Keep
your eyes open!...
April 30, 2018
(Joh 14:27) Peace
I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do
I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid.
ST. JOHN XXIII:
Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself
our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant
us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and
brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.
Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift
of peace. May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters.
May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.
ZENIT.ORG: Holy See Retains Grave Concern for Middle East
RELATED HEADLINES
Mattis: War 'Likely" Between Israel and Iran
War of Words Escalates Between Iran and Israel
Pompeo: US stands ‘with Israel’ in fight against Iran
EXCERPT ANALYSIS: Israel vs Iran, a looming war
Iran is regarded as the greatest single threat to Israel, whose right
wing sees Iran as an existential threat which simply has to be
confronted. In its view, that Iran now has strong influence and an
increasing military presence so near to Israel's border is simply
unacceptable. A further issue is Iran’s sway over the Shi’a government
in Baghdad, which reportedly now includes close Iranian input in the
redevelopment of Iraq’s own military-industrial complex. Israel sees
this as further proof that Iran is spreading its military influence
across the region (see "Syria's wars: a new dynamic", 15 February
2018).
Syria, however, is the more immediate worry. In recent weeks, Israeli
Defence Force (IDF) sources have been registering a steady increase in
direct Iranian military engagement there. Iran may even be able to link
up with militias that control territory uncomfortably close to the
Israeli ceasefire lines on the Golan heights (see Nicholas Blanford
& Jonathan Spyer, “Bordering on Chaos”, Jane’s Intelligence Review,
February 2018). This deepens the existing bond between Iran and
Hizbollah, and further allows the transfer of weapons across Syria in
transit to southern Lebanon.
The latter trend has frequently been met with IDF airstrikes. Indeed
the level of Israeli military operations in Syria is almost entirely
unrecognised outside the region. A recent estimate is that, since the
civil war began in 2011, Israel has conducted around a hundred strikes
across the border.
Two new reports signal the accelerating military pace. In one, the IDF
claims that the Iranian military now have a substantial presence at
five different air bases scattered across Syria. Moreover, Iran now
possesses a drone known as the Simorgh, based on the US's RQ-170
“stealth” reconnaissance drone that crashed in Iran in December 2011
and has since been re-engineered and put into production by Iranian
technicians (see "An asymmetrical drone war", 19 August 2010).
Another report, in a US military journal, says that one of these
drones, shot down in March when flying over Israel, was actually armed
with an explosive charge rather than just functioning as a
reconaissance drone. There isn’t yet any independent corroboration of
this, but from an IDF perspective it would mean that Iranian government
forces – rather than their Hizbollah surrogate in Syria alone – are
prepared to attack the state of Israel in its own territory.
A single drone with a small explosive charge overflying Israel can be
seen as highly provocative yet to an extent gestural – a response to
Israel's own raids into Syria. But Israel's calculation goes much
further. IDF sources point to the establishment of Iranian
ballistic-missile bases in Syria for the storage of short- and
medium-range missiles.
On the political front, Israel’s government is wary of the intensive
European efforts to dissuade Trump from his intended repudiation of the
Iran nuclear deal by 12 May. The state visit to Washington of Emmanuel
Macron, quickly to be followed by Angela Merkel's one-day working trip,
is at least partly about saving the agreement. Israel continues to want
a much tougher line against Tehran (see Khaled Hroub, "Middle East
nightmare, made in Washington", 20 April 2018).
For Israel, the current cycle is thus proving decidedly uncomfortable
on several fronts. Tensions with Hizbollah and Iran are rising, while
hopes that the White House new arrivals John Bolton and Mike Pompeo
would sway Trump further against Iran are in the balance. Trump is
notoriously unpredictable. But at least for now, the main consequence
of the US-UK-France raid on Syria really is an increased risk of wider
war: less “mission accomplished” than yet more blowback.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 23- "On mad pride and unclean,
blasphemous
thought"
1.
Pride is denial of God, an invention of the
devil, the despising of men, the mother of condemnation, the offspring
of praise, a sign of sterility, flight from Divine assistance, the
precursor
of madness, the cause of falls, a foothold for satanic possession, a
source
of anger, a door of hypocricy, the support of demons, the guardian of
sins,
the patron of pitilessness, the rejection of compassion, a bitter
inquisitor,
an inhuman judge, an opponent of God, a root of blasphemy.
April 27, 2018
(1Pe 3:10-11) For
he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue
from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him decline from
evil and do good: Let him seek after peace and pursue it...
POPE FRANCIS:
"To the Korean people, who ardently desire peace, I assure my personal
prayer and the closeness of the whole Church. The Holy See accompanies,
supports and encourages all useful and sincere initiatives to build a
better future, in the name of encounter and friendship among peoples. I
ask those with direct political responsibilities to have the courage of
hope by becoming “artisans” of peace, while I exhort them to continue
with confidence the path undertaken for the good of all. And since God
is Father of all and Father of peace, I invite you to pray to our
Father, God, Father of all, for the Korean people, both those in the
South and those in the North."
CBCK STATEMENT: Praying for the Success of the Inter-Korean Summit
KOREA DAILY: Panmunjom, the village of permanent tension
EXCERPT ASIANEWS.IT: Card. Yeom: We Christians, instruments of peace on the Korean peninsula
Now, the forthcoming South-North summit to be held in three days must
be a historic opportunity on which the fate of our nation is at stake.
The Authorities should focus on nothing else than coming to an
agreement to promote together the common good of our people and on
putting it into practice, disregarding their own political and party
interests. They should above all bear in mind that peace, so desired by
the entire people, “is not merely the absence of war; nor can it be
reduced solely to the maintenance of a balance of power between
enemies.” (Gaudium et Spes, 78) Therefore, peace in the Korean
Peninsula cannot be maintained by the nuclear armament at all. It can
only be realized by assuring that all people live a life truly worthy
of a human being, trusting one another, on the basis of love and
justice.
Through this South-North summit, to be held as the third of its kind
since the nation was divided 73 years ago, directly responsible
Authorities must act with wisdom and discernment to plant the roots of
true peace deeply in the Korean Peninsula. This amounts to building
relationships of trust for our nation within the international
community. (Cf. Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi Message, Easter, 1 April
2018) and promoting the peace in Asia and in the world. Undoubtedly we
do not expect that this will be realized in a day. It is necessary to
keep the dialogue going with patience.
I sincerely thank all those authorities who have made painstaking
efforts to realize this historic meeting and dialogue of the top
leaders of the South and the North. In addition, I wish that God may
bless and guide all those who will be engaged in eliminating nuclear
weapons and establishing true peace in this land, thereby promoting the
peace in the world.
In this undertaking, before anyone else, we, Christians, each and every
one of us, should be an instrument of peace, which brings love, where
there is hatred; pardon, where there is offense; union, where there is
discord; truth, where there is error; faith, where there is doubt;
hope, where there is despair; light, where there is darkness; joy,
where there is sadness.” (St. Francis, Prayer of Peace)
Peace is above anything else a gift of God. Let us assure our Lord that
we first will be “the peacemakers”(Matt 5:9) and together implore God
through this Holy Mass so that this South-North summit may bring forth
real and permanent fruits for true peace and authentic development of
our people.
And let us entrust such desire we have long cherished in our hearts to
Holy Mary Immaculate, Patron of our Diocese, Mother of God, Mother of
the Church, our benevolent Mother who loves our people.
As Pope Francis said last January at the Basilica di Saint Mary Major:
“How often our heart is a stormy sea, where the waves of our problems
pile up and the winds of our troubles do not stop blowing! Mary is our
secure ark in the midst of the flood. It will not be ideas or
technology that will give us comfort and hope, but our Mother’s face,
her hands that caress our life, her mantle that gives us shelter. Let
us learn how to find refuge, going each day to our Mother.” (Homily,
Mass at Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome, 28 Jan. 2018)
Beneath your protection, we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God; do not
despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from
all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
PRAYER TO OUR LADY FOR PEACE
Holy Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our Diocese, thank you for always
guiding us on the path of evangelization. You who are a beacon of hope
and consolation for our people divided between the South and the North,
look upon your children who suffer injustice and oppression. Grant us
through your Son, Jesus Christ, wisdom and fortitude so that, as His
faithful disciples, we can be tireless builders of reconciliation,
unity and peace. Amen. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us. Mary Queen of
Peace, pray for peace on the Korean Peninsula
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
24.
Vainglory is often the cause of dishonour instead
of honour, because it brings great shame to its enraged disciples.
April 25, 2018
(Heb
3:12-14) Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an
evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God. But exhort one
another every day, whilst it is called to day, that none of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of
Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the
end.
TFP.ORG: The Civilization of the Lie and Its Rejection of Truth
DAILY BELL: Government is Replacing Religion, According to Researchers
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Unpracticed Faith is Functional Atheism
EXCERPT SIGN.ORG: The Cult of Softness: We Forgot God by Ted Flynn
The ebbs and flows of culture are
constant with the rise and fall of civilizations. One could look at the
previous twenty-one great empires in world history, and they will find
many similarities to America today. In 1922, several years after the
Bolshevik Revolution, the babushka on the street was asked how it all
happened? Her three- word response was accurate when she said, “We forgot God.”
Here is when the greatness of a civilization ends. Forgetting God is
the common denominator in the failure of a people, because Scripture is
clear that it is the Lord who raises a nation up due to fidelity to
Him, and it collapses due to sin against Him. To a humanist void of
Scriptural knowledge, it is an absurd thought as they merely look at a
cycle of history and not the root cause. It is the Lord who raises a
nation up, and the sin of its people that brings a nation to its knees.
It is the Lord alone who puts up a protective hedge around His faithful
people and blesses them.
When we see “safe spaces” now in
schools for students to retreat to rather than listen to opinions other
than their own, we know we are in a new place. The slogan Hate Has No
Home Here is another way of saying, “I want an ungodly agenda and don’t
bring any thought other than my own into my space. Stay away from me if
you disagree with my diversity opinions.” It is a political statement
that includes a liberal platform.
After the election of Donald J.
Trump to the presidency, schools all over America created safe
environments for students. Cornell University passed out large three-
inch metal diaper pins (few use them anymore) so students who came
unglued with the trauma of it all could wear them outside their
clothing for all to know they were to be left alone due to the election
outcome. Stanford had a room where students could pet puppies — and on
it went throughout the land. Mind you, these schools including all fees
are over $60,000 a year to attend. All so their children can get a
financial edge in life over other kids, and possibly the cost of their
soul.
Many do not understand the word
“sacrifice” or an absolute standard of truth. The youth generally lack
a basic understanding of theology, philosophy, or history. Revisionist
history is the norm in many school districts. Many kids today have a
disdain for the military and lack an awareness of the cost of freedoms
their grandparents fought for that enable them to protest their views.
Most in the past lived simply and
ascetically out of necessity, as this group today want their creature
comforts met now. Mostly out of a false utopian ideal, they lack an
understanding of human nature and all of the horror a heart that is not
circumcised by the Holy Spirit is capable of in life. History has shown
bad economics can make a brute out of the best of people. Jesus was
clear when he said you will find your life when you lose it for others.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear
fruit.” Love thy neighbor as thyself was another admonition. True joy
and peace of soul is only attained when serving others. This is in
stark contrast to the “#MeToo movement marching in the streets
exemplifies the “self” mentality.
Some are enslaved by their own ego
and ignore the reality of the suffering due to the consequences of
Original Sin. The soft cult of “snowflakes” are largely void of
personal responsibility and do not recognize the fallen state of man is
the root cause of violence in the world. Only a personal encounter with
Christ will alter a new outcome, presenting structures of higher Godly
moral values. Through a steady brainwashing they have been groomed, day
in and day out the supremacy of the state matters most, and a
humanistic doctrine is the best way to live. However, when God is
removed from the culture, anything goes.
What makes this present time and
generation somewhat unique is the hatred and distrust in God. Previous
generations never had the ubiquitous tools for knowledge at their
disposal as people do today. Previously, they often acted out of a lack
of catechesis. This generation is outright rejecting and hating God,
not wanting anything to do with Him. They are looking for answers
everyplace but God’s precepts and statutes. The founding fathers were
clear in all of their writings that a democracy can only work when
there is a Christian belief system. As a result of this disintegration,
we are rapidly descending into chaos.
When you have the head of theology
at Holy Cross College (Jesuit) in Massachusetts saying Jesus was a drag
queen and queer, we have reached a new level. This is all coming with
the tacit endorsement of the college administration! And people are
paying for this education? Saying this is education? If your kids go to
a Catholic college with the initials SJ after the school, there is a
good chance the religious instruction at that school is morally
offensive.
We have arrived at a new place in America, and the country of old is getting harder to recognize.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
23.
Vainglory makes those who are preferred, proud,
and those who are slighted, resentful.
April 23, 2018
(Pro 11:22) Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
FATHER THOMAS G. MARROW:
Msgr. Angelo Roncalli once found himself seated at a banquet next to a
woman who was dressed with little regard for the virtue of modesty.
Others observed him, wondering how he would deal with his predicament,
given his moral convictions and his reputation for diplomacy.
After the dinner, Msgr. Roncalli took
an apple and offered it to the woman in question. She declined his
offer. Nonetheless, he persisted in his offer, to the point that the
woman asked why he was so interested in having her eat the fruit. He
responded with a twinkle in his eye, “Because when Eve ate an apple,
she realized she was naked.”
Msgr. Roncalli went on to become Pope John XXIII — now Blessed John XXIII. It’s not known what happened to the woman.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH BLOG: Padre Pio on Modesty, the Forgotten Virtue
HLI: The Message of Fatima, the Family, and the Crisis of Modesty
MSGR. CHARLES POPE: The Secret of Modesty
There is a secret, once known and
widely shared among women, that the best way to get and hold a man’s
attention is through modesty. Near nakedness can get a man’s attention,
but it is modesty that will hold it.
Why is this so? It is because
mystery is powerfully attractive. It entices; it draws and holds one in
a kind of suspense. At its heart, modesty is a reverence for mystery.
It uses mystery to build the very relationship that is meant to unlock
its secrets: Holy Matrimony.
Relationships are not built by a
mere glance. Modesty helps to hold the glance while the relationship
has time to grow and be tested.
Modesty is not prudishness. The
word modesty comes from the word mode, which refers to a central
tendency of a group of numbers. As such, modesty is a kind of middle
ground that does not seek to burden women with excessive coverings but
that also considers the needs of others, so as not to inflame passions
and lust. True modesty reveals beauty, but also reminds that much more
remains hidden and must be reserved only for the deepest relationship
of Holy Matrimony.
Sadly, many women today have not
been taught this essential feminine virtue. Men are too often treated
to a “full disclosure” or to disclosures that leave little to the
imagination. This does excite a kind of “animal” attraction in a man,
but it cannot usually hold that attention for very long. Why? Because
mystery, once disclosed, is no longer mystery, and its attractive power
vanishes quickly. Soon enough, a man who is not attached to a woman for
deeper reasons loses interest and starts to be drawn to other women,
whose mystery still attracts because it has not been uncovered.
Many men are not even consciously
aware that this is why they have lost interest; they do not intend to
be crass. But at the level of desire, mystery is important. Once the
key has been turned and the mystery unlocked, a powerful card has been
played.
Women used to instinctively and
collectively know this. They used modesty to hold the man’s attention,
build the relationship, summon his proposal of marriage, and then draw
him to the marriage bed—not to the back seat of a car or an apartment
couch. In the context of a more fully formed relationship the fuller
mystery of her was finally revealed and shared. Children usually came
quickly in those days and this, too, helped to hold the man fast.
Though her mysteries had been revealed, there was now more to keep the
man’s attention. For by now, after courtship and engagement, he now
knew her more richly in the depth of her person. They had shared
memories and become part of each other’s extended families. And even
more, their own children were now here, or at least on the way.
The mystery kept secret by modesty
was now revealed, but the ties that bind were now operative and filled
the role that modesty had assisted in bringing about. And most women of
previous generations also knew that even after marriage modesty still
had some role, for her modest attire and demeanor still could draw his
glance somehow.
Yes, modesty is a great feminine secret, once known by most women. Now, though, many have foolishly cast it aside.
I pray that many will once again
discover modesty’s paradoxical draw. While immodesty may attract a
man’s quick, animal attention, only modesty can really hold his
attention and root it in something higher and better than animal
desire. Believe it or not, men have rational souls too! Higher and
better motives still work and attract men. Modesty is both powerful and
attractive. Here’s to a great “secret weapon”!
PILGRIM PRIEST BLOG
Modesty Part 1: Sociology
Modesty Part 2: Theology
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
20.
Whenever he sees that any have acquired in
some slight measure a state of peace, he immediately urges them to
leave
the desert for the world, saying: 'Set out in order to save the souls
which
are perishing.'
April 20, 2018
(1Co
3:16-17) Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But if any man violate the temple of
God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you
are.
POPE FRANCIS:
"I want to reiterate and strongly confirm that the only master of life,
from the beginning to its natural end, is God, and our duty is to do
everything to protect life."
NCR: Alfie Evans’ Father Flies to Rome, Pleads With Pope Francis to Help Save His Son
VIDEO REPORT: Alfie Evans: The story so far
VATICAN NEWS: Vatican Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesu reiterates offer to care for Alfie Evans
NEWS REPORT: Italian Foreign Minister Alfano urges UK to let Alfie to come
Italian Foreign Minister Angelino
Alfano on Monday urged his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, to allow
a young boy suffering from an undiagnosed degenerative disease to be
transferred to medical facilities in Rome.
The family of the boy, Alfie Evans,
is in a legal battle with Alder Hey, a children's hospital that says it
is best to withdraw ventilation as his condition cannot be treated and
has destroyed much of his brain.
The boy's parents want to take him to Rome's Bambino Gesú children's hospital, which is owned by the Vatican.
Alfano asked for the parents'
request to be granted to take the boy to the hospital in the Italian
capital, "medical facilities of a very high level that accept him in on
the base of an agreement". He noted, however, that "Alfie is a British
citizen and Italy respects the decisions made in the framework of
British national jurisdiction" and that "the British national
healthcare system and medical standards are among the highest in the
world". The Rome hospital has reportedly given the same prognosis but
would be willing to perform a tracheotomy.
LIFESITE NEWS COMMENTARY: Attack on Alfie Evans shows ‘increasing power of global euthanasia mentality’
Alfie Evans, a precious infant with an undiagnosed condition requiring
a ventilator. Vincent Lambert, a disabled non-terminal adult who simply
needs assisted food and water. European courts have ruled in two
separate decisions that both Alfie and Vincent are to die. Alfie, by
court order to physicians to deny oxygen to the infant against the
parents wishes. Vincent, by court order to deny him food and water,
starving him to death at the request of his wife. Vincent faces almost
precisely the same fate as Terri Schiavo did.
To some, it might seem strange that some of the only voices for sanity
in either case have come from the Catholic community. First, in Alfie's
case, the offer to take the child and care for him in a Vatican
hospital. And second, in Vincent's case, where Elio Sgreccia, a
cardinal and bioethicist who defended Terri many years ago, is again
pointing out the potential for recovery, this time for Vincent to
recover from his present condition. He has stated clearly that Vincent
"is not terminally ill and may still live a long time when treated with
care." Denying Vincent food and water would be a violation of the man's
basic human rights, Sgreccia plainly says.
"What we are witnessing is the increasing power of a global euthanasia
mentality," reflected Bobby Schindler, President of the Terri Schiavo
Life & Hope Network. "Those who advocated for so-called 'limited'
or 'reasonable' allowances for euthanasia in certain instances, or for
assisted suicide, know that inevitably the 'limits' fall away once the
primary reason for euthanasia captures the minds of a culture. And that
primary reason is, in essence, the attitude that we need a way to
remove undesirable persons whom those in power decide have a 'quality
of life' insufficient to justify their existence."
"In practice," warned Schindler, "the right to euthanasia will always
be primarily a right for the state to euthanatize its most vulnerable
citizens."
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
19.
Do not take any notice of him when he suggests
that you should accept a bishopric, abbacy or professorship; for it is
difficult to drive away a dog from a butcher's counter.
April
18, 2018
(Rev
12:9-12) And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he
was cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him. And
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation and
strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ:
because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them
before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb and by the word of the testimony: and they loved not their lives
unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein.
Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto
you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
POPE FRANCIS: Seven ways to fight and defeat the devil
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Lucifer’s Game
EXCERPT FATHER ESPER: The Existence of Satan
Life has so many duties and distractions, so many pleasures and
possibilities, that it’s very easy to forget its ultimate purpose:
choosing and preparing ourselves for our eternal destiny. We will
either be forever happy in the kingdom of God, or eternally damned in
the kingdom of Satan— and if we’re wise, this inescapable truth will
never be far from our consciousness. St. Paul (1 Cor 7:32-35) was so
concerned over this necessity of accepting salvation in Christ that he
warned his converts in the city of Corinth that even
marriage—potentially a very holy state of existence—must not distract
us from the need to serve the Lord. God gives us every opportunity to
be saved, but it’s necessary to listen to His word and act upon it. The
Book of Deuteronomy (18:15-20) describes how He promised to send a
great prophet, while warning, “Whoever will not listen to My words
which he speaks in My Name, I Myself will make him answer for it.”
Jesus, of course, came as the fulfillment of this promise, for He is
Priest, Prophet, and King—and as the true light of the world, He has
authority over all the forces of darkness. The Gospel of Mark (1:21-28)
describes one of many instances in which He exorcised an evil spirit,
setting a possessed man free from demonic possession. It’s become
fashionable in some circles to claim that the stories of possession by
evil spirits recorded in the Bible were actually nothing more than
cases of epilepsy, a medical condition unknown to ancient peoples and
misunderstood by them as something sinister. When it comes to our
Gospel passage, however, this interpretation is nonsense. Jesus Christ,
the eternal Word of God through Whom all things were created, was
certainly capable of telling the difference between epilepsy and actual
demonic possession. He frequently performed exorcisms during His public
ministry as a sign of His power over evil and as proof of His authority
as a teacher, and through His obedient death on the cross and His
glorious resurrection, He forever shattered the power of sin and death.
It’s up to us, however, to freely accept the share in His victory that
Jesus offers us.
The Church still conducts exorcisms, but only after carefully ruling
out every other possible cause for the disturbances a person is
experiencing. Very few people suffer from possession or a direct
demonic attack, but everyone undergoes temptation, and sometimes we
might give evil spirits great influence over us by breaking God’s
commands. People often forget that the movie, The Exorcist, was based
on a true story. In 1949 a Lutheran couple became convinced their
teenaged son was possessed. They took him to their pastor for a
blessing, but when this didn’t help, he told them, “You’ll have to take
him to a Catholic priest; Catholics are the ones who understand these
things.” They followed this advice, and—after a fierce spiritual
struggle—the priest successfully exorcised the possessing spirit, and
its former victim now lives a quiet and peaceful life. It seems the boy
opened himself to possession through the influence of his aunt, who was
heavily involved in the occult; she introduced him to ouija boards,
tarot cards, and seances— all of which are forbidden by God—and this
created a pathway for evil to enter in.
Christ has given authority over evil to His Church, promising that the
gates of hell will not prevail against it. Rarely does this authority
have to be used in a full-fledged exorcism; most often it’s available
simply through receiving the sacraments. Once a mother and her son came
to me for help because their home was seemingly infested by an evil
spirit. It happened that both were in a state of mortal sin—and once
they went to confession and were restored to God’s grace, the evil
disturbances stopped. Christ’s spiritual protection is available
through His Church, but we have to be willing to accept it. On another
occasion a man described how his wife, a lapsed Catholic, was
undergoing a terrible ordeal. She heard something menacing coming up
the stairs one morning, after he had left for work; she couldn’t see
anything, but was pulled out of bed, thrown to the floor, and
physically beaten. In spite of this, she had no intention of confessing
her sins and reforming her life—and so there was nothing I could do for
her.
Jesus saves us, but only if we trust in Him and rely upon His help. If
we do, there is nothing to fear. For those who live in a state of
grace, Satan is like a fierce and dangerous beast restrained by an
unbreakable leash; as long as don’t wander in his direction, he can’t
reach us or hurt us. If we’re coming to Mass each week, receiving the
sacraments regularly, and going to confession if ever we’re guilty of a
mortal sin, there’s nothing to worry about; as an added measure of
protection, we can make also make frequent use of holy water and wear
or carry blessed medals or scapulars. We as Catholics are very
fortunate to belong to a Church that clearly recognizes and understands
the nature of evil, and has powerful weapons to use against it. Jesus
Christ has conquered the forces of darkness, and if we stay close to
Him, we too will be victorious.
EXORCISM IN THE NEWS
Easy access to black magic and Satanism via Internet increases exorcism demand
Exorcist: Once You Have Heard the Devil’s Voice ‘You Recognize It
Exorcism by cellphone: Beating the devil in the 21st century
'Christ was the first exorcist': priest reports rising demand for the ritual
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
18.
I have noticed the demon of vainglory suggesting
thoughts to one brother, while he reveals them to another, and he
incites
the latter to tell the former what is in his heart, and then praises
him
as a thoughtful reader. And sometimes, unholy creature that he is, he
even
touches the bodily members and produces palpitations.
April
16, 2018
(Mat 5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
POPE FRANCIS:
“I am profoundly disturbed by the present world situation, in which,
notwithstanding the instruments at the disposition of the International
Community, there is difficulty in agreeing to a common action in favour
of peace in Syria and in other regions of the world. While I pray
incessantly for peace, and I invite all persons of good will to
continue doing so, I appeal again to all political leaders, so that
justice and peace prevail.”
MARK MALLET BLOG: It is I
ASIANEWS.IT: Pope Francis, Kirill and Patriarchs united for peace in Syria
The Patriarch of Moscow and all
Russia Kirill (Gundjaev) and the Pope of Rome Francis have held a
lengthy discussion by telephone following the missile attack by USA,
France and Great Britain against the supposed Syrian chemical weapons
bases. Kirill himself informed the journalists at his residence in
Peredelkino, on the outskirts of Moscow.
"We took this initiative, knowing
that Christians cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in
Syria," the patriarch said yesterday in the late afternoon. "It was a
very meaningful dialogue in favor of peace. We shared the common
concern about the situation in Syria, and we talked about how
Christians should influence this situation, to stop violence, war and
so many tragic victims as we have seen in these days".
The head of the Russian Orthodox
pointed out that the meeting took place on the initiative of the
Patriarchate. The other patriarchs of the Middle East took part in the
dialogue: Bartholomew of Constantinople, Theophilus of Jerusalem,
Theodore of Alexandria and John of Antioch. "Each of them has expressed
a willingness to continue consultations, to find a way to stop the
bloodshed," added Kirill; "It is quite clear that people are suffering
in Syria. And the message of the Church to the world is always linked
to the proclamation of peace between men and justice on earth. We
cannot be silent when things like those of these days are taking place
in Syria ".
The patriarch assured that "there
is the desire to continue this dialogue soon, maybe already tonight, or
tomorrow, to be able to influence the situation in some way and stop
the violence". The leading Christian leaders of the East and the West
are determined to unite all their energies for pacification, and to
prevent a humanitarian crisis in Syria after the attack of American
missiles and their allies, as the Patriarch spokesman Fr. Aleksandr
Volkov also reiterated.
Fr. Volkov reported that "the pope
and the patriarch have agreed to continue their constructive dialogue
in the coming hours and even tomorrow. We are convinced we can reach
the desired result ". Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem has strongly
supported the initiative of Kirill, to form a single movement of
Christians for peace. A spokesmen of the patriarchy has promised to
remain in constant contact with the press, to communicate any
initiatives by the Church leaders.
STATEMENT: Catholic and Orthodox Church condemn 'brutal' and 'unjustified assault' on Syria
In a statement issued by the
Patriarchates of Antioch and all the East for the Greek Orthodox,
Syrian Orthodox, and Greek-Melkite Catholic Damascus, the faith leaders
questioned the legality behind the move.
They stated that the "brutal
aggression" is a "clear violation of the international laws and the UN
Charter", and was an "unjustified assault" on a sovereign country that
is a member of the United Nations.
"It causes us great pain that this
assault comes from powerful countries to which Syria did not cause any
harm in any way," the church leaders added.
"The allegations of the USA and
other countries that the Syrian army is using chemical weapons and that
Syria is a country that owns and uses this kind of weapon, is a claim
that is unjustified and unsupported by sufficient and clear evidence.
"This brutal aggression destroys the chances for a peaceful political solution and leads to escalation and more complications."
OPINION: Why Russia and America must both stand back from Syria
NEWS REPORT: Russia's Putin Predicts Global 'Chaos' if West Hits Syria Again
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
17.
It is not he who disparages himself who shows
humility (for who will not put up with himself?), but he who maintains
the same love for the very man who reproaches him.
April
13, 2018
(Mat 26:51-52) And
behold one of them that were with Jesus, stretching forth his hand,
drew out his sword: and striking the servant of the high priest, cut
off his ear. Then Jesus saith to him: Put up again thy sword into its
place: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
DAILY BELL: World War III: The False Narrative that Fuels Conflict in Syria and Beyond
NEWS REPORT: Kremlin warns U.S. to avoid steps that could destabilize Syria
COMMENTARY: Has the War Party Hooked Trump? By Patrick Buchanan
ACTION ALERT: Declaration Against the Expansion of the Syrian War
FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA Robert Moynihan: The Catholic Teaching on "Just War"
The Catholic teaching on "Just War" may no longer, in our
"post-Christian" age, be considered a relevant factor in the
decision-making of governments.
Perhaps we truly "beyond" justice and injustice.
Perhaps we are no longer concerned about what is "right" or "wrong" in
the matter of war, only about what is expedient — perhaps we are
concerned only about power, and the use and imposition of that power.
So it may seem naive, even foolish, to appeal to Catholic teaching on
"Just War" now, at a time when the outbreak of a wider war in Syria
seems imminent.
May it still be avoided...
The Catholic teaching on this matter is, arguably, of great interest to
all reasonable human minds — not only to Catholic minds, but also to
the minds, and hearts, of all men and women of good will.
Because humans, in the profound depth of their being, do not wish to
settle questions purely by force — which can never prove who is "right"
and who is "wrong" — but by the higher power of reason, by determining
what is right, and what is just.
Hence, the need, as so often in the past, to appeal to the teaching of "Just War."
The teaching is balanced, persuasive, realistic, and very ancient,
dating back nearly 1,700 years to St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.), who
lived at a time when the city of Rome was sacked and burned by Alaric
the Goth (410 A.D.) — so Augustine knew war, and its bitter fruits...
Because of the great antiquity and dignity of this "Just War" teaching,
it seems never a useless thing to recall this venerable teaching to our
leaders: men and women whom we, in our democracy, have chosen to
represent us to seek the highest common good for all through the use of
judgment and reason, not though the use of superficial emotion, or in
Twitter-expressed whims...
In the final analysis, adherence to this teaching would keep our
national, societal actions in harmony with what the greatest minds, the
greatest saints, the most noble political leaders in our tradition have
held to be the just way of acting, in this fallen world, when
situations of conflict seem to be on the verge of descending into open
war.
Via EWTN website "What is Just War?":
The Catechism of
the Catholic Church, in paragraphs 2302-2317, authoritatively teaches
what constitutes the just defense of a nation against an aggressor.
Called the Just War Doctrine, it was first enunciated by St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD).
Over the centuries it was taught by Doctors of the Church, such as St.
Thomas Aquinas, and formally embraced by the Magisterium, which has
also adapted it to the situation of modern warfare...
Just War (2307-17)
All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.
Despite this admonition of the Church, it sometimes becomes necessary to use force to obtain the end of justice.
This is the right, and the duty, of those who have responsibilities for others, such as civil leaders and police forces.
While individuals may renounce all violence those who must preserve
justice may not do so, though it should be the last resort, "once all
peace efforts have failed." [Cf. Vatican II, Gaudium et spes 79, 4] As
with all moral acts the use of force to obtain justice must comply with
three conditions to be morally good.
First, the act must be good in itself. The use of force to obtain justice is morally licit in itself.
Second, it must be done with a good intention, which as noted earlier
must be to correct vice, to restore justice or to restrain evil, and
not to inflict evil for its own sake.
Thirdly, it must be appropriate in the circumstances. An act which may
otherwise be good and well motivated can be sinful by reason of
imprudent judgment and execution.
In this regard Just War doctrine gives certain conditions for the legitimate exercise of force, all of which must be met:
"1. the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
2. all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
3. there must be serious prospects of success;
4. the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the
evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs
very heavily in evaluating this condition" [CCC 2309].
The responsibility for determining whether these conditions are met
belongs to "the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility
for the common good."
The Church's role consists in enunciating clearly the principles, in
forming the consciences of men and in insisting on the moral exercise
of just war...
The Church has no illusions that true justice and peace can be attained before the Coming of the Lord.
It is the duty of men of good will to work towards it, nonetheless.
In the words of the spiritual dictum, we should work as if everything
depended upon our efforts, and pray as if everything depended upon God.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
16.
It is a great work to shake from the soul the
praise of men, but to reject the praise of demons is greater.
April
12, 2018
(Mat
24:6-8) And you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be
not troubled. For these things must come to pass: but the end is not
yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
And there shall be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in places.
Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows.
POPE FRANCIS
(4/08/18): "We receive news from Syria of terrible bombings with
dozens of victims, many of whom are women and children. News of many
people affected by the chemical substances contained in the bombs. Let
us pray for all the deceased, for the injured, for the families who
suffer. There is no such thing as a good war and a bad one, and
nothing, nothing, can justify the use of such instruments of
destruction against defenceless people and populations. Let us pray
that the political and military authorities choose another way, that of
negotiation, the only way that can lead to a peace that is not that of
death and destruction".
Syriac
Orthodox Archbishop Selwanos Petros Al-Nemeh of Homs and Hama: “We will
live the resurrection. We hope for peace and happiness, because God
gives us the triumph over death. We pray our God to give peace to the
whole world, that we can live peacefully and happily together.”
TUCKER CARLSON VIDEO: Why is Washington united behind a war in Syria?
COMMENTARY: Idiocy Is Bringing The End Of The World
RUSSIA INSIDER: Western Civilization to Self-Destruct?
NEWS SUMMARY: Is Russia Preparing For A Shooting War With The United States?
We don’t know if or when the United
States is planning a retaliatory strike against chemical weapons
stockpiles in Syria, but all the signs are there. U.S. officials are in
talks with France and Great Britain, reportedly discussing a response.
The Harry S. Truman carrier strike group is heading for the Middle
East. European commercial airlines have been warned about a possible
strike in that region. White House insiders are saying that President
Trump wasn’t happy with the results of the first airstrike on Syria and
is asking his military advisers about a more robust attack.
Trump has done it before and
there’s no reason to think he’d be bashful about responding this time.
But now there are new players in the game, specifically the Russians.
They formerly restricted their response to such foreign attacks by the
United States to verbal condemnations at the UN or negative press
releases. Today they have a very physical presence in Syria, with both
troops and military hardware. Putin is openly allied with Bashar
al-Assad and that partnership has given the Russians their first
warm-water naval port (in Tartus) in living memory.
This has led Vladimir Putin to make
a far more serious threat this time around. This week the Russians put
the word out that if we launch another strike on Syria, they will be
looking to shoot down any incoming missiles and, more disturbingly,
launch their own counterstrike on “the source” of the incoming
missiles. That would be our carrier groups and submarines. (BBC)
“I would once again beseech you to
refrain from the plans that you’re currently developing,” Moscow’s UN
envoy Vasily Nebenzia said. He warned Washington that it will
“bear responsibility” for any “illegal military adventure” it carries
out… Several senior Russian figures have warned of a Russian response
to a US attack. Alexander Zasypkin, Moscow’s ambassador to Lebanon, is
the latest, repeating a warning by the head of the military that
missiles would be shot down and their launch sites targeted.
The Russians are talking about more
than a strongly worded letter here. And having put that statement out
for all the world to see, Trump and Putin may be talking themselves
into a corner. Obviously, President Trump feels entitled to hit Syria
over their use of banned weapons and may seek the support of our allies
in deploying a considerably more forceful attack than last time. But
what if the Russians start shooting back? If they “only” shoot down
some of our cruise missiles, that’s problematic enough. It would stymie
our efforts to some degree and also reveal whether or not Russian
military technology is up to the task. (Analysts believe that the
Russian S-400 air defense system, which they have deployed in Syria, is
capable of possibly repelling a cruise missile attack but it’s never
been put to the test in the real world.)
So how did the President respond to this? Not very subtly.
Russia vows to
shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia,
because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be
partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Of course, that’s just a taunt on Twitter, so it may or may not
indicate actual policy. The Russians will pay attention, of course. But
what if they shoot down one of our planes or actually launch on one of
our surface ships or subs? That’s an act of war which would demand some
sort of retaliation or risk having the United States look as if we were
running home with our tail between our legs. I rather doubt either side
wants to see the newly revived cold war turn hot so quickly, but what
are the alternatives? At this point, if Trump backs off and fails to
hit Syria he winds up looking timid and meek. But now that the Russians
have made the threat, can Putin afford to not follow through and wind
up looking like a paper tiger?
We shouldn’t underestimate the
serious nature of the precipice we’re standing at right now. Hitting
Assad over his use of chemical weapons is one thing. Getting into an
open naval or air battle with the Russians takes it to a new and
dangerous level. And if we do exchange fire with Russia it will require
some extraordinary diplomacy to walk everyone back to their respective
corners.
FALSE FLAG?
Ron Paul: Syrian Chemical Attack "Makes No Sense," Another False Flag?
Syrian chemical weapons attack was false flag operation, Fox News host suggests
Emotional Propaganda 101: Chemical Attack in Syria Appears to be a False Flag to Justify Regime Change
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
15.
When you hear that your neighbour or friend
has abused you behind your back or even to your face, then show love
and
praise him.
April 10, 2018
(Eph 1:3-4) Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us
with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ: As he chose us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
unspotted in his sight in charity.
POPE FRANCIS:
"We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by
bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves."
OFFICIAL
VATICAN LINK: APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE OF
THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON THE CALL TO HOLINESS IN TODAY’S WORLD
VATICAN NEWS SUMMARY:
A guide to Christianity for the 21st Century: the new
Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis
“The Lord asks everything of us, and in return offers us true life, the
happiness for which we were created.”
In his third Apostolic Exhortation (following Evangelii gaudium and
Amoris laetitia) Pope Francis reflects on the call to holiness, and how
we can respond to that call in the modern world. “My modest goal” in
the Exhortation, Pope Francis says, “is to repropose the call to
holiness in a practical way for our own time.”
The heart of Gaudete et exsultate is dedicated to the idea that
holiness means following Jesus. In this third chapter, Pope Francis
considers each of the Beatitudes as embodying what it means to be holy.
But if the Beatitudes show us what holiness means, the Gospel also
shows us the criterion by which we will be judged: “I was hungry and
you gave me food… thirsty and you gave me drink… a stranger and you
welcomed me… naked and you clothed me… sick and you took care of me… in
prison and you visited me.”
Pope Francis devotes the fourth chapter of Gaudete et exsultate to
“certain aspects of the call to holiness” that he feels “will prove
especially meaningful” in today’s world: perseverance, patience and
meekness; joy and a sense of humour; boldness and passion; the communal
dimension of holiness; constant prayer.
Finally, the Exhortation makes practical suggestions for living out the
call to holiness. “The Christian life is a constant battle,” the Pope
says. “We need strength and courage to withstand the temptations of the
devil and to proclaim the Gospel.” In the fifth chapter, he speaks
about the need for “combat” and vigilance, and calls us to exercise the
gift of discernment, “which is all the more necessary today,” in a
world with so many distractions that keep us from hearing the Lord’s
voice.
CNA COMMENTARY: Reading Pope Francis in love
ALETEIA: The Pope’s new doc on holiness: Gaudete et Exultate in
15 key words
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of
vainglory"
14.
No one knoweth the things of man save the spirit
of man which is in him. And so let those who try to praise us to our
face
be silent and ashamed.
April 9, 2018
(Mat
5:27-28) You
have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit
adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to
lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
CRISIS MAGAZINE:
Why Christian Sexual Morality is Rejected
EXCERPT
CATHOLIC PHILLY: Catholic tradition guides teaching on contraception,
archbishop says
Church teaching on contraception can be traced to the early days of
Christianity, particularly in ancient Rome, where Christians emphasized
upholding human dignity, Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput told
a Catholic University of America audience.
Citing the work of Kyle Harper, provost at the University of Oklahoma
and an expert in Roman history, the archbishop said the Romans
“presumed that sex was just sex, one instinctual need among others” and
that prostitutes and slaves were “safety valves” to satisfy such needs.
But it was the early Christians who “welcomed all new life as something
holy and a blessing,” teaching that each person was created in the
image and likeness of God, he explained.
Christians also preached that God gave all people free will to act in
accordance with God’s commands or against them, he said, continuing to
cite Harper.
“Christianity embedded that notion of free will in human culture for
the first time. Christian sexual morality was a key part of this
understanding of free will. The body was a ‘consecrated space’ in which
we could choose or reject God,” he said.
As a result, Christians began demanding “care for vulnerable bodies,”
speaking out against slavery and supporting the needs of poor people,
and that concern included opposition to contraception, he said.
Archbishop Chaput noted that Christian opposition to contraception
continued until the 1930 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops, which
determined that while the preferred method of avoiding birth should be
sexual abstinence, other methods may be used to prevent pregnancy as
long as they fell in line with Christian principles.
“Their minor tweak gradually turned into a full reversal on the issue
of contraception. Other Christian leaders followed suit,” he said.
“Today this leaves the Catholic Church almost alone as a body of
Christian believers whose leaders still maintain the historic Christian
teaching on contraception,” he continued. “The church can thus look
stubborn and out of touch for not adjusting her beliefs to the
prevailing culture. But she’s simply remaining true to the faith she
received from the apostles and can’t barter away.” Since then,
Archbishop Chaput said, “developed society has moved sharply away from
Christian faith and morals, without shedding them completely.” He
echoed author G.K. Chesterton, who asserted that society is surrounded
by “fragments of Christian ideas removed from their original framework
and used in strange new ways. Human dignity and rights are still
popular concepts, just don’t ask what their foundation is or whether
human rights have any solid content beyond sentiment or personal
preference.” “Our culture isn’t reverting to the paganism of the past.
It’s creating a new religion to replace Christianity. It’s that we
understand that today’s new sexual mores are part of this larger
change.” The moral conflicts society faces, such as broken families,
social unraveling and “gender confusion” stems “from our disordered
attitudes toward creation and our appetite to master, reshape and even
deform nature to our wills. We want the freedom to decide what reality
is. And we insist on the power to make it so,” he said.
Such thinking is manifest in efforts to master the limitations of the
human body and “attack the heart of our humanity,” the archbishop added.
Blessed Paul explains that “marriage is not just a social convention
we’ve inherited, but the design of God himself. Christian couples are
called to welcome the sacrifices that God’s design requires so they can
enter into the joy it offers. This means that while husbands and wives
may take advantage of periods of natural infertility to regulate the
birth of their children, they can’t actively intervene to stamp out the
fertility that’s natural to sexual love,” he said.
Because the church’s teaching often was not being followed prior to the
encyclical, Archbishop Chaput said Blessed Paul offered four
predictions if that trend continued: widespread infidelity and the
general lowering of morality; loss of respect for women as they become
viewed as instruments of selfish enjoyment rather than as beloved
companions; public policies that advocate and implement birth control
as a form of population policy; and humans thinking they had unlimited
dominion over their own bodies, turning the person into the object of
his or her own intrusive power.
“Half a century after ‘Humanae Vitae’ the church in the United States
is at a very difficult but also very promising moment,” the archbishop
said. “Difficult because the language of Catholic moral wisdom is alien
to many young people, who often leave the church without every really
encountering her. Promising because the most awake of those same young
people want something better and more enduring than the emptiness and
noise they now have.
“Our mission now, as always, is not to surrender to the world as it is,
but to feed an ennoble the deepest yearnings of the world and thereby
to lead it to Jesus Christ and his true freedom and joy.”
RELATED
Why Private Sexual Vice is a Public Concern
Nine Reasons Catholics oppose contraception
Catholic morality has been replaced by a destructive
sexuality
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 22- "On the many forms of vainglory"
13. I have seen
people mourning who, on being praised,
flared up in anger; and as at a public gathering one passion gave place
to another.
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