Keep
your eyes open!...
November 28, 2024
(Heb 12:1-2) And
therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head,
laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by
patience to the fight proposed to us: Looking on Jesus, the author and
finisher of faith, who, having joy set before him, endured the cross,
despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of
God.
IN THANKSGIVING FOR THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
962 "We
believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are
pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in
heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this
communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always
[attentive] to our prayers" (Paul VI, CPG # 30).
YOUTUBE: ¡Viva Cristo Rey! - Fr. Mark Goring, CC
INSIDE THE VATICAN: Letter #54, 2024, Sat, Nov 23: Martyr- The execution of Fr. Miguel Pro, “The Edmund Campion of Mexico”
EXCERPT INSIDE THE VATICAN: Letter #57, 2024, Sun, Nov 24: Martyr, Part 2
“Viva Cristo Rey!”
On the morning of November 23rd, Father Pro woke with a headache.
He had given his straw mattress to another prisoner and had slept but little during the night on the hard floor.
At 10:20 a guard called out, “Miguel Augustin Pro!” Father Pro went up
without his jacket, but when he was sent back for it he sensed what was
about to happen, and squeezed Roberto’s hand in farewell.
In the corridor he exclaimed, “Goodbye, brothers, till we meet in
heaven.” As he went out, an agent who had participated in his capture
asked his forgiveness. Father Pro embraced the man and said, “I not
only forgive you, but I thank you and will pray for you.” Outside in
the courtyard a crowd had gathered: invited dignitaries, reporters,
photographers.
Calles’s policy of intimidation included the publishing of photographs of condemned prisoners.
In this case he provided us with a deeply moving record of a martyr’s heroic death.
And what had the crowd come out to see?
A young man in a rumpled suit and tie, calmly coming from the darkness of the prison to blink in the morning light.
They were shaken by his quiet composure as he walked unbound between
the guards, his eyes cast downward, his hands crossed before him.
He went to the place indicated by the guard.
There, in front of a stockade of logs stood an ugly bullet-chipped row of human-shaped target boards.
When he was asked his last wish he replied, “Permit me to pray.” Kneeling in the dirt he reverently made the Sign of the Cross.
He was oblivious of the cameras as he crossed his hands on his breast and communed with his God in those final moments.
What did he say? Did he once again ask his Lord to accept the sacrifice of his life?
Fervently he kissed his little Crucifix.
Rising, he refused the blindfold, and turned to face the crowd, his
expression gentle, almost meditative, as he drew his Rosary from his
pocket.
His demeanor was his most eloquent sermon.
Observers said his face bore a certain radiance.
Had he beheld his patron St. Michael, the angel of the dying, going before him? Had he already glimpsed his King in eternity?
He raised the little Crucifix and gave the crowd his last blessing.
“May God have mercy on you! May God bless you! Lord, Thou knowest that
I am innocent. I forgive my enemies with all my heart.”
With the crucifix in his right hand, the Rosary in his left, he
stretched out his arms in the form of a Cross. He lifted his eyes to
heaven, and in the low firm tone of the priest at the Consecration of
the Mass he uttered his final words, “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long live
Christ the King!”
He closed his eyes, shots rang out, and five bullets pierced his breast.
His arms were still outstretched as he crumpled to the ground.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
42. 'Once Theophilus of holy memory, the archbishop of Alexandria, came
to Scetis. The brothers gathered together and said to Pambo, 'Speak to
the bishop, that he may be edified.' Pambo replied, 'If he is not
edified by my silence, my speech certainly will not edify him."'
November 26, 2024
(Psa 46:10) Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
ANN LASTMAN ESSAY: She died with a smile on her face
CATHOLIC HERALD: Reaching the oasis of prayer means crossing the spiritual desert by Fr Jeffrey Kirby
Sr. Mary Joseph Calore, SSCJ:
A farmer lost his watch in the barn. The watch had great sentimental
value, so he searched for it to no avail. He heard some kids playing
outside, and explained to them about his watch, and asked if they would
help him find it. They all searched but could not find the watch. The
farmer thanked them for their help and sent them off. As they were
leaving, one little boy asked if he could try again. The farmer decided
to give him another chance, and the boy returned to the barn.
About half an hour later, the boy walked out of the barn with the
watch. The farmer was amazed, and asked how he could find it when so
many had been looking and failed? The boy replied, “I didn’t do
anything...I just sat in the silence and listened. Eventually, I heard
the ticking of the watch, and followed the sound.” Sometimes, if you
just sit quietly, we will hear the “ticking” of our Savior’s
promptings, leading us to the truth and helping us on our way.
Rearrange 2 letters in the word “SILENT” and you have “LISTEN” “BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” (Ps 46:10)
ANTONIO CARDINAL BACCI: The Storms of Life
1. The Evangelists describe how
Jesus got into a boat one day along with His Apostles and set out
across the lake of Genesareth. Suddenly a great storm arose, so furious
that the waves covered the tiny vessel and threatened to submerge it.
The Apostles were terrified and turned to Jesus, but He was asleep.
They woke Him, crying out: “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He sat up
and said to them: “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He
rebuked the wind and the sea, and immediately all was calm again. His
followers were astonished. “What manner of man is this,” they asked one
another, “that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mt. 8:23-26; Mk.
4:36-40; Luke 8:22-25)
We also are often subjected to the tempests of life. Sometimes these
storms are purely interior, as when our lower impulses threaten to
overcome our good resolutions and to submerge our purity of soul. In
these serious crises we should turn humbly and fervently to Jesus for
help. Sometimes, perhaps, Jesus will seem to be asleep and deaf to our
anguished entreaties. But it is never so. He simply wishes to test us,
as He tested His Apostles on the lake of Genesareth.
We must persevere. We must tell Him that we do not wish to lose His
grace, that we do not wish to fall into sin, but desire to go on loving
Him. If our prayers are humble and insistent, we may rest assured that
after our moment of trial Jesus Christ will speak to us. At the sound
of His voice the tempest will be stilled and there will come a great
calm. Then we shall experience the peace which only God can give.
2. At other times, however, the tempest will come from outside
ourselves and will have a shattering effect on our spiritual life. It
may be some insult which has seriously wounded us. There may be
somebody near to us who has grown quite insufferable. Or perhaps
suffering will come to us in the guise of illness, disgrace, or loss of
our dear ones. We shall feel lonely and abandoned in the midst of the
storm. To whom shall we have recourse in our hour of need? Shall we
turn to our fellow-men? Perhaps there will be nobody able to understand
us perfectly, or if there is somebody who sympathises with us he may be
able to do nothing for us save to utter a few kind words.
3. Let us turn, therefore, to Jesus on the Cross, and to Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist.
The Crucifix will teach us how to suffer with resignation and with
love. We shall look upon the Son of God made man in order to take on
Himself our sins, to expiate them and to wash them away by His Precious
Blood. Before this mystery of infinite love all our anguish and unrest
will give way to a Christian acceptance of suffering.
If this is not enough, let us turn to Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist.
Let us invite Him into our hearts to calm the tempest and to give us
His divine grace, which will conquer every temptation and heal every
wound.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
41. 'They said of Poemen that he never wanted to cap the saying of others, but always praised what had been said.'
November 22, 2024
(Rev 6:9-11) And
when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which
they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord
(Holy and True), dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that
dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to every one of them
one; And it was said to them that they should rest for a little time
till their fellow servants and their brethren, who are to be slain even
as they, should be filled up.
YOUTUBE: Countries Becoming Totalitarian Dictatorships?? - Fr. Mark Goring, CC
THE CATHOLIC THING: England Rediscovers Christian Persecution
ACN: Pope praises charity’s report on religious freedom
THE CATHOLIC LEADER: Red Wednesday shines a light on the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide
Christians across the world are
taking a stand to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians and
raise awareness for their struggle on Red Wednesday.
An initiative by Aid to the Church
in Need, Red Wednesday sees hundreds of cathedrals, churches and other
public buildings and monuments illuminated or draped in red today, a
public reminder of the reality of martyrdom for Christians around the
world .
At Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral,
Bishop Tim Norton called the faithful to pray for “Christians who are
persecuted across the world” this Red Wednesday.
Bishop Norton said we could find inspiration and hope in the perseverance of “our persecuted sisters and brothers”.
“If the Spirit guides us into
spaces… if we find we have a gift, then we need to not wrap it up in a
piece of linen and leave it to one side and give it to God at the end
of time,” he said.
“We need to exercise that gift for the good of others.
“We know that there are persecuted
Christians around the world who are exercising the gifts they find they
have, even at great cost and at great risk.
“If our persecuted sisters and brothers in different parts of the world as Christians can do it, then surely we can too”.
Aid to the Church in Need witnesses
firsthand the persecution and discrimination Christians face, something
they say is only getting worse.
Today, one in seven Christians face extreme oppression because of their faith.
Red Wednesday shines a light on their struggle.
Aid to the Church in Need say the red lighting illuminating buildings
and statues serve as a public display of solidarity with those
suffering persecution, and that red clothing or ribbons can be a
conversation starter to raise awareness for those in need.
There are over 300 official Red Wednesday events in over 100 countries this year.
RELATED HEADLINES
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Pope calls for Gaza 'genocide' investigation
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
40. Joseph told this story: Once when we were sitting with
Poemen, he talked about 'abba' Agatho. We said to him: 'He is a
young man, why do you call him abba?' Poemen said, 'His speech is
such that we must call him "abba".'
November 20, 2024
(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.
HEADLINES
Ukraine fires first barrage of US-made long-range missiles into Russia, Kremlin says
Putin lowers the threshold for using his nuclear arsenal after Biden’s arms decision for Ukraine
Vatican says Russia must act first to end Ukraine war
EDITORIAL: General Flynn's Substack: Democrats Must Remove President Biden Now
Today, the world
is likely closer to nuclear war than at any time since the Cuban
Missile Crisis. In its closing days, the Biden Administration is
stumbling our nation into a potential nuclear war with Russia. If you
have not been paying attention for the past two days, you need to know
the basic facts. Then, let me offer what I believe needs to happen, and
quickly.
Just before midnight Sunday night, AP reported “Biden has authorized
Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia,
easing limitations on the longer range weapons....” The long-range,
supersonic, ballistic missiles being unleashed on Russia most likely
are ATACMs, standing for Army Tactical Missile System. These weapons
were developed for offensive — not defensive — purposes. The
configuration of the specific ATACMs sent to Ukraine is unknown, but
they could have a range of from 100 to 190 or more miles. They can
carry different types of weapons, including cluster bombs which can
cause a multitude of civilian casualties. Despite many demands from
Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government, such long-range missiles had
not been provided until last month, and until now — two weeks after the
November election — their use had not been authorized.
There is a degree of speculation in
all of these reports, since the White House has not seen fit to simply
provide an advisory of exactly how it has ratcheted up the possibility
of a direct confrontation between the United States and Russia.
However, it does appear that other NATO members — including UK and
France — have followed Biden’s dangerous lead in making similar
offerings to Zelensky from their arsenals.
How should we view this shocking news?. Perhaps the most succinct
analyses came from Donald Trump, Jr., Tweeting: “The Military
Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3
going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives.
Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!!! Imbeciles!” Truly, I
could not have said it better.
President Putin made clear in
September how he would view this development: “Aggression against
Russia by any nonnuclear state, but with the support of a nuclear
state, is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on Russia.”
He added: “Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of
aggression, including if the enemy using conventional weapons poses a
critical threat." Do not take these words lightly. If Russia had
announced it had provided missiles to Mexico and authorized their use
to attack Americans living in San Diego, Los Angeles, Tucson, Phoenix,
El Paso, and Corpus Christi, what would you expect the U.S. Government
would do?
While the neocons who populate the Deep State, and their toadies in the
establishment media tell us that it is President Putin who is to blame
for everything that happens, as things stand now, these stupid,
provocative acts that are endangering our nation are coming from the
Biden Administration and not the Kremlin.
RELATED: Is Joe Biden Trying To Start World War 3 Before He Leaves Office?
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
39. 'He also said, 'Once when the monks were sitting down to eat,
Alonius stood and waited on them: and when they saw it, they praised
him. But he said not a word. So one of them whispered to
him, "Why do you not answer when the brothers praise you?"
Alonius said, "If I answer them, I will be pleased that I have
been praised."'
November 19, 2024
(Mat 15:21-22) And
Jesus went from thence, and retired into the coast of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out,
said to him: Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter
is grievously troubled by a devil.
NEWS REPORT: Caught Between Conflicts, Lebanon’s Christians Resist Displacement and Division
ACN: Bombs, rising tension, and exhaustion take their toll on the Lebanese people
As Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon continues, those who have been
displaced by the bombings and the ones hosting and caring for them are
showing signs of physical and psychological exhaustion, says Marielle
Boutros, project coordinator for the pontifical foundation Aid to the
Church in Need (ACN) in Lebanon.
“At the moment, we have 1.5 million displaced people: that is one in
every four citizens in the country, mostly concentrated in the Mount
Lebanon region. They are welcomed in shelters, such as schools,
churches, retreat centers, or private houses. They need everything —
food, medication, water, clothes, sanitary products — because they left
their houses very quickly and didn’t take things with them,” she
explains.
With many of the refugees fleeing to Christian areas, local dioceses
have been on the front line of providing assistance. However, with no
state-level planning in sight, this generosity risks depleting
financial and material supplies, which have already been strained by
years of financial crisis, aggravated by political deadlock and the
explosion at the Beirut Port in 2020. “The Church had a very quick
response and is still welcoming the people with a large smile and lots
of charity, but although they are doing a great job, you can feel that
they are tired, because this didn’t start on September 22nd. It started
a long time before,” Boutros says.
“They were already struggling with their missions, but we should not
forget that they lost their savings in the 2019 financial crisis, and
despite this, they have continued with most of their other pastoral
services, and they have salaries to pay. It is really overwhelming,
especially if you consider the amount of work and the fact that they
have no fixed income.”
“The people welcoming the IDPs are tired because of the work and the
lack of resources, but the IDPs are also very tired, far from their
homes, with greater needs, angry and afraid. So, fatigue is very
noticeable now and will escalate even more, between those welcoming and
the IDPs.”
On the other hand, she explains, there is a serious concern that rising
tensions between people, and especially between different religious
groups, could set the stage for future conflicts in Lebanon.
X:
Christianity was introduced to Lebanon in 1st Century AD. Tradition
states that it was brought to Lebanon by St Peter and St Paul, and
there has been a continuous Christian presence in the country since
then.
Lebanon, then part of the Roman Empire, was one of the first places
Christianity spread to in the first century AD. Sidon, on Lebanese
coast, is mentioned in Acts (27:3). It is where St Paul (then a Roman
prisoner) was allowed ‘to go to his friends so they might provide for
his needs’, possibly indicating a very early Christian presence.
St George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut was said to have first
been built by Eusebius of Nicomedia, Bishop of Berytus (modern-day
Beirut), who died in 341 AD, although the current building is much
later. But it’s the Maronite Church that has had the biggest influence
in Lebanon and its history. In 4th Century, Maronite Christians
(followers of St Maron, an aesthetic monk from Syria) moved into
Lebanese mountains and began converting the population. Their
monasteries in Kadisha Valley are some of oldest in the world and
Maronite Church is largest Christian presence in Lebanon today.
Although part of Catholic branch of the church, it developed
independently and has a unique character. Maronite community lived for
many centuries in seclusion of Lebanese mountains, largely cut off from
Rome (and rest of church). They and other indigenous Christian
communities (Greek and Syriac Orthodox), resisted assimilation with
Arab conquerors, who moved into Levant in 7th Century, and maintained a
significant level of autonomy.
During 11th-12th Centuries, Crusaders briefly established Western
Christian rule in region. Before they were driven out by the Muslim
army, they built several churches and castles, including St John-Marc
Cathedral in Byblos, and reestablished contact with Maronite church.
Congregationalists and Presbyterian churches began to appear after
Protestant missionaries arrived in Lebanon in around 1820s, and first
Baptist congregation was founded in Beirut in 1895, but their numbers
have remained small.
More significant in terms of numbers are Armenian Christians. Many fled
to Lebanon during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, bringing with them
their unique Christian heritage. Armenians are considered to be the
world’s first Christian nation, when King Dirtad III converted to
Christianity in 301 AD. By 1926 there were 75,000 Armenians in Lebanon,
many concentrated around Beirut. Today this number has risen to around
a quarter of a million. For much of Lebanon’s history the indigenous
Christian community and larger Muslim community have lived in relative
harmony. Notable exceptions being 1860 Mount Lebanon Druze-Maronite
conflict and the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). Power-sharing
agreements between Christians and Muslims have been part of Lebanese
politics since at least 19th Century and Christians continue to play a
significant role in government and culture of Lebanon today.
Today, Christians in Lebanon face an existential crisis, as their
country increasingly has become controlled by Hezbollah terrorists who
answer to Iran, prompting a mass exodus. Over the years, Lebanese
Christians have faced multiple attacks, now they also face a new threat
in the form of a rapidly declining proportion in relation to the
Islamic element in the country. Many “unfortunately now feel like
strangers in their own home country,” Maronite priest Jad Chlouk said
in 2021. “This is negatively affecting the whole Christian community,
because it is losing most of its brightest and best, and especially its
young people, who are supposed to be the future of the Christians here.
Hence, the number of Christians in the country is decreasing day by
day, and this is badly affecting the situation and causing still more
pressure for those who remain, in a situation where they might soon
suffer from persecution.”
MORE
Ten Most Impressive Historical Monasteries in Lebanon
Ten things to know about the Catholic Church in Lebanon
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George: The Oldest Church in the City of Beirut
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
38. He also said, 'If a man stays in his own place, he will not be troubled.'
November 15, 2024
(Tit 3:1-2) Admonish
them to be subject to princes and powers, to obey at a word, to be
ready to every good work. To speak evil of no man, not to be litigious
but gentle: shewing all mildness towards all men.
FIRST THINGS: Why Catholics Voted for Trump
DEEPER TRUTH BLOG: The Catholic Defender recalls Fr. Giacomo Capoverdi Investigation of the Hermit of Loreto
CATHNEWS: US Bishops congratulate Trump and offer prayers for President-elect
EXCERPT: Msgr. Carlo Maria Viganò Some consierations after the election victory by Donald J. Trump
One Nation under God
Each of us has been able to see how the most sophisticated plans of the
New World Order have been thwarted by seemingly random events.
Providence has dismantled a global threat with small moves, showing us
that God is truly all-powerful, and that the destinies of the world are
in His hands. It is now up to us not to squander the opportunity we
have been given, to draw lessons from the recent past, and not let our
guard down. The élite now fleeing to their lairs will regroup so that
they can launch a new attack more tremendous than the one we have
witnessed in recent years. But in this phase of awakening consciences
and retaking the Nation under God, we must not forget that the battle
between God and Satan, between the children of Light and the children
of darkness continues. Nor must we forget that Our Lord comes to our
aid only when we recognize our weakness and His power, and that His
help is all the more effective the more we cooperate with God’s plan.
This is the true “greatest reset”: to recapitulate all things in Christ
— Instaurare omnia in Christo (Eph. 1:10) — because it is to Christ
alone that universal Lordship belongs. Christ is King. And he is King
not only of individuals and families, but of all earthly societies, of
all nations.
The four-year term that will be
inaugurated in a few weeks may mark a turning point in the history of
the United States of America and of all humankind, and this will depend
on the firm determination with which President Trump will roll the
heads of this Leviathan, knowing that with the Enemy of God and
humankind there can be neither dialogue nor compromise. It will depend
on who the President chooses as his collaborators, among whom traitors
and opponents will certainly try to creep in. It will depend on how the
President will be able to conform his actions to God’s Law, mindful of
the grace that was granted to him by escaping multiple assassination
attempts.
Donald J. Trump has recognized that
above him is the Lord. Let him not forget this when he uses the
international clout America enjoys to promote peace with Russia and an
end to genocide in the Middle East, so that the concord of peoples is
founded on the Common Good and is no longer threatened by the deep
state’s thirst for power. He must not forget that the defense of life,
from the first moment of conception to natural death, must be a
priority goal. And in this grand and ambitious project of restoring
institutions and society, it will be essential to involve those world
leaders who, like President Trump, know the threat of the subversive
elite and intend to oppose it. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán,
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and other heads of state and
government will certainly be his most valuable allies in fighting the
globalist agenda. And I believe the time has finally come to promote an
Antiglobalist Alliance, through which the healthy forces of the peoples
hitherto hostage to the servants of Davos can be united.
The success of the “greatest reset”
represented by the election of Donald Trump and the defeat of the
radical Left will also depend on how well the people and their rulers
can conform to God’s will. Our prayers have reached the Throne of the
Divine Majesty and have been heard: let us make ourselves worthy of
God’s Mercy by exemplary living and bear witness to Our Lord Jesus
Christ by a life consistent with the Gospel. Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21).
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
37. He also said, 'Humility is the ground on which the Lord ordered the sacrifice to be offered.'
November 13, 2024
(Jas 3:17-18) But
the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is
sown in peace of them that make peace.
ZENIT: Dire Warnings from Holy Land Leaders as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza, Lebanon, and West Bank
EWTN: Honoring persecuted Middle East Christians, Pope Francis adds Assyrian saint to Martyrology
Pope Francis’ decision to add St. Isaac to the Martyrology follows a
recommendation from the recent Synod on Synodality to recognize saints
from other Christian traditions in the Catholic liturgical calendar.
Turning to the plight of Middle Eastern Christians, Pope Francis prayed
for their continued witness in a region scarred by conflict.
“Through the intercession of St. Isaac of Nineveh, united to that of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Christ, Our God and Savior, may the
Christians of the Middle East always bear witness to the risen Christ
in those war-torn lands,” he said.
St. Isaac of Nineveh, also known as Isaac the Syrian, was a revered
Christian mystic, monk, and bishop. He was celebrated for his profound
writings on asceticism, compassion, and interior spiritual life,
profoundly influencing Christian spirituality across Eastern and
Western traditions.
CNA: Chaldean archbishop voices hope for peace under new U.S. administration
As a leading voice for Middle Eastern Christians, Archbishop Bashar
Matti Warda, head of the Chaldean Eparchy of Erbil, expressed hope that
the election of a new U.S. president would positively impact the
efforts for peace in the region.
Speaking with ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, Warda noted
that “Christians in the region have borne the brunt of ongoing
conflicts and wars in their homelands. Despite fears that rising
tensions could bring more violence, they continue to hold on to a
realistic yet profound hope of living in safety alongside their
compatriots. They believe their shared future hinges on the promise of
peace, prosperity, and nation-building.”
Warda said people around the world now have their eyes fixed on
Washington, D.C., watching closely to see if the president-elect will
fulfill his campaign promises to end conflicts in the Middle East.
“Christians hope the American administration will maintain its
commitment to supporting peace, guaranteeing stability to these ancient
communities in their homelands, and cooperating with local governments
to ensure their persistence and prosperity — especially in areas where
Christians are relatively present.”
CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: Lebanon's Catholic Patriarch Rai Congratulates President-Elect Trump and Says "May the election lead to a ceasefire..."
EXCERPT: IN MULTIPLICIBUS CURIS ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII (1948)
6. Convinced, however, of the
insufficiency of human means for the adequate solution of a question
the complexity of which no one can fail to see, We have, above all, had
constant recourse to prayer, and in Our recent Encyclical Letter,
Auspicia Quaedam, We invited you, Venerable Brethren, to pray, and to
have the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care pray, in order that,
under the auspices of the Blessed Virgin, matters may be settled in
justice and peace, and concord may be happily restored in Palestine. As
We said on June 2nd to members of the Sacred College of Cardinals,
informing them of Our anxieties for Palestine, We do not believe that
the Christian world could contemplate indifferently, or in sterile
indignation, the spectacle of the sacred land (which everyone
approached with the deepest respect to kiss with most ardent love)
trampled over again by troops and stricken by aerial bombardments. We
do not believe that it could permit the devastation of the Holy Places,
the destruction of the great sepulcher of Christ.
7. We are full of faith that the
fervent prayers raised to Almighty and Merciful God by the Christians
throughout the world who, together with the aspirations of so many
noble hearts, are ardently inspired by truth and good, will render less
arduous to the men who hold the destinies of peoples the task of making
justice and peace in Palestine a beneficial reality and of creating,
with the efficient co-operation of all those interested, an order that
may guarantee security of existence and, at the same time, the moral
and physical conditions of life conducive to spiritual and material
well-being, to each of the parties at present in conflict.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
36. He also said, 'A brother asked Alonius, "What is humility?" The
hermit said, "to be lower than brute beasts and to know that they are
not condemned."'
November 11, 2024
(Jos 1:9) Have
not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.
Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT: The Church in an age of anxiety
CRISIS MAGAZINE: An Hour a Day Keeps the Anxiety Away
CATHOLIC STAND: 25 Bible Verses to Turn to When You Need a Pick-Me-Up
ANTONIO CARDINAL BACCI: Prayer, Work, and Leisure
1. The pattern of our lives should
be a combination of prayer, work, and leisure. There should be no room,
however, for idleness.
“Prayer.” Prayer is most essential. The life of a Christian should be a
continual prayer. As Jesus commanded, we “must always pray and not lose
heart.” (Luke 18:1)
How can we achieve this? St. Paul has told us. “Whatever you do in word
or in work,” he says, “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17) If we follow his
instructions, our lives will really be a prayer. Before we begin our
day's work we shall turn to God and offer Him our labours and our
difficulties. During our work we shall raise our minds to God from time
to time as Jesus, Mary and Joseph must have done in the home and in the
workshop at Nazareth. Whenever we speak, we should remember that we are
in the presence of God. Then our conversation and our behaviour will be
free from defect and will edify those who are with us. The grace of God
can illumine the most ordinary conversations and actions which are in
themselves quite indifferent. It is enough to live in a spiritual
atmosphere of our own and to keep our thoughts turned towards God while
we are living and walking on this earth. If we can aspire to such a
spiritual height, then our work will become a prayer pleasing to God,
whether it is mental or manual, pleasant or burdensome. God will grant
us interior peace, moreover, for we shall be no longer working alone,
but Jesus Christ will be working with us by His grace. This is the way
the Saints worked, and this is how their lives were a prayer.
2. “Work.” Work is a duty commanded by God, Who after the sin of Adam
told him and his descendants: “In the sweat of your brow you shall eat
bread.” (Gen. 3:19) So work became an obligation and a means of
expiation. We are all obliged, therefore, to engage in some kind of
work, mental or manual, whether we are rich or poor. Idleness has been
condemned by God as the father of all the vices. “Idleness,” warns the
Holy Spirit, “is an apt teacher of mischief.” (Ecclus. 33:29) It is
impossible for a man who works and prays to commit sin, both because he
lacks the time and because he is close to God. A man who is close to
God will certainly never offend Him, whereas the mind of a man who is
lazy and inactive is open to the attractions of sin. Let us shun
idleness, therefore, and love hard work as a means of making reparation
for our sins and of gaining merit before God.
3. “Leisure.” Some of the Saints made it one of their resolutions to
take about an hour's recreation every day. They were thinking in terms
of rest, however, not of inactivity. Rest is the reward of labour and
is necessary for frail human nature. Idleness, on the other hand, is a
vice and the source of sin. We should take our repose only after our
work and in consequence of it. Even during recreation we should
continue to live in the presence of God and to think of Him from time
to time. If we enjoy our leisure in the open air, everything speaks to
us of God, for we are surrounded by the flowers and the birds. When St.
Thérèse of the Child Jesus was going for a walk one day, she stopped to
admire a tiny flower. Enraptured by its beauty, she exclaimed aloud:
"How good you are, O God!" Our recreation can be the source of
increased sanctification.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
35. He also said, 'Do not be proud of yourself, but stay with anyone who is living a good life.'
November 6, 2024
(Dan 2:20-21) Daniel
answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for
wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he
removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding:
YOUTUBE: TRUMP VICTORY: A New Beginning???? - Fr. Mark Goring, CC
CATHOLIC FAMILY NEWS: Catholic Vote Proves Decisive in Trump’s 2024 Victory
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Trump Wins: Let the Work Begin
FOX NEWS: Faith leaders react to Trump re-election: 'God spared my life for a reason'
Faith leaders are saying Wednesday
that they pray President-elect Donald Trump "will look to God every day
for His guidance and wisdom" following his victory over Kamala Harris.
In his victory speech early this morning, Trump, referencing the two
assassination attempts against him in Pennsylvania and Florida, said
"many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason.
"And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to
greatness. And now we are going to fulfill that mission together,"
Trump continued. "We're going to fulfill that mission. The task before
us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit,
and fighting that I have in my soul to the job that you've entrusted to
me."
LIFESITE: Archbishop Viganò: Trump’s victory is a formidable setback for the New Word Order
The following story is taken from a
brief post on X (formerly Twitter) by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò
following the election of Donald Trump as 47th President of the United
States of America.
Donald J. Trump’s victory in the
electoral competition for the presidency of the United States of
America constitutes a historic moment in the dramatic events of the
present and marks a formidable setback for the criminal plan of the New
World Order.
I express my warmest
congratulations to President Trump, while I thank Our Lord for having
prevented the United States and the Western world from definitively
falling into the tentacles of the deep state and globalist tyranny.
The battle against the subversive elite of psychopathic criminals who hold the West hostage is not over; it now begins.
I urge American Catholics and all
Christians to pray for President Trump, so that the Lord may protect
him in this transition phase towards taking office in the White House,
guiding him in the unavoidable eradication of the lobby of corrupt and
perverted people subservient to the deep state. His determined action
against the traitors of the nation will also weaken the work of the
deep church, which today holds the Catholic Church hostage.
May God bless America.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
34. He also said, 'The tools of the soul are these: to cast oneself
down in God's sight; not to lift oneself up; and to put self-will
behind one.'
November 4, 2024
(1Ti 2:1-4) I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be
saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
CRISIS MAGAZINE OPINION: On the Brink
CNA: Kamala Harris rejects religious exemptions for abortion laws: ‘That cannot be negotiable’
ALETEIA: The joy of child with Down Syndrome as he becomes altar boy
X: Moral Questions regarding Voting by Cardinal Burke
As Election Day approaches, many have raised serious moral questions
regarding how to vote. Sadly, in our great nation, we confront a
situation in which both major political parties espouse certain agenda
which are flagrantly contrary to the most fundamental tenets of the
moral law, agenda against the inviolable dignity of innocent and
defenseless human life, agenda against the integrity of marriage and
its fruit, the family, and agenda against the free exercise of the
virtue of religion. As Catholics, we should be clear that the moral law
is certainly binding for us, but it is, likewise, binding for all men
and women because it is written upon the human heart by God. For
Catholics, as for all men and women of good will, the question is: In
fulfilling our civic duty to vote, how can we be obedient to the law of
God written upon our hearts in the present situation of deplorable
moral and therefore cultural decline and decay.
In attempting to answer the question of how to vote in good conscience,
I refer to the Pastoral Letter, “On Our Civic Responsibility for the
Common Good,” which, as Archbishop of Saint Louis, I published on
October 1, 2004. A PDF version of the Pastoral Letter is accessible at
the following link: On Our Civic Responsibility for the Common Good.
While I recommend the study of the Pastoral Letter, I offer the
following indications for the question of how to vote with moral
integrity.
1. First and foremost, let us pray and fast for our nation that it will
once again serve the good of all its citizens, especially of those who
are threatened by the present prevalent anti-life, anti-family, and
anti-religion agenda, by obedience to the moral law. Let us pray for
the conversion of our national culture from violence and death to peace
and life.
If you are not already participating in the Nine-Month Novena to Our
Lady of Guadalupe – Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and Mother of
America – , “Return to Our Lady,” invoking her intercession for the
conversion of countless souls in our homes and in our nation to faith
in God and obedience to His law, I invite you to join now, especially
as we approach Election Day. The prayer of the Nine-Month Novena and
spiritual reflections regarding our response to the current moral
crisis in our nation can be found at the following site: Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
2. Secondly, we must be abundantly clear and tirelessly steadfast in
our opposition to the anti-life, anti-family, and anti-religion agenda
which are destroying families, communities, and our nation. No
candidate for public office should confuse a vote for him or her as
support of the policies and programs of these iniquitous agenda.
Today, there is an urgent need for individuals and associations of
individuals to raise the consciousness of the citizens of our nation to
the manner in which these agenda threaten the common good, the good of
individuals, of families, of local communities, of the nation. We must
use all the means of communication at hand to speak to the hearts of
our fellow citizens, for God has written on every human heart his law
which serves human life, marriage and the family, and the practice of
religion.
3. We must study carefully the agenda of each candidate to see whether
a candidate, even though he or she espouses morally objectionable
programs and policies, will, in some way, limit the evil. If a
candidate will, at least, limit the evil, we must support the
limitation while insisting on the need to eradicate the evil altogether.
4. We must further consider whether it is reasonable to hope that a
candidate in question will, at least, hear the voice of a
rightly-formed conscience on questions like procured abortion, sexual
reassignment, and religious persecution, that is, whether there is hope
that our opposition, as indicated in no. 2, will receive any hearing at
all.
While the agenda of both major political parties is so fundamentally
objectionable, we must ask ourselves whether there may be some ray of
hope to advance the transformation of our national politics in accord
with the moral law by voting for a particular candidate.
5. Before the desperate situation of our national politics today, some
have concluded that they cannot vote for any candidate, but, if there
is even the smallest ray of hope to effect some change in view of
effecting ever greater change for the common good, it is not right for
us to fail in responding to the ray of hope. Only if no candidate
provides any ray of hope of serving, at least in some part, the common
good, especially in what pertains to human life, marriage and the
family, and the practice of religion, are we justified in not voting at
all.
Yes, the present situation of national politics is morally disgusting,
but we are a people of hope and can never excuse ourselves from
continuing the daily work of seeking the conversion of our personal
lives and the transformation of our national culture.
It is my hope that the above indications will help you in fulfilling
your duty as a citizen to vote for the candidates who will most support
the common good. Be assured of my prayers for you and your homes.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
33. A brother asked Poemen, 'How ought I to behave in my cell in the
place where I live?' He answered, 'Be as prudent as a stranger; and
wherever you are, do not expect your words to be taken seriously when
you speak, and you will find peace.'
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