prince. In fact, the boy's nickname was "Prince." No one seemed to mind.
The night of the boy's birth, Tomas dreamt of Claire. She had drowned five years before, and the last view of this young beauty had been her terrified eyes and uplifted hands, as the currents pulled her down, down into the deep sea. Many tried to save her, but she was never found. Those Knights who jumped into the cold waters to save her could not believe how fast she sunk, so far beneath their abilities to breath. She was so small, so thin, and yet, she sunk as if being pulled by unseen hands.
In his dream, Tomas saw Claire in a field of wildflowers unknown to him. The flowers resembled those in paintings from England, where, Tomas was told, someone had written a book about gardening. None of the flowers in Tomas' dream would be found in Città Umilissima.
Claire walked among the flowers, picking a few to make a small posy. Her dress was white lined in red, and on her shoulder was a star embroidered in gold. As she walked, she sang. Then, suddenly, she stopped and turned to face Tomas, who was watching this charming scene. Claire reached out and gave the posy to Tomas, and then, she disappeared, like a small cloud fading on the horizon. But, when Tomas looked at the posy in his hand, it had changed into a large basket heavy and overflowing with fruit and vegetables, some he did not recognize.
Tomas thought of this dream in the context of Frederico's words about Immanuel. On the day of the youth's birth, did Claire come and give a sign to Tomas as to the boy's future? Why did the flowers, so small, so strange, turn into an abundance of food? Why flowers to fruit? Why on the day of Immanuel's birth?
Tomas had a painter paint the vision dream shortly after Immanuel's day of weaning, when the boy was four and came to live in the villa.
The artist had strict orders from Tomas to paint the flowers exactly as he saw them. Tomas made the painter create the largest, most abundant basket of fruits and vegetables one could imagine.
And, Claire? She looked like an angel.
Many years later, Caravaggio would see the painting in Valletta, and use the idea for one of his paintings of a boy with a basket of fruit. But even Caravaggio's painting could not match the splendor and excess of the unnamed painter from Sicily who worked this piece for Tomas.
The painter refused to put his name on the painting for one reason. He said it was not his creation, but a creation of God's, a vision, a dream.
Tomas thought about all of this today, on the hill overlooking his vineyards in Gozo. He resolved for the first time in his life to heed Frederico's words. When he returned to his house, Tomas wrote and sent a letter to Immanuel in Milan. The youth was to return immediately and help his father with the three estates.
But, Tomas rationalized that he was not listening to Frederico, but to Claire. Perhaps, although Tomas did not yet understand this, both Frederico and Claire had listened to a Higher Voice, the Voice of the Holy Ghost.
to be continued....
Several Doctors of the Church
Instead of reprinting the series, I am encouraging new readers to put the tag on the doctors of the Church series in search, or use the labels on the side.
Excellent saints for this week... although dear Catherine of Siena's feast day is in April, I also suggest reading the copious posts on her.
Excellent saints for this week... although dear Catherine of Siena's feast day is in April, I also suggest reading the copious posts on her.
The Witness of Love-St. Therese
Some Catholics want to stand on soap boxes and cry out, "All religions are the same. The Church is accommodating. Do not worry about salvation."
Some want to shout from the rooftops, "Woe are you, as most of the world's population will go to hell."
I want to share with everyone the love of God. I remind my readers what I wrote almost two-and-a-half years ago, the love of God is much of the time "unfelt love".
St. Therese of Lisieux coined that phrase. Unfelt love is complete trust in God and His Providence.
How can we not trust Him Who has loved us into existence? The Father thought of us from all time, and the Son could hardly wait to free us from sin and death. The Holy Spirit comes to us in the sacraments.
Much for which to be grateful and much to share...
Unfelt love-our way to perfection and union with God forever.
Some want to shout from the rooftops, "Woe are you, as most of the world's population will go to hell."
I want to share with everyone the love of God. I remind my readers what I wrote almost two-and-a-half years ago, the love of God is much of the time "unfelt love".
St. Therese of Lisieux coined that phrase. Unfelt love is complete trust in God and His Providence.
How can we not trust Him Who has loved us into existence? The Father thought of us from all time, and the Son could hardly wait to free us from sin and death. The Holy Spirit comes to us in the sacraments.
Much for which to be grateful and much to share...
Unfelt love-our way to perfection and union with God forever.
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Several Prayer Requests
Please pray for K, J, E, J, D, S, R, and C. I get many prayer requests sent to me privately.
Also, pray for me and my immediate needs.
Also, pray for me and my immediate needs.
Answer me this question, please..
Why is Japan, and now the States, working so hard on sophisticated robots, while exterminating the human race via abortion, contraception, or just plain abstinence for selfish reasons?
A Plea
I have to move from this area in ten days. I have two possibilities for housing, but no money to get to these places, which are not close. I would have to fly and pay extra for luggage. Please considering helping.
STM
STM
From SPUC
Friday, 13 June 2014
In loving memory of Margaret Ann Harris
Earlier this year, on 18th February, one of SPUC's staunchest supporters, Mrs Margaret Ann Harris, died. May she rest in peace!
Her life-time of work for the Society has been remembered and reflected in a most generous gift of £500 from monies (in lieu of flowers) collected at Margaret Ann's local church. Thus, through Mrs Harris's legacy - that is, her legacy of inspiring others to act to protect the lives of unborn children - a significant gift has been made which enables SPUC to continue our educational and political work in defence of those who cannot defend themselves.
David, her husband, tells me that a lot of the donations made at the church were from people unknown to him. On behalf of SPUC, I thank you all. We will not stop our work until every unborn child enjoys the full protection of the law.
I am sure that many of my readers will join me in prayer for the repose of Margaret's soul and will pray too that God may comfort and strengthen David, her husband, and all their family, at this difficult time.
Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
Her life-time of work for the Society has been remembered and reflected in a most generous gift of £500 from monies (in lieu of flowers) collected at Margaret Ann's local church. Thus, through Mrs Harris's legacy - that is, her legacy of inspiring others to act to protect the lives of unborn children - a significant gift has been made which enables SPUC to continue our educational and political work in defence of those who cannot defend themselves.
David, her husband, tells me that a lot of the donations made at the church were from people unknown to him. On behalf of SPUC, I thank you all. We will not stop our work until every unborn child enjoys the full protection of the law.
I am sure that many of my readers will join me in prayer for the repose of Margaret's soul and will pray too that God may comfort and strengthen David, her husband, and all their family, at this difficult time.
Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
New Story ....The Brothers of Malta
Let me tell you all a story: in a nation far away, there
lived two brothers. They were both members of the Order of St. John
The first and younger brother was named Frederico, and the
second brother,the elder was named Tomas. Tomas had three children and used his
position to find them careers of power and influence.
Frederico remained devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who
he saw as his lady and love.
Daily, Frederico said his rosary. The two represented the
best and the worst of the Knights.
Both worked in the many roles of the Hospitallers. Both took
care of hospitals under their care. Both, as of yet, did not fight any battles
for their country, which was, at the moment, at peace. However, the proverbial storm clouds of war
were gathering on the horizons of their beloved nation. They lived in relative
ease and peace. However, Frederico, worshipping God with his whole heart and
soul, could see that there time of peace was coming to an end. Tomas saw
nothing in the future. He missed all the signs of the times, such as the failed
trips of the ambassadors to the countries threatening invasion. Tomas kept busy, organizing his huge staff, re-decorating
his villa on the sea, and having dinners for his children and their new
employers, both in the state and in the Church.
Frederico had to be busy as well, as his hospital also was a
garrison for soldiers, the true Knights who were training for invasion.
Frederico oversaw this training himself. He began to realize that time for
preparation was shorter than previous thought.
His intuitions pushed him to a point of surety, but Tomas doubted every
word, every vision, and prayer in general.
The elder brother was a realist, a pragmatist, and sadly,
utilitarian. All his friends were “contacts” and all his “connections” brought
him success. He owned two galleons himself, and supplied all the weaponry as
well as the wages for the sailors, as these were, unusually, all free men.
Tomas owned the biggest villa in the city, rivaling even the
palace of the Grand Master. His estates yielded the best wine and his horses
the fastest runners. But, those he kept in Sicily
Frederico had taken a vow of poverty and took that vow
seriously. Tomas called him “The Monk”, but many of their fellow Knights loved
and admired the quiet, prayerful man.
He lived in Mdina, is a small apartment, when he was not in
the garrison. His own body guard took private oaths to defend him to the death.
Frederico would have been scandalized by their fierce loyalty, which he would
have said belonged to God, only. And, he would have been right.
Long ago, as a tall, thin youth, Frederico began “seeing”
visions, which he, at first, spoke of only to the old holy Father Muscat
One day, after seeing St. Michael hovering over Valletta new city
The Knights got involved, interrogated poor, young
Frederico, but to the surprise of the embarrassed family and the cynical Tomas,
decided in a tribunal that Frederico had been favored with visions from heaven.
The family was temporarily, and to the relief of Frederico,
silenced. Not even the youths’ mother believed her youngest son. But, one
sister, the beautiful and gracious Claire, did.
Claire listened to Frederico’s heart and she learned to hear
the words of wisdom coming from this young man. She was convinced of her
brother’s special call, which was to defend Malta
Tragically, God decided to take Claire away from the family
when she was sixteen, drowning in the great sea, coming back from a visit to
Tomas’ new estate in Sicily
However, the winds of war forbade this custom this year, as
fleets were being prepared, both in the lands of the Sultan and the small
Catholic island.
Frederico’s thoughts came back from the floating roses on
the sea to his meal with Tomas. Frederico suddenly burst out, “But, Tomas, what
is you are wrong? What if there is a siege and the people have no food, no
water, no wine? You would be to blame for not planning for such an exigency.”
Tomas frowned. “I? To blame? What of these stupid priests
who tell us that God will bring peace? No, I do not think I would be
blamed.” But, a small seed of doubt
concerning his great reputation had been planted by Frederico’s comment. Tomas
would think about this possible blame. He would consider planning farms on the
island, but he would not yet tell Frederico he would ponder the younger man’s
words.
“And, what about Immanuael?” Frederico drank his large glass
of water. A servant immediately filled his goblet up again.
“So, is he your son? What do you know about having a son,
getting him placed in a good situation, away from danger? What do you know of a
father’s concern, anxiety, sleepless nights?”
Frederico sighed. “I am sorry. Or course, I know nothing of
these things, but we need him here. We need his many talents. Can you not see
that he could be one of the men of the hour, as they say, right here?
“A man of the hour planting cabbage in Gozo? You astound me,
Frederico, but then, you have always been more than a bit stupid about the
world.”
Tomas stood up. “I need to go. I have a meeting at two and
it is half-past two. I shall send you a message before I go with Immanuel to Milan
The two brothers embraced, briefly and Frederico watched
Tomas rush away. A meeting. What woman would be waiting for Tomas and where
this time? Frederico would go to the old cathedral and pray, while Tomas ignored
his immortal soul.
Attributes: Continuation Using St. Angela
Earlier this year, I wrote a bit on the Attributes of God.
As I am finishing up The Book of Divine
Consolation Of The Blessed Angela of Foligno (now saint), I can return to
this theme, using some of her great insights given to her as infused knowledge
from God in her Illuminative and Unitive States.
God revealed Himself to her after her purgation is
extraordinary ways. Like Julian of Norwich, Angela experienced the universe as
God’s creation and the earth as very small. She experienced the great love and
mercy of God, thereby given infused knowledge into His attributes.
So she learned of God as All Goodness, first. Then, she
experienced God as Pure Love and Mercy.
God revealed Himself to her as Beauty. After that, God
showed Himself to her as Invincible Omnipotence, followed by God as
Humility.
What is clear up to this point in her visions and times of
union with God is that she perceived God are pure objectivity.
God then revealed Himself to her as Power. And, then, as the
Trinity in the Eucharist, making her worthy to receive the Trinity, God came to
her.
These are but the beginnings of her consolations and this
pattern fits that of other saints, as well as the listing of stages from
Garrigou-Lagrange. One meditates first, on the Life of Christ, particularly His
Passion. Then, from meditation, one is led to experiencing the Passion in a
deep purgation followed by the sharing of Christ’s own pain.
Following the acceptance of the experience of the sufferings
of Christ, contemplation of the attributes of God occurs. One moves in this
pattern for a reason-purity of heart and complete rejection of all sin happen
before infused contemplation.
By this time, St. Angela
had seen only three visions, but these seem to be long and intense.
Part of these visions is the incomplete revelation of God as
Bridegroom to His Bride, and God told Angela this. He wanted her to hunger and
thirst for Him, so He withheld some of His Love. In later visions, to which I
shall refer in another post to come, God revealed more of His Love. He also
revealed specifics about His Passion.
How wonderful it is that St.
Angela is called “The Teacher of The Theologians” as what she experienced is
what logically, rationally others came to through reason and revelation, rather
than direct experience.
To be continued…
Do Not Trust in Princes
How often did Our Lord and His Mother suffer because of the powers that be?
The other day, I told someone I could not trust an atheist
or agnostic. This shocked the person. But, Cardinal Manning in his chapter on
the gift of understanding, states the idea much more strongly.
“This gift of intellect or understanding, as it is a gift of
the Holy Ghost, is found in no man who is out of the grace of God; and
therefore in no one who is an unbeliever in the revelation of God, and
therefore in no one who is out of charity with God and his neighbour. It is a
special intellectual power or perfection given to those who, corresponding to
the light of faith and to the Spirit of God working within them, receive, over
and above the light and power of natural reason, a further supernatural gift
which becomes habitual like a special faculty."
Why would anyone choose a politician, a world leader, or
even a spouse from among those who have darkened intellects because of sin or
unbelief?
Understanding helps each one of us perceive supernatural
truths. Manning writes this of understanding, that it penetrates, “…into the
reasons and the motives of faith” and that it helps to “exhibit and to prevail
on others, by the exhibition of the truth, to believe in the same.”
It is a discernment, an “intuition”. Manning notes that as when we read the words
of a book, our intellect picks up more than just the letters on the page. We
understand combinations, suggestions.
As I have noted from his previous book examined on this
blog, and now, from this chapter, “Reason is the preamble of faith.” Faith is rational and unbelief is irrational.
So, how could anyone trust someone who is living in a lack of rationality?
We come to understand the meaning of the Scriptures, of
Tradition. Understanding, states
Manning, leads to contemplation, which goes beyond an orthodox acceptance of
revelation. One learns the answer to the Catechism questions, but one must
return to ponder these truths, to understand.
I know people who do not believe in the Incarnation. They
are Christian Scientists and Moslems. They do not believe that Christ is the
God-Man. In the Gospel of John, we see
the phrase, “the Word made Flesh”. Manning points out that this is merely the
beginning of the use of our intellect, which then absorbs the truths of the
Nicene Creed, the Summa Theologica and
so on. From the acceptance and then the beginning of understanding of the
Incarnation, one moves to the doctrine of the Holy Sacrament, the Real Presence
and so on.
The gift of understanding allows us to move from the basics
to the sublime.
Would you trust your life to an atheist? Would you trust the
words of someone who completely lacks understanding of who man is and Who God
Is?
I believe, as did Cardinal Manning, the Doctors of the
Church, the saints who defended the doctrines of the Church. I believe in those who witnessed by their
blood in the Church, in the Papacy, in Christ. I believe in the Church. But,
then, I have chosen to develop the gift of understanding by seeking Truth, Who
Is a Person, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
In our day, we are surrounded by those who demand our trust
but who are not believersor who are separated by choice from the Church. They
are involved in, as Manning puts it, “the complex pretensions of error”.
The Truth is simple and certain as it is from God, as Jesus
called Himself, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”.
To trust in Christ using the gift of understanding is to
choose life.
“We must choose between one of two things: we must either
believe the Catholic faith, or find a rational and intellectual solution of the
unity of truth, and of its adaptation to human nature and of the existence of
the Christian world.”
Cardinal Manning speaks to us today.
Of course, as no one can do this, relativism and
subjectivism are rife.
To be continued…
Monday, 16 June 2014
Stop And Pray This Today
A Needed Reminder of A Powerful Litany
Litany of Our Lady of the Angels
Antiphon:
Under thy title so dear to Saint Francis,
Our Blessed Lady of Angels, we hail thee!
Give us thine aid, that our lives, more seraphic,
Never may fail thee.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Antiphon:
Under thy title so dear to Saint Francis,
Our Blessed Lady of Angels, we hail thee!
Give us thine aid, that our lives, more seraphic,
Never may fail thee.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, *
Our Lady, to whom the Father sent His messenger, *
Our Lady, before whom knelt the Archangel Gabriel, *
Our Lady, consenting to become the Mother of God, *
Our Lady, whose Angel Michael defends the people of God, *
Our Lady, whose Angel Raphael guides us safely on our pilgrimage, *
Our Lady, whose angels serve as our Guardians, *
Our Lady, whose angels bore thy little house of Nazareth to Loreto, *
Our Lady, whose angels carried thy image to Genezzano, *
Our Lady, whose chapel of Portiuncula, the gift of holy Benedict, was the cradle of the Franciscan Order, *
Our Lady, for whose chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels thou didst obtain plenary favors from thy Son and from His Vicar, *
Our Lady, whose Little Poor Man is hailed as the Seraphic Father, *
Our Lady, who didst cause him to be given the vacated throne from which the rebellious angel Lucifer was cast down, *
Our Lady, at whose Assumption hosts of angels flew heavenward in thy company, *
Our Lady, Queen of Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and the whole angelic Court of Heaven, *
Our Lady, ever surrounded by myriad seraphs, *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, *
Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, *
V. Pray for us, Queen of the Angelic Hosts:
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, *
Our Lady, to whom the Father sent His messenger, *
Our Lady, before whom knelt the Archangel Gabriel, *
Our Lady, consenting to become the Mother of God, *
Our Lady, whose Angel Michael defends the people of God, *
Our Lady, whose Angel Raphael guides us safely on our pilgrimage, *
Our Lady, whose angels serve as our Guardians, *
Our Lady, whose angels bore thy little house of Nazareth to Loreto, *
Our Lady, whose angels carried thy image to Genezzano, *
Our Lady, whose chapel of Portiuncula, the gift of holy Benedict, was the cradle of the Franciscan Order, *
Our Lady, for whose chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels thou didst obtain plenary favors from thy Son and from His Vicar, *
Our Lady, whose Little Poor Man is hailed as the Seraphic Father, *
Our Lady, who didst cause him to be given the vacated throne from which the rebellious angel Lucifer was cast down, *
Our Lady, at whose Assumption hosts of angels flew heavenward in thy company, *
Our Lady, Queen of Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and the whole angelic Court of Heaven, *
Our Lady, ever surrounded by myriad seraphs, *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, *
Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, *
V. Pray for us, Queen of the Angelic Hosts:
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, Who dost permit us annually to
celebrate anew the dedication day of the Little Portion of Our Lady of the
Angels: graciously hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that all who enter
that chapel or another as representing it, to ask mercy and graces, may rejoice
in the plenary answer to their prayers. Through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
O God Who through Thy most Holy Mother, exalted above the angel choirs, hast called all men of good will to receive Thy mercy: grant through the same to us, who memorialize the consecration of her chapel, that now we may be freed of our sins and may obtain the fulness of grace, until at last we attain the company of her blessed angels and the joy of her heavenly mansion. Who livest and reignest world without end. R. Amen
O God Who through Thy most Holy Mother, exalted above the angel choirs, hast called all men of good will to receive Thy mercy: grant through the same to us, who memorialize the consecration of her chapel, that now we may be freed of our sins and may obtain the fulness of grace, until at last we attain the company of her blessed angels and the joy of her heavenly mansion. Who livest and reignest world without end. R. Amen
Mary Queen of Angels and Saints
from "My Prayer Book" by Fr. Lasance
from "My Prayer Book" by Fr. Lasance
On Suffering, Again
Sometimes, a little pamphlet, an old Catholic pamphlet can
make one’s day.
I picked up a pamphlet someone was getting rid of from 1998.
It is on “suffering”.
Here is a summary of the wisdom of Fr. Paul O’Sullivan,
O.P., who wrote this little gem. (My comments are in parentheses).
“Let us remember clearly that: 1) Sufferings come from God
for our benefit, (I add, all suffering is willed by God for our own good or the
good of others); 2) When we are in the state of grace, we derive immense merit
from every suffering borne patiently, even the little sufferings of our daily
lives (and I add that if one can endure little ones, one can endure the bigger
ones); 3) God will give us abundant strength to bear our sufferings if we only
ask Him, (ASK!); 4) If we bear our sufferings patiently, they lose their sting
and bitterness (takes practice, so God might give you more suffering if you do
not “get this” first time around); 5) Above all, every suffering is a share in
the Passion of Our Lord; 6) By our sufferings, we can free ourselves in great
part, or entirely, from the pains of Purgatory (one can ask to have one’s
purgatory on earth); 7) By bearing our sufferings patiently, we win the
glorious crown of martyrdom.”
I want to comment on two of the above points more at length,
especially in light of St. Angela’s book I
have been reviewing this past week. To
share in the Passion of the Lord is not only a necessity for attaining heaven,
but a privilege.
To be asked to suffer
with Christ seems to me a great honor.
Secondly, this idea of obtaining a crown of martyrdom is
found in several commentaries of the saints. I may write a post on this later.
However, to obtain a crown of martyrdom for suffering, one must be suffering for Christ, and not for our own sins.
We must do penance,
hence the purgation of the Dark Night, in order to be freed from sin.
Suffering over and above that penance is the sharing of the
suffering of Christ-a very different plane of suffering.
Although I am posting this on Monday, I am writing this on
Sunday evening, the end of the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Recall that God
the Father suffered with and because of His Son’s Passion. How fitting it is
that Father’s Day fell on the Feast of the Holy Trinity, for we have a Father
Who not only gave us His Son, but allowed Himself to be one with Him even in
the Passion.
To be continued…
From a Commentator
Someone who was discussing the post concerning
how it is harder to be holy in America
than in Europe, a person who has been to Europe
and lives in the States, said, immediately, “That is because of Protestantism.”
She could see that the grayness of the Protestant congregations had caused
confusion, as to evil and good. In Europe , the
black is secularism, Marxism, relativism, and atheism. Black is black and white is white. The lack
of God is obvious and so is the resulting falling off of normal morality, of
natural law. There is no middle ground anymore.
Where there is a heritage of
strong Protestantism, with Protestants believing that contraception is fine,
that divorce and re-marriage with annulment are fine, that the suppression of
the seven sacraments is a “reform”, that the false ideas of sola fide and sola scriptura somehow justifies the throwing out of 2,000 years of
Tradition, the confusion enables people to think they are following God’s ways,
when in fact, they are not.
This is a hard saying which many
Catholics no longer believe because of the pain of fallen-away or lapsed
Catholics in their own families, of unbaptized grandchildren and the living in
sin of so many in families. The acceptance of fornication is almost a given
here in the States.
But, Christ, the Second Person of
the Blessed Trinity, clearly states that life comes only in the reception of
His Body, His Blood. The words of God
could not be clearer. How sad it is that
some do not take the Lord’s words seriously.
Those is Europe
who reject the saying of Christ no longer care for religion. Those in America
Perfection Series II: Cardinal Manning on Giving Up Self-Will
Cardinal Manning cuts to the quick concerning why so many
people who are baptized and confirmed, have the gifts of wisdom and counsel, as
well as discernment, and still go astray, into foolishness.
Here is his answer, to a question several readers have asked
me to delineate. I use his words which are found in the long perfection series
similar to those of other saints, reiterated by me, concerning the loss of
discernment. Let the holy and expert Cardinal answer: “This gift of counsel lies dormant in them; it is oppressed, kept down
by their own mental and moral faults. They have made their ear dull of hearing
and their eye dark so that they cannot discern. The first great antagonist of this spirit of counsel is the wisdom of
the world. And the wisdom of the world
is the fashion and opinion of men possessed with the spirit which is of the
world and not of God. The maxims, the traditions, the habits of thought, and
the habits of life which spring from flesh and blood…these things stifle the
voice of counsel.”
Too many Catholics do not want to admit that the thinking of
the world perverts their own minds and therefore, their consciences.
I have written a lot on this blog on the ego Believe it or
not, people object to me writing that the ego gets in the way of building up
the Church.
Manning states the problem better
than I do. “The love of pre-eminence; the
inordinate desire of their own proper excellence; a ser-conscious straining to
be spiritual guides of other men, to correct their faults, to criticize their
actions and their states before God, and to go about setting others right—these
are some of the least perceived and subtilest workings of pride….The greatest
intellects are sometimes found in the smallest moral characters. The want of
counsel makes them to be strange mixtures of greatness and littleness.”
I have struggled on this blog to know what and when to state
some things critical of others or even of groups. One must look carefully at
one’s self to look at motives and leanings, the lack of purity and the need for
healing. I have chosen to back off from criticizing the clergy, for example,
believing that I cannot judge publicly and that it is better if I pray for
those I think have gone astray and are no longer good pastors.
The other great sin of those who have received baptismal and
confirmed gifts is that of presumption. Manning notes this, “This presumption, the root of which is in
all of us, will, if indulged, destroy and utterly extinguish the gift of
counsel.”
I have seen this happen among good people who are working in
the Church. I have seen this in fellow bloggers, as well as in myself. One must
be willing to let God deal with us, take us through purgation.
Presumption can lead to becoming rash and not praying to God
for guidance.
It can lead to impetuosity, which is of the flesh, not the
Spirit, states Manning. “They invert the
divine order; and having set out in the way of their own choosing, they come to
crosses and sorrows. Then, they begin to
ask for counsel, and perhaps they ask it of God; but they ask it too late. They
are already so committed that they cannot go back. At last they so persuade
themselves, that they will not follow good advice even if it were given.”
This is why we need to find good spiritual directors, which
is so hard at this time. We cannot fall
into a pattern of trying to force our will upon the Will of God. How silly it
is to think that we can make God’s will give way.
Manning quotes the great St. Augustine: “Thou, O Lord, givest counsel to all that ask. If they ask of Thee
divers things, Thou always answerest he same; Thou answerest clearly enough,
but they will not hear Thee, for they ask the things they desire, and they wish
to make Thy will bend to theirs. Thou answerest that which is Thy will, and
they hear what they will not; and therefore they do it not. He is the best
servant who does not desire that God should say the things that he wills, but
who desires himself to will the things that God says.”
This is the reason for the Dark Night. The purgation of
self-will and “self-counsel” that is the “pride of his own will, and the pride
of his own judgment” must happen.
Submitting to the Will of God really means giving in.
Manning states, “When you kneel at the
holy Mass, put your heart upon the paten and let it be offered up. God will
counsel you. If you do His will, even though it cross your own, then you have
the surest sign that you are not following your own choice.”
This purgation of the will leads, finally, to purity of
heart. That is the reason for such
purgation. One has to stop playing God
and let God be God in one’s life.
Manning advises us,
“Desire, then, to please God above all things, and all things shall be added
unto you. If you cannot do all you desire, at least desire great things for His
sake.”
This is what it means to become like a little child.
Children who have good parents implicitly trust those parents in love. “Freely choose His service; for it is your
freedom, and its own exceeding great reward,” which are the Cardinal’s last
words on this subject.
To be continued…
Which nation is the most techy?
The work of trying to find wifi for free, or at least for
the price of a cuppa, has been trying. I have only found two places in this
metropolis which have free wifi for customers.
I have not found any “hot spots” either.
Amazing. This means either that the area is full of people
who can afford wifi out of their homes and/or phones, or that this is not a
high usage area.
I find it puzzling that the supposedly most technically
advanced country in the world can actually have cities over 100,000 people and no
hot spots, no public wifi in the town center or more than two places which
offer the public wifi.
Why do you suppose this is the case? Is it the lack of
interest in serving a wider public?
Is it the horrible monopolies of the companies? Is it just
plain incompetence?
The mail boxes have almost all disappeared as well. If one
wants to mail an international letter, one must go to one of two post offices,
both of which one needs a car to find.
Are Americans becoming so isolationist that the local post offices
in stores no longer take international letters?
I have been told this.
What an odd country.
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