Keep
your eyes open!...
August 31, 2012
THE TRIB TIMES
WILL
RETURN NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING (James 4:15).
(1Th 5:17) Pray without ceasing.
POPE BENEDICT XVI:
"Prayer is not a waste of time, it does not rob much space from our
activities, not even apostolic activities, it does the exact opposite:
only if we are able to have a life of faithful, constant, confident
prayer will God Himself give us the strength and capacity to live in a
happy and peaceful way, to overcome difficulties and to bear witness
with courage".
REFLECTION: Turbulence, in the Sky and in the Church by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin
I don’t recall if it was on my flight to or from my Florida vacation
this summer, but at one point the pilot announced, “Folks, we expect to
be passing through a little turbulence in a few moments, so we’d like
you to return to your seats and check your seatbelts to be sure that
they’re securely fastened.
And please remain seated for the duration of the flight.”
Now, if you fly very often you’ve probably heard similar announcements.
Turbulence isn’t at all unusual. It’s caused by unstable air that’s
often found on the edge of a thunderstorm, or while passing through a
cloud bank or flying over mountains. Turbulence usually isn’t harmful
to the plane which is built to withstand tremendous forces, but it can
be dangerous if unsecured bodies or other objects fly around the cabin.
It strikes me that the turbulence in the air is a fitting image of the
turbulence in the Church these days. And in this case it’s being
generated by both external and internal forces.
First, the Church is being buffeted by external forces found in the changing winds of our contemporary world.
These include threats to religious freedom, in our own country where
the federal government is interfering in the life of the Church, and
even more dramatically in other countries where Christians are being
attacked – suffering violence and even death – simply for being
Christian and practicing their faith. Another source of turbulence for
the Church is the relentless challenge to traditional moral values
which are pivotal for the Church and society – the dignity of human
life and the definition of marriage for example. And we know that the
Church is passing through the dark clouds of secularism, atheism and
hedonism that make the living-out of the Christian Faith more perilous
everyday.
But some of the turbulence is coming from unsettling forces within the Church too.
Here I think of the rapid decrease in sacramental practice among the
faithful – with fewer Catholics attending Sunday Mass, young couples
living together without the blessing of marriage, parents not having
their children baptized and educated in the faith, and more of the
faithful even eschewing the traditional funeral rites of the Church.
The Church suffers today from the widespread lack of knowledge and
understanding of the fundamental doctrines and moral tenets of the
Catholic Faith. So many, even among the faithful, are unable to explain
what the Church teaches and why, often leaving it to the secular media
to present and apply our doctrines.
The Church is roiled with controversies among its members, with
headlines and the blogosphere pitting the “Vatican against the Nuns,”
with priests in Western Europe defying their bishops and disobeying key
teachings and disciplines of the Church, and even the Vatican itself
seemingly unable to govern – with backroom intrigue, public conflict
among senior prelates, investigations of the Vatican Bank, and leaked
confidential documents of the Pope.
Is there any question that these are turbulent times for the Church?
How does one survive the journey through the unfriendly skies the
Church is navigating?
Well, the first thing is to keep some historical perspective. The
Church, like the planes in which we travel, is built to withstand the
significant turbulence that’s part of our journey, and has done so for
two-thousand years. As challenging as these times are, there have been
worse, much worse, and the Church has survived both the external
attacks on its existence and mission, as well as the embarrassing
defects of its all-too-human leaders and members.
Some are now predicting (perhaps hoping for) the total collapse of the
Catholic Church. Consider this quote: “People look upon the Church and
say, ‘she is about to die. Soon her very name will disappear. There
will be no more Christians; they have had their day.’” It’s instructive
to note, however, that this description of the dying Church was used by
St. Augustine 1600 years ago! It reminds us that our moment in history
is but one brief passage in the long and rich history of the Church.
Second, we can point to all the good things the Church represents and
does every day. Even during these discomforting times the Catholic
Church is a large, diverse and vibrant community with many, many
dedicated and fully-engaged clergy, religious and laity. The Church
continues to offer a positive and fulfilling perspective of human life
and illuminates the path to eternal salvation. More than any other
institution on the planet, the Catholic community provides a vast array
of pastoral services, educational opportunities and social services –
genuine expressions of charity, justice and peace – in our own country
and around the globe. It’s important to be aware of and proud of all
the good the Catholic Church does every day!
And finally, we should remember that the Church has survived the years
and continues to carry on its mission because it’s so much more that
just another human organization. The Church was founded by Christ and
is guided by the Holy Spirit. While its members are human, its mission
is divine. “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of time,” Jesus
promised.
So, fellow traveler, be of good cheer. Do not be afraid. Without a
doubt the Church will survive the turbulent skies of the moment and
will arrive safely at its final destination. But in the meantime,
fasten your seatbelts. Might be some rough skies ahead!
FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA Jim McCrea: This is from St. Rose of Lima whose feast we celebrated recently. This is an excerpt of what was in the breviary:
Our Lord and Saviour lifted up his voice and said with incomparable
majesty: “Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them
know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach
the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as
the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived.
This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they
can find no road to climb to heaven.”
When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemed to
place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice
to people of every age, sex and status: “Hear, O people; hear, O
nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using
words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we
suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep
participation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and
perfect happiness of soul.”
VIA Frank Rega:
I have a new Padre Pio book out. It is called The Truth about Padre
Pio's Stigmata and Other Wonders of the Saint. It is available in Print or Kindle
editions. Below is the table of contents. Some of the articles
are brand new, others have been published in Catholic magazines. Thank
you!
Introduction i
1 The Truth about Padre Pio’s Stigmata 1
2 Padre Pio and the General - a Study in Bilocation 17
3 Padre Pio, a Patron Saint for the Unborn 31
4 The Pope, Padre Pio, and a Miracle 41
5 Padre Pio's Secret: his Shoulder Wound 59
6 Salvation Outside the (Visible) Church 65
7 The Gemma Di Giorgi Mystery 83
8 Padre Pio and Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae 101
9 Padre Pio and the Tale of the Empty Tomb 117
10 The Amazing Story of Giovanna Rizzani 125
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
17. Do not distress yourself on account of any
distaste or dryness you experience in God's service. He wills that you
should serve Him fervently and constantly it is true, but without any other
help than simple faith, and thus your love will be more disinterested,
and your service the more pleasing to Him.
August 30, 2012
(John 6:53-56)
Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the
flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in
you. (6:55) He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath
everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh
is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. (6:57) He that eateth my
flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him.
POPE BENEDICT XVI:
A celebrated Eucharist imposes on us and at the same time renders us
capable of becoming, in our turn, bread broken for brothers, coming to
meet their needs and giving ourselves.
CATHOLIC ONLINE: The Importance of a Eucharistic Life
AUDIO LINK: Divine Love Made Flesh by Cardinal Raymond Burke
EXCERPT: Fr. Joseph Esper's Homily
St. Robert Bellarmine was a cardinal who lived at the beginning of the
17th century; he was a man of immense learning and intelligence, but
also very humble and gentle. He was involved in many of the religious
controversies of the day, but-unlike many religious leaders among both
Catholics and Protestants-he was always kind and respectful in opposing
and correcting the errors of his opponents. An example of this is to be
found in his defense of the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist. Many
Protestants rejected the Catholic teaching that Holy Communion truly is
the Body and Blood of Christ, and instead claimed that it's merely a
symbol and that Our Lord's words in the Gospel aren't to be taken
literally. Instead of denouncing or condemning this mistaken opinion,
St. Robert Bellarmine merely corrected it with a very simple and
easily- understood illustration. Imagine, he said, a wealthy man who
announced that in his will he was leaving his house to his son John;
would anyone understand the man's words to mean, “I leave to my son
John, not my home itself, but a nice painted picture of it”? Or what if
a royal prince promised you 100 gold coins, and-in fulfillment of his
words-sent you not the coins themselves, but a beautiful drawing of
them? Would you think that the promise had been kept, or would you feel
cheated? (Rengers, The 33 Doctors of the Church, p. 495). In the same
way, St. Robert claims, Jesus would not have spoken so strongly about
the need to eat His Body and drink His Blood, and then provide us only
with an image or symbol of the actual reality. No, God's word can be
trusted, and His generosity can be relied upon-and so we, as His
children, must logically and confidently believe in the reality of the
Eucharist. In this sacrament we truly receive the Body and Blood of
Christ, not just a symbol of it, and our response to this gift must
demonstrate our belief and express our gratitude.
God doesn't play games with us, especially when it comes to questions
of salvation and eternal life; the readings we've just heard are meant
to be taken very seriously. The 1st Reading from the Book of Proverbs
speaks of wisdom personified, an expression of divine love and truth,
offered to all who will accept it. Wisdom calls out to us, “Forsake
foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.”
The ultimate foolishness is to doubt God's word; true understanding can
only occur when we trust what God has revealed to us. Wisdom's
invitation to eat of her food and drink of her wine is a foreshadowing
of the Eucharist, and as St. Paul tells us in the Letter to the
Ephesians, we must make the most of the present opportunity. Not all
Christians believe in the Eucharist, and not all Catholics come to Mass
each weekend; instead of wasting God's gifts in this way, we are called
to come to the Lord's table with joyful and grateful hearts, for Jesus
is offering us the gift of eternal life. Our Lord makes it very clear
in the Gospel that His words are not to be understood in a symbolic or
sentimental way; He says quite clearly and unmistakably, “Unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have
life within you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal
life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My flesh is true food,
and My blood is true drink. . . . the one who feeds on Me will have
life because of Me.” Jesus speaks so vividly and directly not only to
proclaim the truth, but also to confront us with an either/or choice.
Either we believe His words, or we don't-and if we do believe, our
actions here at Mass should reflect this fact.
MORE: The Eucharist as the Hound of Heaven
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
13. My sweet Jesus, I unite my soul to Thy soul,
and my heart, my mind, my life, and my intentions to Thine; and thus united,
I present myself to Thy Father. Receive me, O Eternal Father, through the
merits of Thy beloved Son.
August 29, 2012
(Nah 1:7) The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and knoweth them that hope in him.
LINK: Our Lady of Prompt Succor
During the French Revolution of the late 18th century, priests and
religious were persecuted and often had to go into hiding in order to
administer the Sacraments and keep their vocation and apostolates. This
is what happened with the Ursuline nuns of the Convent of
Pont-Saint-Esprit. One of the nuns, Agathe Gensoul, who could no longer
use her religious name, Mother St. Michel, still lived her vocation,
starting a school with another Ursuline, Sophie Ricard. Agathe had a
cousin who was an Ursuline also, but who lived in America, in New
Orleans, which had been at that time under Spanish domain, but had been
taken back by the French. Fearing French persecution, the Spanish
Ursulines there went back to Spain, which left the convent in need of
more nuns.
So Agathe or Mother St. Michel, applied to the bishop for the transfer
to New Orleans, who refused her request because of the trouble in
France. He told her that the Pope would have to approve her move. He,
however was under house arrest. The situation was near impossible. But
this did not discourage Agathe, who immediately wrote a letter to Pope
Pius VII, but after three months, she was still without means to send
it.
One day, while praying before a statue of Mary, she was inspired with this prayer:
"O Most Holy Virgin Mary, if you obtain a prompt and favorable answer
to my letter, I promise to have you honored in New Orleans under the
title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor." She not only found a way to send
the letter a few days later, but the Pontiff replied within a month! He
granted his permission, blessing her new undertaking, which surprised
the bishop who asked to bless the statue that Mother St. Michel had
carved to take with her to New Orleans.
The statue was enshrined in the Ursuline convent there on December
30,1810. Two years later, another miracle would be attributed to the
Virgin under this title. A terrible fire ravaged the city in 1812, and
the wind was rapidly driving it in the direction of the convent of the
Ursulines. One of the nuns, Sister St. Anthony, placed a small replica
of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in her window that faced the approaching
fire, while Mother St. Michel prayed aloud, asking Our Lady for help.
Immediately the wind changed direction of the flames. Mary's help has
been sought from the shrine ever since, both in time of war [the Battle
of New Orleans] and during the threat of hurricanes, a persistent peril
on the Gulf Coast.
LINK: Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
SPIRIT DAILY Archives (2001): Oh New Orleans, shed ye the darkness or face disaster
DAILY COMET (La.): Many New Orleans church properties still in limbo
NEWSWIRE: Catholic Charities USA And Its Local Agencies Prepare For Impact Of Isaac
PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM STORMS:
God our Father, Creator of the Universe and Lord over all creation, we
humbly stand before you as your children in thanksgiving for your
loving care and protection. We ask that you keep us safe from all
hurricanes which may threaten us in the coming seasons. Protect us from
all fear and anxiety of storms and give us an ardent trust and hope in
Your love and mercy. You alone have the power to command the sea, the
wind and the rain. You alone bring peace, calm, and safety. Father, we
thank you in advance, for you are our only Refuge. We ask this through
Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen. Mary, Queen of the Apostles, and
Patroness of our Diocese, pray for us.
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
12. We must keep control over all our senses by
holy interior recollection, banishing all useless reflection and introspection;
these only serve to disturb us and deprive our soul of that peace without
which it will never be the sanctuary of God.
August 28, 2012
(2Ki 2:19-22) And the men of the
city, said to Eliseus . Behold the situation of this city is very good,
as thou, my lord, seest: but the waters are very bad, and the ground
barren. And he said: Bring me a new vessel, and put salt into it. And
when they had brought it, He went out to the spring of the waters, and
cast the salt into it, and said: Thus saith the Lord: I have healed
these waters, and there shall be no more in them death or barrenness.
And the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word of
Eliseus, which he spoke.
Claretian Teaching Ministry: BLESSED SALT by Fr. John Hampsch, C.M.F
There is a renewed interest today in the ancient sacramental of blessed
salt, especially by charismatics, in healing and deliverance
situations, etc. To understand its proper use and its efficacy, it
would be helpful to review the Scriptural symbolism and its history,
since Vatican II urges us to participate “intelligently and actively”
in the use of sacramentals, just as in the use of Sacraments.
Salt in the ancient world was a precious commodity (even monopolized by
the royalty in Egypt and Persia). Roman soldiers were partially paid
with packets of salt (”sal” in Latin); this was the origin of our word
“salary” and of phrases like “worth his salt,” etc. Being costly, it
was an appropriate offering to God as a “covenant of salt” (Lev. 2: 13;
II Chron. 13:5; Num. 18:19) used in sacrifices by the Isrealites (Ezek.
43:24) and for the accompanying sacrificial meal (Gen. 31:54).
Belief in its preservative and healing properties led to its use to dry
and harden the skin of newborns (Ezek. 16:4) and to prevent umbilical
cord infection. Used for 3500 years to preserve meats from
deterioration, it became a symbol of preservation and spiritual
incorruptibility that was to characterize anyone offering sacrificial
worship. Shared at the sacrificial meal, salt became a symbol of
friendship and hospitality, a custom-symbol still used today in Arab
culture.
Jesus referred to this salt-symbolized friendship covenant in Mark
9:50: “Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another”–that
is, “preserve that quality (flavor) that makes you a blessing to one
another.” (Note the double symbol of preservation and flavoring.)
This double primary symbolization is also found in Paul’s advice in
Col. 4:6:”Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with
salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” That is, let it be
wholesome and savory, preserved from the corrupting conversation of
worldlings (3:8 and Eph 4:29). (His use of the word salt may also have
referred to another of its symbols: spiritual wisdom, since the Latin
word for savor or taste, “sapientia”, is the same as for wisdom.)
Some or all of these symbols may have been implied in Jesus’ words to
his chosen ones, describing them as the “salt of the earth” (Matt.
5:13). He especially indicated that they were to oppose the world’s
corruption, reminding them that, as salt must preserve its own
anti-corruptive quality, they too must preserve their anti-corruptive
influence in a sin-corrupted world. (See Luke 14:34).
The blessing promised by God on food and water, as well as the
prevention of miscarriages and agricultural catastrophes (Exod.
23:25-26) was extended by God through Elisha in Jericho (II Kings
2:20-21), when he was inspired to put salt into the contaminated water.
Adding salt to already brackish water to decontaminate it, made the
miracle all the more impressive, since one would expect the opposite
effect. This first miracle of Elisha is the primary Scriptural basis
for the sacramental use of blessed salt today, as the Roman Ritual
indicates.
As a Catholic sacramental, salt blessed by the liturgical prayer of a
priest may be used by itself, unmixed, as in exorcisms, and formerly in
the exorcistic prayer at baptism, or it may be mixed with water to make
holy water, as the Ritual prescribes (reminiscent of Elisha’s miracle).
In whichever form, it is intended to be an instrument of grace to
preserve one from the corruption of evil occurring as sin, sickness,
demonic influence, etc.
As in the case of all sacramentals, its power comes not from the sign
itself, but by means of the Church’s official (liturgical, not private)
prayer of blessing–a power the Church derives from Christ himself (see
Matt. 16:19 and 18:18). As the Vatican II document on the Liturgy
states (art. 61), both Sacraments and sacramentals sanctify us, not of
themselves, but by power flowing from the redemptive act of Jesus,
elicited by the Church’s intercession to be directed through those
external signs and elements. Hence sacramentals like blessed salt, holy
water, medals, etc. are not to be used superstitiously as having
selfcontained power, but as “focus-points” funneling one’s faith toward
Jesus, just as a flag is used as a “focus-point” of patriotism, or as
handkerchiefs were used to focus faith for healing and deliverance by
Paul (Acts 19:12).
Thus used non-superstitiously, modest amounts of salt may be sprinkled
in one’s bedroom, or across thresholds to prevent burglary, in cars for
safety, etc. A few grains in drinking water or used in cooking or as
food seasoning often bring astonishing spiritual and physical benefits,
as I have personally witnessed many times. As with the use of
Sacraments, much depends on the faith and devotion of the person using
salt or any sacramental. This faith must be Jesus-centered, as was the
faith of the blind man in John 9; he had faith in Jesus, not in the mud
and spittle used by Jesus to heal him.
In light of this, we can see why Vatican II states that “there is
hardly any proper use of material things which cannot thus be directed
toward the sanctification of persons and the praise of God.” (art. 61
of Liturgy document). Hence new sacramentals may also be added when
rituals are revised (art. 79). Blessed salt is certainly not a new
sacramental, but the Holy Spirit seems to be leading many to a new
interest in its remarkable power as an instrument of grace and healing.
Any amount of salt may be presented to a priest for his blessing, using the following official prayer from the Roman Ritual:
“Almighty God, we ask you to bless this salt, as once you blessed the
salt scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha. Wherever this salt
(and water) is sprinkled, drive away the power of evil, and protect us
always by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Grant this through Christ
our Lord. Amen.”
CATHOLIC DOORS: Frequently Asked Questions regarding BLESSED SALT
LINK: Blessed Salt – Powerful Stuff
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
11. One of the ways most pleasing to God of keeping
ourselves in His holy presence, is to enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and to commit to Him all the care of ourselves. We must abide therein as
in an abyss of love, and lose in it that which is of ourselves, so that
He may substitute that which is of Himself.
August 24, 2012
(Php 4:6-7) Be
nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.
THE TRIB TIMES
WILL
RETURN NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING (James 4:15).
EXCERPT: Anxiety by Fr. Joseph Esper
Some saints were as prone to worry and anxiety as the rest of us are.
But, by placing their trust in the Lord's presence and care, they were
able to overcome their fears. Some of these fears were relatively minor
ones, as faced by Bl. Helen of Udine, who, during a period of distress,
was terrified even of loud noises. Others were serious fears, as faced
by St. Augustine of Canterbury, the abbot of a monastery in Rome. In
the year 596, he was chosen by Pope St. Gregory the Great to lead a
group of forty monks on a missionary journey to England. (There were
some scattered Christian communities there, but the island as a whole
was pagan and uncivilized.) Augustine and his companions set out, but
on reaching France, they were frightened by stories of the dangerous
waters of the English Channel and the fierce temperament of the
Anglo-Saxon tribes. Leaving his companions there, Augustine hurried
back to confer with the Pope. Gregory encouraged the worried missionary
and sent him back on his way, after telling him, "He who would climb a
lofty height must go by steps, not by leaps." Augustine returned to the
other missionaries; they crossed over into England and there
experienced great success in spreading the Gospel.
It's said that the words "Be not afraid" appear in Scripture 366 times
— one for each day of the year (leap years included). Certainly we need
this sort of ongoing reminder and encouragement; life can be difficult
and is often filled with anxieties, great and small. Jesus told St.
Martha that, unlike her sister Mary, she was "anxious and troubled
about many things." Martha took this correction to heart and learned to
trust in the Lord — so much so that later, even as she grieved the
death of her brother Lazarus, she was able to acknowledge Jesus as the
Resurrection and the life. Martha's sister St. Mary Magdalene likewise
acknowledged Christ's power on this occasion; she was one of the few
followers of Christ who, on Good Friday, dared to proclaim her loyalty
to Him publicly by standing beneath His Cross, and for her courage and
devotion she was rewarded by being the first witness of the
Resurrection.
There's a saying that "Courage is fear that has said its prayers."
Prayer is indeed the key to overcoming or coping with anxiety, for it
reassures us of God's presence and reminds us of our need to rely on
His strength, not on our own. As St. John Vianney said, "God commands
you to pray, but He forbids you to worry."
COURAGEOUS PRIEST: How Do We Conquer Worry and Anxiety?
PETER KREEFT: Weakness Into Strength
MEDITATION: Thoughts
by St Theophan (1815-1894)
[II Cor. 7:1-10; Mark 1:29-35]
In the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and
departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Here is a lesson to
get up early and devote the first hours of the day to prayer, in
solitude. The soul, renewed with sleep, is fresh, light and capable of
penetration, like fresh morning air; therefore it asks on its own to be
allowed to go where all of its joy is found, to go before the face of
the heavenly Father, to the company of the angels and saints. It is
more convenient for the soul to pray at this time instead of later when
the cares of the day already are piled upon the soul.
The Lord orders everything. You must receive a blessing from Him for
work, for needed understanding, and for crucial strengthening. And
hurry as early as possible, before anything interferes, to lift
yourself in solitude to the Lord in mind and heart, and to confess your
needs and intentions to Him, and to beg for His help. Having disposed
yourself with prayer and thoughts of God, from the first moments of the
day, you will then conduct the whole day in reverence and fear of God,
with collected thoughts. From this come discretion, steadiness, and
harmony in deeds and mutual relations. This is a reward for the labour
which you compel yourself to undertake in your morning solitude. Thus,
even for worldly people this makes good sense, and is not something
alien to their goals.
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
10. Let us adore and love God through the adorable
Heart of Jesus: let us do all our actions in Him; let us beg Him to do
all in us and for us, and to restore us to grace by uniting us again to
His Father, when sin has separated us from Him.
August 22, 2012
(Deu 28:15-20) But
if thou wilt not hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep and to do
all his commandments and ceremonies, which I command thee this day, all
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. Cursed shalt thou
be in the city, cursed in the field. Cursed shall be thy barn, and
cursed thy stores. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit
of thy ground, the herds of thy oxen, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Cursed shalt thou be coming in, and cursed going out. The Lord shall
send upon thee famine and hunger, and a rebuke upon all the works which
thou shalt do: until he consume and destroy thee quickly, for thy most
wicked inventions, by which thou hast forsaken me.
YOUTUBE VIDEO INTERVIEW OF ANN BARNHARDT: Godless Existence Is The Cause Of The Economic Collapse
INTRO:
Ann Barnhardt was living her dream. She had a successul commodities
firm, helping farmers across the US and Canada to hedge their crop
risks. Then MF Global blew up and Ann realized that no matter how
carefully she invested her clients' money, it could always be stolen
right out from underneath them. Therefore, in good conscience she
couldn't continue the business, so she liquidated the assets and paid
off her clients in full, so that they would never have to suffer an MF
Global meltdown. She has mixed thoughts about it to this day, but she's
absolutely certain she did the morally correct act. And while Ann's
business ethics are very much intertwined with her religious beliefs,
she's decided that she cannot live her life any other way.
RELATED RESEARCH REPORT: Now Banks Can Legally Steal Retirement Accounts
“If you don’t understand what ‘get the h*ll out’ means, there’s not
much I can do for you,” Ann Barnhardt passionately told blogger Warren
Pollock, as she warned viewers of systemic failure in the U.S.
financial system, as well as the certainty that American savers will be
robbed of their retirement, brokerage and savings accounts in the
process.
Barnhardt, the former commodities broker, cites the latest and hushed
court ruling in the 2007 case of a failed Chicago-based futures
brokerage firm Sentinel Management Group—another Ponzi bankruptcy,
according to her, totaling $600 million of segregated customer funds
tied up in bankruptcy awaiting determination of whether those
segregated funds will be used to pay off a “secured position” of a $312
million loan held by Bank of NY Mellon.
According to a recent federal appeals court ruling Bank of New York
Mellon’s secured loan will be put ahead of customer segregated accounts
held by Sentinel—a landmark ruling that turns individual segregated
accounts into the property of a third party under circumstances of
duress. In other words, if a financial institution fails, clients,
depositors and pension funds may not get some or all of their money
back in a bankruptcy.
In essence, under the ruling, Securities Investor Protection
Corporation (SPIC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and
other insurance programs no longer will/can protect customer funds,
leaving millions of investors, depositors and retirees unaware that
they are no longer account holders of their own funds, per se, but,
instead, have suddenly become stockholders of the institution with
which they have deposited their money.
NEW AMERICAN REVIEW: Top Investors Warn of “Financial Armageddon”
ECONOMIC EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARIES
Economic Collapse, We Still Don’t Get It
Liddick: Economic amnesia
Hyperinflation Is Not Inevitable (Default Is)
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
6. Now is the time to humble myself and show God
that I love Him.
August 21, 2012
MEMORIAL OF POPE ST. PIUS X
St. Pius X: Sanctity Alone
"Sanctity alone makes us what our divine vocation demands, men
crucified to the world and to whom the world has been crucified, men
walking in newness of life who, in the words of St. Paul, show
themselves as ministers of God in labors, in vigils, in fasting, in
chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy
Spirit, in sincere charity, in the word of truth; men who seek only
heavenly things and strive by every means to lead others to them."
(Pope St. Pius X: Haerent Animo)
A WORD IN SEASON: Pius X's motto " to restore all things in Christ," echoed St. Paul.
For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of
his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a
plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph 1:9-10, RSV, emphasis added).
One way Pius X considered this restoration possible was using the
long-held formula from St. Louis De Montfort in True Devotion to Mary:
"to Jesus through Mary." He reasoned that if God could trust Mary with
bringing forth the life of Jesus into the world, she is surely a
trustworthy path for bringing forth the life of Christ within believers.
"Could not God have given us, in another way than through the Virgin the
Redeemer of the human race and the Founder of the Faith? But, since
Divine Providence has been pleased that we should have the Man-God
through Mary, who conceived Him by the Holy Ghost and bore Him in her
breast, it only remains for us to receive Christ from the hands of
Mary." (Ad Diem Illum Latissimum, par. 6)
EXCERPT BIO OF ST PIUS
Pope Leo XIII died on August 4, 1903, Cardinal Sarto was reluctantly
named Pope after only a four-day conclave, by a margin of 55 out of a
possible 60 votes. The humble farm boy told his fellow Cardinals that
his name would be Pius. “As I shall suffer, I shall take the name of
those Popes who also suffered." His coronation took place on the
following Sunday, August 9, 1903. In the Vatican, the Pope made changes
that impressed some and irritated others. He wanted to be a less formal
and more approachable Pope. Each evening, he invited other priests and
workers in the Vatican to dinner. To the chagrin of the Swiss guards,
Pius X would often escape the Vatican walls through garden passageways
unescorted and visit the sick in local hospitals.
Not surprisingly, his Papacy was marked by improving priestly
formation, instituting better liturgy and music, and requiring quality
preaching from priests and bishops. Always an educator, he modernized
Canon law and introduced progressive scholarship through the biblical
institute of Rome under the Jesuits. In 1905, he lowered the age of
receiving the Eucharist for young people, still in effect today (around
7 years old). He fought against a theological teaching known as
“modernism” that Pius X felt was a form of heresy and atheism. In his
latter years, he preached strongly against war and violence. Pius X had
vivid dreams and visions that a great war would break out in Europe in
1914 killing many innocents. His visions were about World War I and
they were accurate. Pius X would not live to see the long-term effects
of the disaster but his prophesies were chilling reminders after his
death.
During his tenure, the Pope supported European immigrants who fled to
North and South America. He formed many new Dioceses and appointed new
bishops in the Americas. In the last year of his life, Pius X held many
private audiences with the poor and sick. It was during there private
visits with common people that rumors of miraculous cures began to
spread throughout Rome. Among those cured through his prayers were two
religious sisters who confirmed the healings after his death and
promoted his canonization to sainthood.
On August 20, 1914, Pope Pius X passed to eternal life. The Italian
press wrote, “ Saint Is Dead." On his tombstone are
the words: “Pope Pius X, poor and yet rich, gentle and humble of heart,
unconquerable champion of the Catholic Faith, whose constant endeavor
it was to renew all things in Christ...”
PHOTO OF RELIC: St. Pius [Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto] X, Pp.
OF RECENT INTEREST: Pope Pius X and the Olympic Games
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
5. You have only to unite yourself in all that
you do to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the beginning of
your actions, make His dispositions your own, and at the end offer His
merits as satisfaction.
August 2, 2012
THE TRIB TIMES WILL
RETURN IN THREE WEEKS, GOD WILLING (James 4:15).
SUBSCRIBER POSTS: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/tribulaton-times
(Mat 13:47-50) Again
the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering
together of all kinds of fishes. Which, when it was filled, they drew
out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels,
but the bad they cast forth. So shall it be at the end of the world.
The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the
just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT: Building a Culture of Religious Freedom
CARDINAL DOLAN: Fighting the Good Fight for Religious Freedom
POLL: Catholics Share Bishops' Concerns about Religious Liberty
Today, the provision of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act
that offers free contraception to women on employer health care plans
goes into effect, though many religious institutions have a one-year
reprieve. Catholics who are aware of U.S. bishops' concerns about
restrictions on religious liberty – including the contraceptive mandate
– generally agree with the bishops' concerns. Yet the bishops' protests
against these policies have not drawn much more interest among
Catholics than among the general public. And there are no significant
differences in the presidential vote preferences between Catholic
voters who have heard about the bishops' protests and those who have
not.
Nearly two-thirds of Catholics (64%) have heard at least a little about
the bishops' protests, but just 22% of Catholics say they have heard a
lot about them. Moreover, only about a third of Catholic churchgoers
(32%) say their priest has spoken out on this issue at Mass.
By a 56% to 36% margin, Catholics who are aware of the bishops'
protests say they agree with the bishops' concerns. Among all Americans
who are aware of the protests, there is less support for the bishops'
position: 41% agree with the bishops' concerns, while 47% disagree.
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on
Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People
& the Press finds large majorities of Catholics are very or
somewhat satisfied with the leadership provided by Catholic nuns and
sisters in the U.S. (83%), their own parish priests (82%), their
diocesan bishop (74%), the pope (74%) and American bishops in general
(70%).
BLOG: Religious Liberty Dies In America Today
REVIEW: Obamacare’s Fine on Faith: Trampling on Religious Liberty
LINK: The Catechism of St. Pope Pius X (ca. 1880)
RECENT RON SMITH REPORTS
Communion in Hand & Consecration
What About Abstinence
Funeral Eulogies
Wedding Ceremony Location
Note from Ron: To receive my Catholic Q&A reports please contact me with your correct email address.
RECOMMENDED BLOG POSTS RE ABANDONMENT
Why Does God Allow Misfortune to Fall on Us
A Brush in the Hand of an Infinitely Perfect Artist
Five Ways to Stop Worrying Today
Find Balance
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
4. Everything depends on prayer well made; but
in order to pray well, one must be very recollected and mortified.
August 1, 2012
(Joel 2:12-13) Now,
therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in
fasting, and in weeping, and mourning. And rend your hearts, and not
your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and
merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.
PORTIUNCULA INDULGENCE: First Plenary indulgence ever granted in the Church
THE FRANCISCANS: The Portiuncula Indulgence
FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA Christian Witness List: The Great Pardon: The Portiuncula Indulgence
On a hot July evening in the year 1216 Saint Francis of Assisi at
prayer devoured by his love for God and a thirst to save souls was
visited upon by Our Blessed Savior and Our Blessed Mother. Our Lord
spoke to him "Francis you are very zealous for the good souls. Ask me
what you want for their salvation."
Francis answered that he wanted an indulgence to all those who enter
this church,(The Portiuncula) who are truly contrite and have confessed
their sins.
Our Lord consented to Francis' wish, but only after he received
approval from Pope Honorius III. The pope granted this petition, and
this indulgence has been extended to all parish churches throughout the
world from noon August 1 until midnight on August 2.
The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of
Assisi (for oneself or for a departed soul) are as follows:
* Sacramental confession (during eight days before or after the above dates)
* Participation in the Mass and Eucharist.
* Recitation of the Apostles' Creed, Our Father and a prayer for the pope's intention.
The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to be missed, not only for
yourself, but for the many souls suffering in purgatory. The dates are
from noon on August 1 until midnight on August 2, the feast of Our Lady
of the Angels.
CNA: A Primer on Indulgences
CATHOLIC ANSWERS: Myths about Indulgences
CATHOLIC CULTURE: The Historical Origin of Indulgences
PAMPHLET: Indulgences and Our Spiritual Life
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Union with God
3. If you wish to
pray well, be faithful in the
practice of mortification, avoid dissipation of mind during the day,
and
never commit any willful faults.
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