The Blood Moon

Well, from my window, I can see the eclipse. But, the clouds keep covering the moon. It is a dark red. I do not know when I shall see a blood moon next. The four year "blood moon" time is almost over. Next year is the last year for such a long series of eclipses.

I hope where you are right now proves to be less cloudy. At least I saw part of this eclipse. Tonight is also the peak for the seasonal meteor shower in Draco.

Writing from North Carolina...

A Grateful Note

I am taking a day or two off of blogging in order to retreat.

I must say that I am so grateful to all my readers. You keep me going...

Thanks so much.

See you shortly. Prayers, please.

Remember to make a cell in your mind in order to find and listen to God.

Hello to Readers from France!

Hello Readers from the Isle of Man

I wonder if my old friend from London is there?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Sound_IOM.JPG
thanks to wiki commons 

Yet another re-post because of the Supreme Court

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

A Prediction Concerning Catholic Marriages

Gremlins in the spacing. Check this link...
http://guildofblessedtitus.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-prediction-concerning-catholic.html

 The Ecclesiastical Courts Act 1855, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857,  

and the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860 gradually moved marriage 
regulation into the hands of the State.

And, read this for your edification again.....

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2013/12/clarity-of-mind-when-things-fall-apart.html

Another Repost Because of The Supreme Court

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

A Time-Machine Back to 1581: the Death of an Enlightenment Democratic Monarchy

In this day and age of relativism, camps of opinion arise like midges on a hike in Alaska. 

One brushes away one set of  "arguments", only to find dozens flying into one's face. 

The media frenzy over the events of the past three weeks is not going to subside. On the contrary, 

we Catholics are entering into a new era of Church-bashing which will not go away.

The days of toleration for differing religious opinions, or at least, Catholic teaching, is over.

I watched two days of the Parliament hearings of witnesses regarding the civil union or rather 

same-sex-marriage act. I usually do not watch television, but I was visiting a friend who wanted 

to watch this swarm of opinions based on sola fide, sola scriptura; each man and woman on the 

panel proved to be his or her own pope.

The Church of England witnesses, as they were called, had eloquent and keen questions and answers. 

So did Archbishop Peter Smith and his legal team. I was impressed by the firm and clear positions given 

by these two groups.

Not so other groups, like the Church of Wales representatives, who waffled.

What did astound me was the out and out rudeness of some of the questioners, all of them MPs, 

not to be named here. One can look at my blog for names. I merely want to point out the lack of 

respect towards those representatives of organized religion. At several places in the presentation of 

answers by Archbishop Peter Smith, some members laughed out loud in derision for the Catholic 

position on marriage, pre-marital sex, and our anti-contraception, anti-abortion positions.

What came to my mind was that I could have been in a time-machine, taken back to the interrogations of 

Edmund Campion, Ralph Sherwin, or Robert Southwell et al.

The entire meeting of this Parliament panel on both days was a sham. The smug hypocritical statements of 

the members of Parliament shone out like words of old transcripts in a history of Recusant trials.

Parliament determines moral and religious policy in Britain, not the churches.

Parliament in 2013 mirrors Parliament in 1581, or 1585 or 1681, this last the year of the martyrdom of 

St. Oliver Plunkett. I have seen his head in St. Peter's Church, Drogheda. His face is peaceful, but reveals pain.

We honour martyrs in the Catholic Church almost daily. We of this Guild honour Titus Brandsma, 

who was martyred and is a Blessed. But, do we really want martyrs in 2013? Do we feel uncomfortable 

watching Peter Smith being derided? Do we want our leaders to stand firm on the ancient teachings of the 

One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church?

I hope we feel proud and strengthened by the witness of Truth.

I hope we stand with our leaders.

I hope we can see clearly that the actions of Parliament will lead to the type of society created under 

Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, where those who kept the Faith were fined, suffered financial loss, ruin, 

disgrace, if not martyrdom. Catholics will not be able to be registrars or superintendents of registrars. 

Catholics may not be able to be teachers in some schools. The Catholic priests may be in a position 

of disobedience to certain laws after judicial decisions.

Parliament acts just as it has since the Protestant Revolt. Parliament was given powers over the private

 consciences of the people of Britain and it will take those powers and use those again and again and again. 

Five hundred years of practice makes this pattern of oppression all too easy. There are precedences. 

We are witnessing the death of the modern Enlightenment democracy as a philosophy of governance. 

We are witnessing the sliding back to a time when religions were not allowed to stand in the marketplace 

and speak Truth.

The powers that be have not changed their philosophies. They have renewed an older pattern of intolerance 

which is wedded to the very power of Parliament.

The Catholic Church has not changed Her Truths, Revelation and Tradition.

We are, again, Non-Conformists, and as in the past, consequences will follow strongly held beliefs.

I hope those who belong to the Guild of the martyr Titus Brandsma know how to stand firm in the storms 

that will blow across Great Britain. We have an excellent example. Brandsma upheld the bishops' decisions 

and the clarity of teaching that Catholicism and Nazism clashed. Catholicism will always clash with falsehood.

As Catholic journalists, we of this Guild can follow our patron to whatever consequences may follow.

I, for one, will write as long as I can for Christ and His Church.

Thoughts for The Day

"Why, this Satan's drink is so delicious," he reputedly exclaimed, "that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it. We shall fool Satan by baptizing it and making it a truly Christian beverage."

Pope Clement VIII on coffee

and 

Coffee and coffeehouses took London by storm. By 1700 there were more than two thousand London coffeehouses, occupying more premises and paying more rent than any other trade. They came to be known as penny universities, because for that price one could purchase a cup of coffee and sit for hours listening to extraordinary conversations—or as a 1657 newspaper advertisement put it "PUBLICK INTERCOURSE." Each coffeehouse specialized in a different type of clientele. In one, physicians could be consulted. Others served Protestants, Puritans, Catholics, Jews, literati, merchants, traders, fops, Whigs, Tories, army officers, actors, lawyers, clergy, or wits. The coffeehouses provided England's first egalitarian meeting place, where a man was expected to chat with his tablemates whether he knew them or not.

    Edward Lloyd's establishment catered primarily to seafarers and merchants, and he regularly prepared "ships' lists" for underwriters who met there to offer insurance. Thus began Lloyd's of London, the famous insurance company. Other coffeehouses spawned the Stock Exchange, the Bankers' Clearing-house, and newspapers such as The Tattler and The Spectator.

both from the book Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast.

Simple Words of Wisdom

A very holy priest wrote to me yesterday with a simple reminder I can share with all.

If something or someone brings us closer to God and helps us to grow spiritually in perfection, then we can pursue that thing, or be friends with that someone.

If someone does not help up grow spiritually and if something draws us away from perfection, we need to avoid such a thing, such a person.

Simple.

Also, one must always be on guard against the wiles of the devil. Something, or some person which may seem good and true may not be so.

When in doubt, go to Mary.

Who Are You Following?

Matthew 15:14Douay-Rheims 

14 Let them alone: they are blind, and leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit.

To be obedient to Rome is all things, great and small, gives one sight. Those who are blind have refused to be obedient. They will all fall into the pit.

To Discern or Not To Discern

Some people miss Christ in the midst of life. Pilate missed coming over to The Truth. Either he was not listening carefully, or his darkness of mind kept him from seeing God, Who was stood before him in The Flesh.

Why is it that some people "get it" and see what is happening on the global level regarding the ending of Western Civilization? Why is it that some people see the coming splits in the Church, when many so-called good Catholics will part from Rome?

Why is it that some people have missed all the signs from the 1970s up to the present day regarding God's punishment and justice coming upon the earth?

Why do people lack discernment?

One reason-sin.

One of the most common sins which interferes with discernment, part of the gift of knowledge we receive in Confirmation is attachment to things or people. The need for human approval or the attachment to status and wealth prove to be high barriers in the spiritual life.

One cannot see over these walls of attachment without repentance.

Another sin is that of heresy. Some Catholics who believe in Liberation Theology, or a false seer, who contracept or are in irregular marriages lack discernment because they refuse to repent.

But, the most common sin which stops people and stopped the Hebrews listening to their prophets is the sin of idolatry.

Idolatry and discernment cannot abide in the same soul, mind, imagination.

False gods may be anything, but in America, it is the false pride of Americanism. Too many people see America as the best, when in reality, the entire nation should be fasting and praying to stop the great retribution of God's justice.

One cannot ignore the prophets any longer. It is time now to allow God to make one perfect. Now.

The symbolism of the lit lamps in the parable of the Five Wise and Five Foolish Bridesmaids points to the light of discernment-the readiness of those wise ones who brought enough oil.

Oil in the Old Testament means grace, anointing, being chosen.

The chosen ones paid attention, came prepared to meet the Bridegroom.

The others were left out in the dark, literally.

Be prepared spiritually.

Only the perfect see God.

Good Source for Good Talks

http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/

Repost because of the Supreme Court

Monday, 2 December 2013

It all started with a marriage once before......

Posted by Supertradmum

Thomas Cromwell made all this possible: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries

A list of the acts of Parliament leading up to the Age of Martyrs in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland can show us how "legal" rulings incrementally persecuted the Church.

Many readers make comments which indicate that they are not preparing for persecution. Daily decisions bring us to the end decision. Such a decision as to stand for Our Beloved Lord, Jesus Christ, does not happen automatically.

We are prepared for such. Those Catholics who support ssm and abortion are no different than those who sided with Henry, Elizabeth, and others against their former brothers and sisters in Christ.

Those Catholics who changed sides, left the Pope of Rome for the religious governance of Henry and Elizabeth, did so for many reasons. The two greatest were status (titles) and money (bribes even from the throne).

The so-called enemy of the realm held on to the Truth of Scripture and Tradition. Those who left the Church, the majority, took their own immortal souls into their own hands.

Thanks to Wiki for the short list. I have left on the links for your perusal.

Statute in Restraint of Appeals of 1533, forbidding all appeals to the Pope.

Act of Supremacy, passed by Parliament in 1534

Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries and Dissolution of Lesser Monasteries Act, 1535
which suppressed all the houses which did not agree to the marriage of Henry and Anne Boleyn.

1. An act for the Dissolution of the lesser Monasteries at tudorplace.com.ar
2. Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries, full text at freeuk.net

Second Suppression Act (1539).

Act of Supremacy 1558, making Elizabeth head of the church.

Act of Uniformity of 1559 which made it a crime not to attend Anglican services.

January 10, 1581, "recalling Her Majesty's subjects which under pretense of studies do live beyond the seas both contrary to the laws of God and of the realm, and against such as do receive or retain Jesuits and massing priests, sowers of sedition and of other treasonable attempts." 

By this proclamation the relatives of seminarists had to recall them, or lose all civil rights. It was illegal to send them any supplies. Jesuits and priests must be surrendered; anyone knowingly harboring them was guilty of sedition and treason. http://www.catholictradition.org/Saints/campion.htm

From then on, it was illegal for a Catholic priest or seminarian to be in England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland. It was illegal for the family of these men to help them.

All these persecuting laws were legal in the land, according to Parliament or royal decree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Catholicism_in_the_United_Kingdom

If readers cannot see the parallels coming, I cannot help them more than to point out the historical precedence. Some readers believe this will never happen. It has already started happening.

A couple had to close their bakery business and pay fines...

A young photographer had to pay fines....

A bed and breakfast couple had to pay fines and sell their house/business...

Teachers, who are faithful, are leaving the profession so as not to teach serious error...

An Anglican priest is being taken to court in the Hague for refusing to witness a ssm....

A new curriculum will make students learn ssm is ok......here, in America.....in England....

It was a false marriage which brought down the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church in England, and it looks as if false, same-sex so-called marriages will do the same. But, this time, England will not be the only country to persecute the real Church.

This will happen in many, many countries, including the United States.

http://guildofblessedtitus.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-prediction-concerning-catholic.html

http://guildofblessedtitus.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-time-machine-back-to-1581-death-of.html

No Outcry!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nigeria-boko-haram-torch-185-churches-captured-towns-borno-adamawa-1468763

Confusion on Vocations

This is short rant. I have written before on the different vocations a young, or not so young, man may face.

After reading some comments on Fr. Z. last week, it was clear to me that there is still some confusion as to how a man can approach a bishop on becoming a diocesan priest.

First of all, some Catholics do not understand that a call to the FSSPs or the Institute of Christ the King is a call to a religious order, not to the diocesan, or, as it is sometimes called, secular priesthood.

Second, most dioceses only accept men who either have been born in that diocese or have lived and worked in that diocese for years. Switching dioceses is rare. My cousin who is a priest did so, as an older vocation, being forced to leave a liberal seminary, but finding recourse in the neighboring diocese. He is a happy and an excellent priest. But, the second diocese did not have to accept him.

The rule usually is if a person leaves or is kicked out of one diocese, that man is not accepted in another.

To think that a man can "shop" around for a diocese like going to a college is absolutely wrong. Going into the seminary is not at all like getting into a college or university. It is much more challenging and difficult.

An excellent article

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/10/professor-at-pontifical-university-of-the-holy-cross-in-rome-islamic-state-not-un-islamic-model-is-muhammad-himself

Another good article

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/04/ebola-zaire-peter-piot-outbreak

Good article

http://southernorderspage.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-do-catholic-parishes-not-welcome.html

Muktarmen vs. Valiant Women

thanks to wikimedia for Abram and Sarai

I dedicate this post to a Valiant Woman I know who is the mother of many children and the helpmate of her husband.

I was in a very large metropolitan area, attending a TLM and then going to the coffee afterwards. I had an experience only endured one other time in another land far away.

After one of these odd experiences, I spoke with a TLM priest, a rather famous one in some parts, about my encounter with men of certain kind. He said he had noticed this type of perversion of the marriage relationship in other communities as well.

These men were out of a different planet. I call them the "muktarmen" "Muktarmen" are men who treat their wives like children. They are men who do not understand the sacrament of marriage and who do not understand the place of the wife as "helpmate", equal in person-hood with a different role in the marriage.

I was talking with several people around a coffee table in a large parish with hundreds of people at the TLM. As usual, I began speaking with the couples sitting around with their young children.

Two men made it very clear that I should not have been talking to the men, but only the women. I was mildly bemused, but then watched how they treated their wives. They treated their wives, even in public, as children.

This type of misunderstanding among trad men involves a mindset that women are not equal to men. They micromanage the home, not giving the wife the rule of the house, as is her role, in shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and even doing the chequebook.

Some of them do not let their wives join any groups except those attach to the Church. and worse, as one wife of one of the muktarmen told me, the daughters do not have to go to college or learn any skills for the outside world because muktarman wants them all to get married.

Ick!

I was so upset after encountering these couples that I spoke to a TLM priest about this phenomenon of the muktarmen. He admitted he had met this before and was thinking of addressing this somehow, but that it was a tricky subject in his parish.

How did this false subjection of wives to their husbands happen? How is it that muktarmen never learned what a wife really is-the person who will help them get to heaven and who frequently is given great wisdom for the family. She is the one who raises their children to be saints mostly.

Older women are there to impart wisdom to the younger and share experience with all. Catholic men have lost respect for older women, older wives, as well.

No children in those families will ever learn to respect their mothers. In fact, the boys will grow up not respecting women but expecting them to be children.

Too many men look for "child-wives", women who will not challenge them, who will not be a real helpmate.

Muktarmen were dads of some girls I taught years ago. They pushed down any desire in their daughters for college or learning a skill.  This is shocking, and in my opinion, child abuse.

Muktarmen do not see their wives either as spiritual helpers or even spiritually superior when these wives are saints.

Muktarmen are control freaks. I have a rule of thumb about muktarmen. If they are in the kitchen everyday following the wife around and not letting her get on in her domain, not just on the weekends when normal men may pitch and and help mom with by giving her a break, they are muktarmen.

I learned in my clan growing up that the woman was queen of the house. Dads were the kings who expected the queen to keep everything in order and trusted the queen to get on with making a happy home to which he could come home from fighting the knightly battles in the world.

My mother's generation had much responsibility.

Marriage is about interdependence.

Marriage is about mutual trust and respect.

A man has children with his wife and entrusts their spiritual life to both himself and her.

Mothers are most important in the formation of children, and, therefore, are given huge responsibilities.

A husband lead, loves, provides and a wife helps, manages and loves.

What happened? From where does this demeaning of women come?

Zelie Martin had her own business even after she was married.

St. Etheldreda was the authority over the prior in a double monastery, as were several other female saints.

Women in the Catholic Church should be encouraged to be strong in their spheres--and not helpless, not dependent for everything from a man.

If a woman is in a position is a marriage where she must ask for spending money or is getting an allowance, something is wrong, very wrong.

God called women in the Bible to do great, heroic deeds. Are they allowed to do so, to be leaders, to be among wise men?

I quote the Scriptures and notice all the things this fair wife does:

Proverbs 31:10-31Douay-Rheims 

10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.

12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.

14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.

15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.

16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.

18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.

19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.

21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.

22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.

23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.

24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.

25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.

26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.

27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.

28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.

29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

Packing in Articles

I am putting many things on the blog as I am traveling for several days and then having a short retreat.

Please take time to read these posts. I consider most of these very important.

Have a holy feast day today.

Feast of the Most Holy Rosary of Our Lady, or Our Lady of the Victory of Lepanto.

And a great site for the history of the rosary may be found here....
http://www.chanttherosary.com/rosary-history/