A Sign of Contradiction or Conformity?

The West in Medieval times was open as never before or after. Christendom allowed for free travel, as the national boundaries, which came to demand passports or travel documents did not yet exist.

This community of cultures and proto-nations, of kingdoms, whose kings and queens acknowledged a King above them, flowed back and forth in confidence and in relationships.

All this changed after the Protestant Revolt, when national identity became stronger and caused new rules between nations, making borders more difficult to transverse and making the Catholic Church just one more “national interest” among many. The many revolutions undermined the supremacy of Christendom, and the Church became not only marginalized, but persecuted, in Germany, England, France, Italy, and other places.

For a brief moment of glory, the Church was given some freedoms under Napoleon, who thought he could control the hierarchy by restoring them, but again, nationhood trumped Christendom. But, Napoleon himself began the counting and ordering of peoples, with the census and the insistence on surnames. He demanded a “global order” in what he saw as disorder. Bismarck followed with similar ideas, and the purposeful stealing of power and influence of the Church continued.

The imprisonment of Pius IX and the taking away of the Vatican Papal States in the supposed reunification of Italy pushed the Church more and more into the sidelines, no longer the universal Church, but one of many, in the false ideals of both nationalism and relativism.

By the 20^th Century, the Church no longer had power in the public square in international affairs, being again sabotaged by the League of Nations and, finally, the United Nations.

By the 21^st Century, the Church had lost all power in many European nations and has been confined to the status of immigrant groupings, not being seen as a world power, despite the media attention of the popes.

The Church will be more and more marginalized concerning international affairs, and is already no longer a power in the EU, having many of Her rights and privileges taken away.

The reason that the Church is now marginalized and facing persecution in most countries, including the United States, is that those who are the shepherds, for the most part, cannot see the rot of Church power in the world, nor do they care. They have no vision of a Church which is not “national”, such as in America, where so many bishops and priests still hold on to the heresy of “Americanism” and hate so-called Vatican control.

There are too many Catholics, including bishops, who do not understand that for the Church to be free, She must have respect as an institution and be above the increasingly immoral and tyrannical laws of the lands. She must be totally independent.

I could give specifics as to how the Church has lost power in the past thirty years. I know some of these from experience and from serious discussions with priests who are willing to discuss how governments are tying the hands of movements of seminarians or priests, or even families of both.The world has changed that quickly, in just over a generation, so that the type of respect given the moral position of the Church has vanished.

No longer do national leaders have to consider the Church. No longer do nations feel they need to provide Ambassadors to the Vatican. No longer do leaders listen to the statements of the popes.

No longer can a bishop exert influence in the secular society in his diocese.

We shall all suffer because of this huge change, but some will suffer more than others.

Cardinals, bishops, priests, seminarians, seminaries, schools which have not capitulated already to state curricula, monasteries of monks, convents of nuns.will be the first to feel the brunt of this marginalization and persecution.

Then, the faithful remnant will feel the pressure and persecution.

I give it less than two years for major changes to the freedom of movement of Catholics in the West, especially the ordained. I give it less than two years for the laity to be impacted by a schism, which will separate the Church instituted by Christ and those national churches, no longer loyal to Rome but pseudo-Catholic like the Anglicans in Great Britain.

The freedom to come and go which the early missionaries enjoyed to convert Europe and then the New World will not be seen again, vanishing in the near future.

In the past, a civilized world did not need passports, or visas, or rules for immigration. These rules are all about control, controlling those who go out, and controlling those who come in. And, which organization sends the most people here and there? Big businesses? No, the Catholic Church.

Ironically, those who want more stringent rules cannot see that they are preparing the way for a world government, which will totally control the movement of free peoples. Nations are keeping out the poor, but also those who are “different”, who seem to be “nonconformists”.

Someone who was trying to hurt me with words today and told me I never fit in, I was also a nonconformist and pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable. This conversation arose because someone in my hometown remembered that I dated a black man in 1969, a Jew in 1979, and (horrors) married an Englishman.

“You were always different”, this person noted, but I was just being myself.

By many standards, I never fit into the mold of what it means to be “American”, but that is because early on, I thought (and still do think), like a Catholic, belonging to the universal Church, not a national Church. Even as a very young person, when asked who I was, I would not answer first, “an American”, but “a Catholic”.

Some of us think and act like “citizens of the world”. We have this perspective because we are Benedictine, Carmelite, Franciscan, the Church Militant. Such a citizen is free from the prejudices and false security of being just a citizen of a nation which may or may not be “under God”.

There is only one institution which is truly “under God” and that is the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.  First and foremost, I am a Catholic.

I am moving out of Iowa next week, a word which means, “the beautiful land”. A friend of mine wondered how it got so liberal, so leftist. She also wondered how Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, parts of the Dakotas (remember, the first and only complete Marxist city council was in a Dakota town), became so leftist. 

The answer is simple. These areas were primarily settled by Protestants, who believed in the American Dream first and foremost. There religion because “Americanism” and conformity. Sola fide, sola Scriptura means one can believe anything, even heresy. This type of attitude of provincial religious and political liberalism rubbed off on the Catholics, so that, by the time I was growing up, most the Catholics voted left in this area, and most practiced birth control, and supported “women’s rights”. I know Catholics who will vote for Hillary. They have no idea of her connections to the international, global groups who want to destroy Catholicism or, at least emaciate the Church. They do not seem to care. Globalism is more important than Christendom.

But, that blindness is only one example of the problem. The real problem is the lack of witness to the Gospel of Christ as preserved in the Catholic Church.

If the laity were signs of contradiction in the world a hundred years ago, they are no longer so.

They are signs of conformity.

The remnant is small, indeed.

Buy Ezekiel Bread

HyVee has it. In the frozen organic section.

Read, but remember it is from La Stampa

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/sinodo-sinodo-synod-famiglia-family-familia-34919/

Hmmm....

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/technology/personaltech/a-reach-too-far-by-google.html?_r=1

Interesting Read

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=21814

The False Dark Night

Barbara Brown Taylor is one of the most popular “spiritual” writers of the day. She was ordained as an Episcopalian priestess, but for reasons concerning her own popularity, she and the Episcopalians parted company some time ago.

The reason she is a concern for those seeking peace and perfection is that she writes about what she calls the Dark Night. However, one must make a distinction between what I call the highjacking of this very Catholic mystical term and Taylor’s use of the phrase.

First of all, for those of you who have read the over 600 posts on this blog regarding the way to perfection and union with God, you know that the first step to holiness is complete orthodoxy. Unorthodoxy keeps people from the graces of perfection.

Why? To be in union with Christ demands not only a breaking away from sin, and a purging of sin, but the “putting on the Mind of Christ”. To think like Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity one must think like His Own Bride, the Church.

Only in the Teaching and Tradition of the Church do we find the Mind of God. The sins which need to be purged come from self-love and self-will. Part of accepting the magnificent teaching of the Church is dying to self, the ideas one’s has about morality, doctrines, dogmas.

To insist on accepting ideas of others who have departed from the Tradition and Teaching Magisterium is a sign of rebellion and pride.

Without orthodoxy, one opens one’s heart, soul and mind to other spiritual forces, namely, demons and listens to the siren song of deceit.

I cannot judge Ms. Taylor, but I can judge her ideas, and a supposed “dark night” which is the same in Buddhism, or other man-made “religions”.  Objectively, she is confusing the way of ascetism, a long and honored tradition in all “religions” with the real Dark Night.

The real Dark Night centers on one’s relationship with Christ, and not merely the ascetic appeal of death to material things or distractions.

All humans benefit from denial and dark times, but only in the true Dark Night can one be discovered by the Bridegroom by Christ.

Who discovers one is the darkness which is not centered on Christ and His Truth, only found in fullness in the Catholic Church is, frankly, frightening.

Unless one is orthodox, one is open to the deceit of the most intelligent of beings, the demons who fake spirituality, who counterfeit real holiness and real religious experiences.

If on is not orthodox, one is not even on the way to perfection, as one is following a path which has forked off, away from the glory of the Catholic Church.

There is no such thing as truth outside of Christ, who told us “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”

There is no other way to union with God except through Christ and His Church. Anything else is a false and stunted journey, based on the ideas of men and not the Mind of Christ.

Once more, I repeat, how do we know the Mind of Christ? The is only one way, through the beauty of the Catholic Church

The Two Brothers of Malta-Ending

In the morning of August 9th, the second bombardment of Birgu began. The area was already almost destroyed by the cannons but the fort held out.  Birgu was almost invaded but a fluke of history caused the Turks to withdraw. Again, some strange power was at work stopping the advancement against Christianity. Birgu and Fort St. Michael did not succumb with the help of the charismatic Vallette, who had Frederico and his men by his side. The people proved to be some of the bravest on the island. 

The inhabitants fought well and stopped another attempt at the end of the month. Vallette sensed that the invaders were losing their will to win. However, the siege continued. The Turks had, at this point, before the beginning of September, lost over 9,000 men. 6,100 Maltese had fought against 48,000 men from the East and had not given in. The Turks attempted to take over the holy city of Mdina, but decide to withdraw in another surprise retreat. Mdina had little artillery, so the entire withdrawal of the attack seemed a spiritual mystery to the Maltese. Many of the Turks died of diseases adding to the number of dead, making the count 10,000. The siege moved slowly to an end.

On the vigil of the Feast of the Birthday of Our Lady, September 7^th, the famous Don Garcia appeared with his men in St. Paul’s Bay, clearing the area with 8,000 reinforcements. In a rage which could not be controlled, the Spanish soldiers swept through the area, including Gozo, and freed Malta from the invaders. The Turks left Malta on September 11^th, a day to be later remembered for another victory, as the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, celebrating, as Catholics do today, the victory at the Battle for Vienna, a battle fought over two days, the 11^th and 12^th in 1683.

Soon the people had food sent to them from Spain, Italy, and Sicily. Sadly, many thousands died, in the fighting or by starvation. There graves, unlike like those of the Knights, lie unmarked, under the rocky soil of Malta.

The Maltese understood to whom they owed this victory, creating lovely churches in honor of Our Lady. The glory of Valletta revealed the beauty and love of the Knights for their country, their Lady, and their God.

Immanuel finally went back to Gozo to resurrect his father’s estates, and succeeded in being accepted into the Order, after training as a Knight, on Christmas Day, 1601. He was remembered always for his kindness and meekness.  Vallette began to build the most advanced fortified city in the world, but died before seeing it completed. Frederico received permission from the Grand Master after the Siege to enter the monastery in Mdina, where he lived to be a very old monk, writing this memory of the Siege of Malta from the perspective of two brothers-the two brothers of Malta. When Frederico died, the monks opened the tomb of Tomas and Isabella to add Frederico’s body to the dust. There, they found one white flower, a small white rose, preserved, as if it had been placed there yesterday by a gentle hand.

There is another story here, but it will have to wait a bit....

The End.

I know a couple

...who have been married for 66 years and still go out several times a week for coffee and a talk.

I am a bit envious....

That is love. When they were married in January of 1948, they had poinsettas on the altar. I love poinsettias.

Breaking News from SPUC

3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street London, SE11 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone: (020) 7091 7091 Email: information@spuc.org.uk http://www.spuc.org.uk
BREAKING NEWS UN Human Rights Council passes pro-family resolution
JOHN SMEATON, SPUC DIRECTOR Thursday, 26 June 2014 BREAKING NEWS UN Human Rights Council passes pro-family resolution The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council today passed a resolution for the "Protection of the Family" (link), despite opposition from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The resolution was passed by 26 votes in favour, with 14 votes against the resolution and six abstentions. Supporters of the resolution included the Russian Federation, India and Indonesia. Earlier the Council rejected an amendment, designed to undermine the resolution, which promoted the false concept of "various forms of the family", as opposed to the natural family based upon marriage between a man and a woman. Patrick Buckley, representing the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC)www.spuc.org.uk at Geneva, described the vote as "truly historic". He said: "Rarely has a resolution been so vigorously resisted by anti-life and anti-family forces." The resolution: calls for "concerted actions to strengthen family-centred policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensve approach to human rights and development" recognises that "the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children" says that the family is "the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children" describes the family "the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State" Roll-call of votes on the resolution: Yes (26): Algeria Benin Botswana Burkina Faso China Congo Cote d'Ivoire Ethiopia Gabon India Indonesia Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Maldives Morocco Namibia Pakistan Philippines Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Sierra Leone South Africa United Arab Emirates Venezuela Vietnam No (14): Austria Chile Czech Republic Estonia France Germany Ireland Italy Japan Montenegro Republic of Korea Romania United Kingdom United States of America Abstained (6): Argentina Brazil Costa Rica Mexico Peru The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk

From SPUC

3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street London, SE11 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone: (020) 7091 7091 Email: information@spuc.org.uk http://www.spuc.org.uk
Young pro-lifers walking the South Downs Way for SPUC
JOHN SMEATON, SPUC DIRECTOR Thursday, 26 June 2014 Young pro-lifers walking the South Downs Way for SPUC Paul Smeaton, my son (pictured) has 84 more miles to walk in the sponsored walk which he and Matthew McCusker is undertaking this week for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). They are walking the South Downs Way, one of Britain’s longest national trails. Our young team has set itself the target of completing the trail, and all diversions for food and rest for the night, within one week, and without the use of any form of transportation- except their feet! This will mean averaging close to 20 miles each day. Matthew, my personal assistant, has worked for SPUC for nearly four years and is giving up a week of his annual leave to raise awareness of SPUC’s abortion miscertification campaign. Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk

When I Am Old

I sincerely hope to be full of grace in the way God intended me. I pray daily to live in God's Perfect Will.

This may mean absolutely doing what I do not want to do.

On the other hand, if we love God and are trying to live in His Perfect Will, our prayers and desires reflect His Will for us.

Yes.

I have had prayers answered because I was praying in God's Will. I have seen things blocked in my life, as this was His Will.

But, sometimes, God's Will involves His allowing great suffering, such as persecution and martyrdom.

Think on this. We do not have much time for freedom. It is eluding us, fading away quickly.

Greater good can come out of intense suffering, and therefore Divine Providence allows this.

But, we are always, always in the palm of His Hand.

Some do not experience suffering as intensely as others. This is also His Will.

Do not bring down suffering on yourself unless it is God's Will. That could be simply the sin of pride.

We do not redeem ourselves through suffering but have been redeemed through Christ's sufferings.

Be patient, be peaceful, do not "sweat the small stuff."

And, I hope when I am very old, that I am more full of grace than I am now-and revealing the gifts. May God grant me time...

On Confusion Again

Confusion comes from evil, period. I see more and more confusion among people in the States regarding even common things. We have come from being a nation of pioneers, and independent workers, who knew how to do things, to a people who rely on others for so-called truth.

There is a mental laziness among many, which means that people do not compare news sources, do not find out information for themselves, do not do research before buying things, accept what governments tell them about education, and even believe falsified polls.

How did this happen? One reason why people are mentally lazy is that they do not pray. They do not take time daily to reflect. Their lives are full of addictions, to food, drink, entertainment.

When I was a teen, we went out once a week on a Friday with my friends. Now, young people and old people seek entertainment daily. I am amazed at how much people seek out entertainment. It is mind-numbing.

I have written on the evils of American entertainment before, but British entertainment is, if anything, worse. More of the capital sins are shown as ok on British sitcoms than one would hope to see.

But, the confusion is absolutely caused by the bombardment of the imagination by outside stimuli. Remember, everything you see and hear and touch goes into your imagination forever, unless you beg God to cleanse you of memory. See my other posts on this theme.

Confusion is caused by satan. He wants our minds to be scrambled by trivia, by nonsense. He does not want us to think on the last four things, or on our eternal destiny, so he feeds the imaginations of the world with useless information and entertainment.

I am very concerned, as this phenomenon is more than material; it is psychological and it is spiritual. When a people no longer reflect, they become stressed, and when stressed, people make wrong, even evil decisions.

Righteous Anger

Why is it that no one allows righteous anger? We have an example of God Himself showing anger several times against the Pharisees and the Sadducees. So, if a Catholic becomes angry at abortion or contraception or same-sex marriage, all serious sins which offend God, or becomes angry serious injustice or the killing of Christians across the world, why is the Catholic condemned?

Righteous anger comes from purity of heart, and not being caught up in egotism.

Righteous anger comes from seeing events and people with the eyes of God.

Too often, people assume all anger is sin. But, it is not. “Be angry, but sin not.”

Without the fire of righteous anger, the West would still have slavery. Without the fire of righteous anger, abortion continues to kill millions of babies a year.

We shall see the wrath of God and understand that we did not allow God to purify us enough to feel righteous anger.

God forgive us. But, we shall not be spared.

The Two Brothers of Malta Part Eleven

July was coming to a close, with a few odd encounters with the enemy. The Muslims were encircling the peninsula with cannons for a huge assault on Birgu and Senglea. In the Fort of St. Michael, an encounter occurred which changed the lives of several people.

Isabella and Rebecca had been escorted out of the camp near the harbor to St. Michael’s Fort. Immanuel accompanied them to the fort, before he returned to the interior to help some of the Maltese, who were beginning to starve, or who lacked water. Many goats had been stolen and eaten by the invaders. Little food was left in the catecombs, as so many people had to be fed. The cutting down of the unripe grain had caused a bread shortage and no supply ships from Italy or Sicily could break through the clogged harbours. In addition, some of the Suleiman’s ships sailed into St. Paul’s Bay, causing interruptions in trade.

Immanuel, Rebecca and Isabella were accompanied by the Bishop of Malta, a Knight of Malta, and by the servants of the Chevalier. Because Isabella was dying, the Bishop gave her the Last Rites and absolution, including a special blessing from the Pope. Immanuel stayed by her bedside in a small villa near the Fort, while the Bishop and the servants went on to the Fort.

It was the Feast of St. Anne, the Mother of Mary and Grandmother of Christ. During normal times, there would have been processions in Mdina and other towns honoring this beloved saint. Now, on this day, which was overcast and grey, the Catholics could only remember days of festivities.

Rebecca fanned Isabella in the oppressive heat. The clouds pressed the heat onto the island like a giant’s hands. Some said the heat was a sign of defeat. Immanuel was thinking of his thirsting, dying people of Malta. He and the Bishop went back to the chamber in the fort.

The first surprise was the arrival of Frederico. He had heard that Immanuel and his mother were in the camp area, hidden away for safety. He had met the Bishop himself. And thanked him for his kindness is bringing a sad soul to some peace.

“She is not a bad women, Your Excellency. She was young and weak. Personally, I believe she has suffered more than enough for her sins.”

The Bishop answered quickly, “I am inclined to agree with you, Frederico. She will have a peaceful death. Her confession was that of a child.”

Just then, Rebecca burst into the chamber. “Frederico, Your Excellency, please come back to the villa. Isabella is dying, I am sure.” The three men walked quickly down a small street to the house, but just as they were going to enter the dark, cool room, they heard a voice in the street. “Frederico, may I come in?”

It was Tomas. He had heard that his brother, son, and former mistress had gathered in this place. He looked strange, almost feverish. “Are you ill, my brother?” Frederico spoke first.

“I am better than I have been in years. Do you think she would see me?”

The Bishop walked over to Tomas and whispered in his ear. Tomas realized the closeness of death. “Then, I have no time. Bishop, listen to me. Take this.’

Frederico and Immanuel could not see what Tomas handed to the Bishop, but the Bishop looked for a long time at the object. “This is good, Tomas, this is very good. Come.”

All walked into the sick room. Rebecca respectfully stood by a back door. The Bishop approached Isabella who looked pale, very pale.

“My daughter, there is someone here who wants to see you. He wants to ask your forgiveness, and he wants to ask you something else. Will you see Tomas?”

Isabella tried to sit up. “Yes, yes, I shall. I will.” She looked over the Bishop’s shoulder as Tomas stepped forward.

“Will you forgive me, a pig, a stubborn, selfish man, Isabella? I took your son from you and I see God restored him behind my back. But, I am content, except for one thing.”

Isabella pressed her thin hand on the brown strong hand of Tomas. “Please know you were forgiven a long time ago. I have harbored no hatred or unforgiveness. I, too, was selfish and irresponsible. But, we have a beautiful son.”

Tomas looked at the worn face, but Isabella’s eyes glowed with love and joy. “Isabella, will you marry me, now, here?”

She turned to the wall for a moment. “You have taken a long time to ask this, Tomas. Yes, for the few days I have left, I can be restored to society, as will your son.”

The Bishop suggested that Tomas first make a general confession. In the next room, Tomas made the first confession he had made in almost thirty years before receiving the sacrament of marriage. All left Tomas and the Bishop alone for about a half-hour. Isabella was given some water. She glowed with an odd light, but she was breathing normally. Tomas and the Bishop returned to the sick room.

The Bishop came forward with his prayer book, and a small package. In it was the ring which had belonged to the noble mother of Tomas and Frederico. Immanuel choked. The ring was made of four emeralds and four diamonds in the shape of the Maltese Cross. Tomas knelt by the bed and the Bishop began the Nuptial Blessing.

A great silence enveloped all who were there. Frederico noticed tears in his brother’s eyes, but Isabella’s eyes shone with love. They said their vows quietly, serenely.

Then, the Bishop pronounced them man and left the room, indicating to Immanuel and Frederico to follow him.

“She does not have much time, perhaps hours, or a day. We can only pray.”

Immanuel hung his head but Frederico said, “You realize what a miracle this is, Your Excellency. Something has happened to my brother. This is a miracle, indeed.”

A few minutes passed and Tomas came out of the room. “She fell asleep, smiling. I had forgotten the charm of her smile. Rebecca will care for her and I shall come back after she rests, but I need some care.”  He opened his shirt and there on his side was a huge bandage, with blood beginning to seep through. “Father, we need to get the surgeon, now.” Immanuel almost shouted, but remembered the woman in the next room and lowered his voice.

“It is too late, my son. Look, I have blood poisoning and gangrene. I came here to die and to make you my son in the law and in the eyes of God. My son, no longer a bastard-the Bishop restores you as well to your rightful place. Can you forgive me?”

Immanuel led his father to a chair. “This is a day of forgiveness, Father. Of course. And as I love my mother as I love you, I am forever grateful that you made her your wife. Father…” But, Immanuel could not speak, for Tomas slid over and laid his head on the table. He took three or four deep breaths. “Your Excellency, give me the Last Rites. Please.”  Then, the Bishop began the prayers as the brother and son walked outside as Immanuel was trembling. It was now dark. In a few moments, the brother and son returned to watch Tomas receive the Body and Blood of Christ, His Lord, Whom he had avoided for years. Now, God and he were united again.

Then, after receiving the Eucharist peacefully, he fell into a fever and then, later, a coma. By midnight, he was dead.

Frederico discovered that his brother had been ambushed by Turks on the way to St. Michael’s Fort. He had killed two, but had received this blow from the third. This encounter happened four days ago.

“He may have been poisoned by the swords as well,” remarked Frederico. Some find mountebanks to buy poisons. He would not have died so soon. He was a strong man.”

Early the next morning, while the sun rose over the sea, Isabella passed away.  Immanuel asked permission for them to be buried in Mdina, in the Cathedral. The Bishop heartily gave permission, and if you visit there today, you will see a white tomb, embellished with stars, with the dust of Tomas and Isabella resting together.

The son took a carriage and escorted the two caskets, made hastily by soldiers, with Frederico and the Bishop back to Mdina.

Rebecca came as well, but did not stay in the house with the Knights. She had someone else to find. After the twin funeral in the Cathedral, she sought out Salim.

But, that is another story for another day.

July limped into August and the battering of the last two forts began. The siege was not over for Immanuel and Frederico.

But, the two old lovers rested away from the din, in a place for those who die in love and not in hate, who die in forgiveness and not in rancor, who die in humility and not in pride.

To be continued…

The Two Brothers of Malta Part Ten

A tall, thin man from Ephesus sat in his tent. His tent-mate had been killed in the assault on St. Elmo’s. Salim was twenty-four, and from an ancient family. But, tonight, days before the attack on Fort St. Michael’s and the landing parties crossing Mt. Sciberras, Salim lay on his bed in torment. No one knew that he had been conscripted years ago into the army of Suleiman. He had been taken from his town because he was a noted horseman, but he had only seen duty as an  arquebusiers. No one knew his mother was a Christian, and that he was a Christian. He had avoided detection because of a illustrious connection in the court, his uncle, a pious Muslim. All thought Salim was pious as well. He was, but his piety was to a different God, a Trinitarian God of his mother.

Salim knew of the new plans to avoid the Knights guns, and new ships in the Harbour. He had to decide to either stand up for his faith, finally, risking horrible torture and death, and defect to the other side, or remain in shame, for fighting on the wrong side.

His torture was compounded by the thought of a beautiful servant who lived in a small house north of the camp. This young girl, had met him by accident, when Salim was carrying messages from Mustafa to Piyale concerning the movement of small boats to the area around Senglea. He was on his way back to St. Elmo’s camp when he had a strange and haunting meeting.

In the dark of night, Salim had stumbled across a small party, two men and two women, one of whom was on a horse, wrapped in shawls and obviously unwell. The other woman, the young one, walked alongside the older woman, while the two soldiers went ahead a bit. About five hundred feet separated the servants of de la Cassiere from Isabella and Rebecca, when Salim practically ran into the small horse. Rebecca looked at the young man in the dark and the servants turned back to hold him, and most likely, kill him. It was obvious he was a Turk. Rebecca spoke quickly, “I know you. You are the horse-trainer from Ephesus.” The servants had drawn their swords to kill Salim. Rebecca held out her arms. “Wait, I know this man. His mother is a Christian. Wait.”

Salim felt ashamed to be saved by a young girl, but he now remembered her. “Rebecca, why are you here?”

The young girl asked the servants to move out of hearing and they obeyed. The servant of Isabella, once paramour of Sir Tomas should be obeyed, for now.

“I ran away from a marriage, like my mistress, and found shelter with a good Knight in Mdina. He was uncle to a young man, who asked me to take care of his mother, and pays for me to do so. He is the son of a Knight.”

“Rebecca, you are a Christian as well? I did not know this. Now, I understand why you left and disappeared.”

“I shall save you this time, but you must come back to us, you must. Pray, Salim. Be who you are.”

Rebecca walked up to the servants. They spoke with each other quietly. Then they came back to where Salim sat, still on his horse.

“If we let you go, false Christian, think that you owe the Knights a favor. Now, go, and be glad you know this good woman.”

Salim said nothing but turned his horse south and made his way back to the camp near St. Elmo’s ruins. Now, he tossed and turned his tent, unable to sleep. Finally, he knew what he had to do-be true to himself and his religion.

Just before dawn, Salim slipped out of his tent and into the horse yard. There, he chose the fastest and wisest of the Arabians, and managing to keep all of them quiet, he rode out of the camp and around the harbour. If he was caught, he knew he would suffer the worst tortures a man could bear. He rode on.

Finally, he found a camp and a guard. “Take me to Vallette.” The guard looked at the youth and then, Salim produced an ancient cross made of brass from under his tunic. The guard nodded and led the young man across the camp to Vallette’s tent. Salim spoke quickly, “Have mercy on me, a Christian youth, who was conscripted and has no heart to fight the Knights of Malta. There is coming a two-fold attack on the Senglea. As many as 100 boats have been brought across the mountain, and there will be sea fight with the last of the Janissaries. Corsairs have been sent up to Fort St. Michael’s to attack there from the land. Have mercy and let me help you.”

Vallette stood up and examined Salim’s face. “Why should I believe you?”

Salim looked at the ground. “Rebecca, servant of Isabella, mother of Immanuel, believes in me.”

Vallette almost laughed out loud. So, this young man smote the heart of the young girl. He became serious again, forcing himself not to smile.

“If I let you stay with us, will you help me against these Turks?”

Salim looked up, “Yes, I shall do what I can do.”

Vallette poured water with lemon for them both. “What can you do?”

“I train horses and I am a horse master.”

Vallette looked carefully at Salim. “Then, I send you to Mdina, to train some of our peasants to ride and care for horses. There are a few there in the city. Now, go, quickly, and take this.” Vallette gave Salim a sword and knife, as he had left with no weapons. On the handles were the Maltese Cross, the sign of the Order.

Salim took the weapons, but turned back and kissed the hands of Vallette. In minutes, he was travelling west to the holy city.

Vallette turned to his advisors. “I want a palisade built immediately across the peninsula, at the promontory. I want word to be sent to St. Angelo’s for preparation for a sea attack. I know that de Guiral has cannons there. Tell him to be on the alert.”

It was the middle of July, and the weeks of the siege had cost the Turks more men than the Suleiman had anticipated. He had to think of his last attempts to crush Malta.

One more time, Our Lady had changed the game plan of the war. The battle would be won by the Knights, as the cannons sunk all the boats, except one. And, over 800 of the Turks died in this attack.

The attack on St. Michael’s failed as well, as extra reinforcements arrived in time on an invention, a floating bridge. Salim’s return to himself had won him a place of honor in Malta, and, eventually, a Christian wife named Rebecca.

To be continued…

The Two Brothers of Malta Part Nine

Frederico awoke early to join the monks in prayer. He was falling into his monastic life too easily. It was difficult being both a warrior and a priest. His priesthood was hidden at this time, as he did not want any shame to be brought against the Order in case he failed his duty as a commander. Unlike many of his priestly peers, however, Frederico had found his vocation naturally, as an answer to the deepest desires of his heart of hearts. His only wish was to end his day in the simplicity and silence of this monastery in Mdina. He prayed that the war, the siege would end in a time of peace so that he could pursue contemplative prayer.

Today, in prayer, he seemed to find a great peace and a greater joy concerning his own possible death. The death of Paulo had reminded Frederico how close he was daily to the reality of eternity.

His small army gathered in the Cathedral for a Mass for the dead Paulo. The bishop then blessed all the men and gave them general absolution-a gift from the Pope in Rome.         

Afterwards, Frederico called his military advisors for a meeting. But, first, he ordered twelve lookouts on the walls of the small city. They each had a grand view of the surrounding area and could warn of danger quickly.

The city on the hill provided a temporary safe-haven for the soldiers and for many inhabitants. Daily, farmers, merchants, fishermen came with their children and wives into the walls. People slept outside on the streets, and in doorways. The nuns and monks fed the displaced families as best they could with soup made of grass and seaweed, while eggs were given to the mothers nursing their babies and the very old.

Frederico brought up the question of the day. “Do you think the Turks will attack?” The advisors disagreed, and just as a decision as to defense was made, a messenger from Vallette rushed into the meeting.

“Pardon, but read this. There is need for great haste.” The young man sat down and was given wine.

Frederico opened the scroll. He read and then spoke. “Vallette is asking for the army to leave Mdina immediately and moved both arms and men to St. Michael’s and St. Angelo’s. Elmo’s’ has fallen.”

Frederico bowed his head. He feared for the holy city, but more men were needed near the promontory and the peninsula.  Vallette was busy building defenses on the peninsula and Vallette had asked the Spanish in Sicily to send more men to Birgu, and they were, apparently, on their way, while the Turkish fleet was in three places.

“We, of course, will obey the command. I shall leave a few men here, and hand armaments only. The army shall march tonight, under cover of darkness. Our decision has been made for us. We shall take the large cannons”

More ships sailed into Marsamxett, now that Fort St. Elmo was a ruin, while the army of Frederico left Mdina to a handful of his men and a few armed farmers. The ships waited for more orders from Piyale or Mustafa. Suleiman had decided on continuing the attacks on the forts. Perhaps he thought the loss of the forts would undermine the confidence of the Knights and the bravery of the Maltese inhabitants. The other orders from Suleiman, to attack overland, did not come until too late. At Marsamxett, one third of the Turkish fleet languished. The decision to take St. Elmo’s at all costs, a decision of mere pride and arrogance, and the decision to split the fleet into three would prove to be decisions of wasted opportunities and carnage. But, the Lady who watched over the Maltese was in charge, not the three Turkish commanders.

Frederico and his small company of men traveled as quickly as they could in the night. Clouds covered the moon, and no sound of cannons or gunfire from the Senglea. But, an attack would come in two days, an attack from both sides of the peninsula. The history of the war would include battles at the remaining forts, with both soldiers and inhabitants suffering losses. However, the Corsairs and Turks found the locals capable of fighting one of the most experienced and trained armies in the world, if necessary, to the death of all.

Both brothers were moving towards the east. One with his entire group of dedicated and relatively fresh men, one with a small body guard of two men made their way in darkness. Both would meet up in unusual circumstances.

To be continued…

Europeans

I am forced to blog very late at night your time. Sorry....hope this will change soon.

Meet Some of The Latin Mass Priests

of the Davenport Diocese.

Father Chris Young and STM.

Father David Brownfield and Father Scott Lemaster and you know who... and below, Father Young again, with Father Michael Phillips, whose Latin is beautifully prayed. There are two more in the dioceses, but they were not present at this do. And STM with the wonderful Fr. Phillips.

I sincerely hope that those

..who have not read the Cardinal Manning series do so.  His writings on the Holy Spirit are dynamite.

No Fear!

A priest told me yesterday that the only thing keeping Catholics from becoming saints is fear. Now, I believe this as fear stops the growth of trust in Divine Providence and robs persons of joy. He had been on a priests' retreat and this was the theme. 

Fear, simply, is not believing in the love of God.  If one truly knows that God loves one, there is no fear in the soul or mind or heart. Purity of heart, mind and soul means that one has realized that God loves one despite one’s horrible failings and inadequacies.

One does not have to “prove” love to God, but merely rest in His Love.

Fear causes denial of grace and denial of death. Those who fear cannot face their intended end-to be with God forever.

Fear drives out love. One cannot trust anyone or anything when one lives in fear.

Love does drive out fear, bit by bit, one’s heart is cleared of sin and sadness.

Sadly, many older people fall into fear as they grow elderly. The media plays upon the fears of those who no longer can control their own destinies. Fear keeps them from community and created new suspicions where none are necessary.

Fear causes people to pull in, not to reach out. to be mistrustful and cynical.

We can trust through Christ Himself, and in Christ Himself.

To fear is to destroy the gifts and fruits of the Spirit.

The flowers of the field grow and flourish under the care of God. Should we fear that we shall not be cared for and tended like these little, humble creatures, His flowers?

Meditate on God's Divine Providence today. He has won the war. We only have to sweep up the battles.

to be continued..