Keep
your eyes open!...
January 31, 2022
(Eph 6:10-13) Finally,
brethren, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power.
Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the
deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood;
but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world
of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.
Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to
resist in the evil day and to stand in all things perfect.
FR ALTIER VIDEO: Why God in His Mercy Allows Evil: The Divine Call to Repentance, Conversion and Reparation for Sin
ESSAY: Satan is back (again) — the Devil in 5 dark details
MSGR. STEPHEN ROSETTI: Satan is Out to Destroy America
It is well known that Satan hates
the Church and is focused on its destruction. I am convinced that Satan
has targeted America as well. With our great power and resources, this
country has the potential to influence the world for great good,
especially in promoting human freedom, equality, and the virtues. But
we also have the potential to promote great evil.
I see increasing signs of Satan’s
hand in trying to destroy this country. There is an increasing distrust
and denigration of authority such teachers, politicians and government,
police, clergy and Church. While there are certainly examples of people
in such offices doing evil, a blanket condemnation of people who serve
our nation is not warranted and destructive of society.
We see also a breakdown of the
“domestic church,” the family. The lifetime marriage of a man and a
woman with the raising of children in the faith seems more like an
oddity today. Even those stable families that raised their children in
the faith are increasingly distraught at their children, influenced by
destructive forces around them, falling into drug abuse, promiscuity,
and paganism.
There is an increasing erosion of
Christianity and religion in general in our nation, with a concomitant
rapid rise in those who identify as religious “nones”
(atheists, agnostics and unaffiliated.) In filling the “Void of
Christianity”, the practice of magic, witchcraft and the occult is
everywhere. This should not be a surprise. If people do not embrace the
Light, the darkness will overcome them.
We are embarking upon a new year.
Far from being downcast, I feel a great sense of optimism. I have
personally seen what a little holy water, the sight of a crucifix, and
mere mention of the holy name of Jesus does to Satan and his minions.
They are dust compared to the Word made flesh. Despite all the demonic
threats, the mantle of Our Lady protects us and St. Michael and the
holy angels surround us.
But we are fighting for the soul of
our nation and its people. Let us begin this year armed with the “sword
of the Spirit which is the Word of God” who is Jesus (Eph 6:17). I
recommend frequent reception of the Sacraments, the daily rosary, and
constant prayer.
In response to the hatred, discord,
and violence surging up all around us, let us love, especially those
whom we find repugnant. Let us stop judging anyone– judging is God’s
job. Pray for our country’s leaders, they need our support. May we let
go of anger toward anyone who may have hurt us. When we pray for them,
we ourselves are set free. Satan and his minions feed off anger,
discord and fear. In 2022, let us replace hatred with love.
I would like to make a special plea
that God’s pious followers spend this year in frequent acts of love
toward Jesus and his Mother. Our little acts of love will be rewarded
by a divine torrent of grace. In 2022, we will again witness “Satan
fall like lightning from the sky” (Lk 10:18). It cannot be otherwise.
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Love of One's Neighbor,
Charity,
Humility
12. Above all, let
us carefully keep silence on
occasions that mortify us. Let us be charitable and humble, both
in our thoughts and words.
January 26, 2022
(Mat 24:6) 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.
CRISIS MAGAZINE VIDEO ANALYSIS: World War III? Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.
THE TABLET: Pope Francis Sets Jan. 26 as Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine
Saying he was worried about Ukraine
and how a possible Russian-Ukrainian conflict could spread, Pope
Francis proclaimed Jan. 26 as a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine.
Responding to a buildup of Russian
troops near the Ukrainian-Russian border and the inability of major
powers to agree on a solution, Catholic bishops in Ukraine and Poland
and Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the United States also called for
prayers for the prevention of war.
After reciting the Angelus prayer
Jan. 23, Pope Francis said, “I am following with concern the rising
tensions that threaten to strike a new blow at peace in Ukraine and put
into question the security of the European continent, with even wider
repercussions.” “I make a heartfelt appeal to all people of goodwill to
pray to Almighty God that all political actions and initiatives will
serve human fraternity rather than partisan interests,” the pontiff
said.
“Those who pursue their own goals
to the detriment of others despise their vocation as human beings,
because we have all been created brothers and sisters,” he said. “For
this reason and with concern given the current tensions, I propose that
next Wednesday, Jan. 26, be a day of prayer for peace.” Ukrainian
Catholic bishops in the U.S. asked Catholics to pray, be informed, and
donate to help those affected by Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis. “People
near the front line often lack the basics — clean water, food, clothes,
medicine,” they said.
They compared Russian buildup of troops to King Herod’s thirst for power and hegemony.
“This is a question of life and
death, as nostalgia for an empire lost has led to senseless slaughter
and immense suffering throughout Ukraine,” said the Jan. 22 statement
signed by all five Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the United States.
“The war in Ukraine is real. It
kills, maims and destroys daily. An escalated Russian invasion will
generate additional millions of refugees, more dead and injured, more
tears and pain. Still, the people of Ukraine courageously endure. As
they stand with a gun to their head, they ask for our solidarity,” they
said.
In a statement Jan. 24, Catholic
bishops in Ukraine and Poland cited former popes, papal encyclicals and
the Catechism of the Catholic Church to show Catholic teaching that war
is never the answer to problems.
“The current situation represents a
great danger for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the
entire European continent, which may destroy the progress made so far
by many generations in building a peaceful order and unity in Europe,”
said the joint statement.
“We call upon those in power to
refrain from hostilities. We encourage leaders to immediately withdraw
from the path of ultimatums and the use of other countries as
bargaining chips. Differences in interests must be resolved not by the
use of arms, but through agreements,” they said.
They included a prayer from St.
John Paul II that said, in part: “Hear the cry of all your children,
the anguished plea of all humanity. Let there be no more war — an evil
adventure from which there is no turning back; let there be no more war
— a maelstrom of struggle and violence. Grant that the war … which
threatens your creatures in heaven, on earth, and at sea may cease.”
Russia annexed Crimea in early 2014 and, shortly afterward,
Russian-backed separatists began fighting Ukrainian government forces
in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Some 1.5
million people have fled the region to other parts of Ukraine and
thousands of civilians and soldiers have died or been injured.
While in the spring of 2021 Russia
was accused by many Western nations of trying to provoke more active
fighting by holding military exercises near the border, a massive
Russian buildup of troops just over the border created alarm in early
December. The buildup has continued and, late Jan. 22, Britain’s
Foreign and Commonwealth Office released a statement saying it had
evidence that Russia was developing plans to install a pro-Russian
government in Ukraine.
RELATED PRAYER PETITIONS
U.S. bishop urges dialogue to ‘peacefully resolve’ crisis over Ukraine
Ukrainian Catholic priests appeal for prayers and support
Catholic Bishops of Ukraine and Poland appeal to leaders to refrain from war
POLITICAL COMMENTARY
How the US and NATO Could Settle Dispute Over Ukraine Without War
Putin was able to get America exactly where he wanted it
German navy chief quits after saying Putin deserves respect over Ukraine
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Love of One's Neighbor,
Charity,
Humility
11. You will not
dispute nor show your repugnance
and aversion, for meekness makes us bear everything without complaining.
January 23, 2022
(2Ti 3:16-17) All
scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to
correct, to instruct in justice: That the man of God may be perfect,
furnished to every good work.
ST. AUGUSTINE: “I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.”
THE CATHOLIC THING: Hearing like a Christian
NCR: Word of God Sunday: Causes for Celebration
CATHOLIC DAILY REFLECTIONS: The Gift of Sacred Scripture
St. Luke begins his Gospel with this short explanation. This
introduction to his Gospel gives us the opportunity to look more deeply
at the Holy Bible.
What is your approach to the Bible? How often do you read it? How
thoroughly do you understand it? Is the Bible the foundation of your
life of faith and knowledge of God? Sacred Scripture is a gift beyond
our imagination. It’s a gift from God through which He reveals His
perfect love and His perfect plan for us. We should know the Scriptures
well, read them often, pray over the verses and allow all that is
revealed within those pages to become the foundation of our lives.
Let’s reflect upon one particular aspect of Sacred Scripture.
The Bible is 100% the work of God and 100% the work of the human
author. It is 100/100 so to speak. This means that the human author
completely cooperated with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in
writing each book and letter. And God, for His part, guaranteed that
all that was written came from His heart and inspiration. Therefore,
this joint effort reveals that God used the human author for a divine
purpose.
This is of great significance to understand for two reasons. First, it
reveals that we should love Scripture because it reveals the heart and
truth of God as well as the unique personality and humanity of the
human author. So we are benefiting from the full revelation of God as
well as the unique gift of the human author.
Second, it should reveal to us that, though God will not use us in the
same way (i.e., to add to the Bible), He does desire to use us for
divine purposes. He desires to consume our unique human personality and
use us to shine forth the beauty and splendor of His divinity. He wants
a 100/100 cooperation with us, also, so as to shine through us in a
radiant way.
Reflect, today, upon two things. First, reflect upon the gift of the
Bible and the way that God used the human author to give you this gift.
Second, reflect upon the fact that God wants to use you, in all your
weakness and sin, to bring His divine presence into our world. Be open
to that gift so that you may become a living gift of the Word of God to
the world.
Most glorious Eternal Word, I thank You for the wonderful gift of
Sacred Scripture. Thank You for all that You have revealed through this
gift and for the way that You used the human author for the
transmission of Your life. Help me to always be open to Your divine
Word and to always be open to becoming a living presence of that Word
in our world. Jesus, I trust in You.
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Love of One's Neighbor,
Charity,
Humility
10. The virtue of
meekness will make you condescending
towards your neighbor whom you will excuse, bearing charitably and in
silence
all the pain which may be caused you.
January 21, 2022
(Psalm 127:3) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
REVIEW: Does the Message of Our Lady of America Address the Issue of Abortion?
REPORT: Abortion is the Leading Cause of Death
Abortion was the leading cause of
death in 2021 according to Worldometer a data aggregation site. The
site showed a total of deaths from all causes including abortion
totalled 101.5 million people, 42.6 million were for abortions.
CWR COMMENTARY: Marching toward a different future
The annual March for
Life in Washington began in 1974 — and it’s hard to think of a more
admirable or consistent public witness to the dignity of the human
person being given for so many years by so many people of all races,
religions, and social classes. The March has taken place in fair
weather and foul. Senior public officials have addressed it; others
have assiduously (or contemptuously) ignored it.
Over the past decade, the March has grown larger and younger — facts
ignored in the anorexic press coverage of what is usually Washington’s
largest gathering of citizen-activists. The March for Life is fun,
serious, pious and a bit chaotic. For those who participate, it’s a
powerful booster shot, re-energizing the marchers and their supporters
for another year’s work of building a culture of life in the United
States.
This year’s March for Life, the 49th, will be different.
At the end of its current term, presumably in late June 2022, the
Supreme Court will hand down its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s
Health Organization. The Dobbs case gives the Court its best
opportunity in decades to reverse the mistake it made in the 1973
decision Roe v. Wade, and then re-affirmed in the misbegotten (indeed
bizarre) 1992 decision, Casey v. Planned Parenthood of Southeastern
Pennsylvania. That mistake — discovering a “right to abortion”
somewhere in the interstices of the United States Constitution — has
been a festering wound in the American body politic for almost a
half-century.
It led to the violent termination of tens of millions of lives that
might have been creatively lived, even as it distorted our politics and
debased our public debate. Roe and Casey have coarsened our society, as
Dred Scott (1858) and Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) did when the Court
affirmed, respectively, the constitutionality of chattel slavery and
racially segregated public facilities. Roe and Casey also wounded the
Court itself, forcing it to make judgments on matters manifestly not
within its competence and eroding the collegiality that should
characterize the deliberations of the nation’s supreme legal tribunal.
Roe and Casey were mistakes: grave, lethal mistakes with no foundation
in serious jurisprudence. Correcting those mistakes by consigning Roe
and Casey to the dustbin of history will enhance, not diminish, the
Court’s institutional integrity and credibility. Claims to the contrary
come from those who know or suspect (but cannot admit) that they’ve
lost the constitutional argument — and who now resort to bullying.
So the 50th March for Life, in January 2023, should take place in a
post-Roe v. Wade America: which, to borrow from the Bard, is “a
consummation devoutly to be wished.” A post-Roe America, however, will
be a country that needs the March for Life as much as ever, and perhaps
even more.
A post-Roe America will be one in which the pro-life movement must work
with state legislators to provide legal protection to unborn children.
That means an America in which 51 debates are going on, not just one.
And while there will be broad similarities among those 51 different
debates, there will also be nuances to be considered, prudential
judgments to be made, and legislative strategies devised to meet local
situations. A post-Roe America, in other words, will be an America in
which the debate over the right-to-life from conception until natural
death will be far more complex.
A post-Roe America will be one in which the pro-life movement must
expand its already extensive efforts to offer life-affirming and
healing services to women in crisis pregnancies. This will require a
more effective pro-life communications strategy, making the available
alternatives to abortion better known and thus even more accessible.
That no one has to have an abortion in these United States has long
been the truth of the matter; communicating that truth must be a
pro-life priority in a post-Roe/post-Casey America.
Then there is the work of cultural conversion. The abortion license is
a by-product of the notion that some life — “useless” or “defective” or
“inconvenient” — is unworthy of cultural cherishing and legal
protection. In the 1920s, distinguished German legal and medical
scholars called this Lebens unwertesleben [“Life unworthy of life”].
The origins of that grotesque idea lay in the bogus “science” of
eugenics. And while eugenic considerations are never invoked today
(publicly, at least), it would be delusional to imagine that variations
on this wicked theme are not subtly in play in the United States.
So there will be a March for Life in 2023 — and, I hope, for many years after, as the work of converting the culture continues.
RELATED HEADLINES
This Year’s March for Life Could Pave the Way for Finally Overturning Roe v. Wade
March For Life President Jeanne Mancini Discusses ‘Equality Begins In The Womb’ Theme
March for Life 2022 Speakers Include Father Mike Schmitz
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Love of One's Neighbor,
Charity,
Humility
9. Plunge yourself
often into the charity of that
lovable Heart so that you may never act towards your neighbor in a
manner
which may, in the least, wound that virtue, never doing to others what
you would not wish done to yourself.
January 19, 2022
(1Th 5:19-21): Extinguish not the spirit. Despise not prophecies. But prove all things: hold fast that which is good.
TEDD FLYNN: Ukraine and the Prophecies of War
THE PILLAR: 'Pray for peace and justice in Ukraine' A Pillar interview: Archbishop Borys Gudziak
DING CERVANTES: St. Michael the Archangel: 'Humanity continues like sheep to the slaughter'
FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA RON SMITH: Prophetic Message Summaries
12/21/21 From Shelly Anna - plague of sores on skin coming, ALL with
the mark of the beast will get afflicted; when darkness comes (Rev.
16:2) blessed candles will not go out. “So the first angel left the
temple and poured out his flask over the earth, and horrible, malignant
sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the Creature (satan)
and was worshipping his statue.” “Malignant: showing great malevolence,
EVIL.”
1/1/22 from St. Michael to Luz De Maria. Her messages are approved by
her bishop. Communism is advancing. New disease to be announced.
1/2/22. From Lord to Gina Hanrahan. THIS YEAR prophecy will come back
strong & WILL COME TO PASS QUICKLY. Will be many deaths of
persecutors this year. Mourning will be turned to comfort by Holy
Spirit.
1/4/21 From Pedro Regis in Brazil supported by his archbishop. We must
defend the true teachings of the true magisterium of the true Church.
We will face strong trials.
1/5/22 From Fr. Michel Rodrigue. The antichrist is now in the hierarchy
of the Church. Pope Francis will recognize his errors & try to
change them; he will fail. He will die. Benedict will try to convene a
council. He will be martyred. World-wide famine coming. Economy will
fail; money to be useless. Martial law will be implemented at that
time. Jesus resurrected on His cross to appear in sky.
1/6/22 From Giselle Cardia. It is time for our Father's Justice; earth
& seas will rebel soon; we should make a whole life general
confession ASAP.
1/8/22 From Giselle Cardia - will be another lethal virus soon.
1/13/21 From Barry Wunsch from Canada. Donald Trump will be protected. God's SPIRITUAL PUNCH will begin this February.
1/14/22 From Luz De Maria in Argentina, she & her messages approved
by her bishop - if you are frightened, go to a general confession; this
is the time of GREAT MIRACLES!
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Love of God
30. Take for your motto: Love has conquered me,
it alone shall possess my heart.
January 17, 2022
(1Pe 5:8-11) Be sober and watch:
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about
seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye, strong in faith: knowing
that the same affliction befalls, your brethren who are in the world.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory in
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect
you and confirm you and establish you. To him be glory and empire, for
ever and ever. Amen.
Alice von Hildebrand:
But you know, I keep repeating to myself, “The forces of Hell shall not
prevail!” But I do believe we are living in an apocalyptic time, a time
of confusion and conflict. You know it is said we are living in a
time of confusion, such for even the elect.
THE CATHOLIC THING: Memory, History, and Hope
ELEISON COMMENTS: Culture War
These “Comments” have at least once warmly recommended readers to read
the frequent articles of John HORVAT on the TFP website at
tfp.org. This is because for countless adults today, God is the
Great Unmentionable. He is not even to be named in polite
society. On the contrary, while Horvat is often commenting on
American politics, he is always doing so from the Catholic perspective
of Almighty God. In the words of one of the great Catholic thinkers of the 19th century,
Horvat sees, and says, that if God today is not ruling Creation by His
presence, then He is ruling it by His absence.
This is because God created the world freely, out of love, and He loves
in particular the creature whom He set up to rule Creation as His
deputy, and that creature is man, who sub-rules by that faculty of
reason and free-will which he alone possesses among all God’s material
creatures. However, if man uses that free-will to turn away from
God, which God can allow him to do, then God fully knows what man does
not know, namely the horrible eternity he is deserving for himself by
his spurning of God’s great love of him, and God cannot leave His
beloved creature alone on the road to such a destruction. And
here is why modern man, fleeing God, cannot help recognising that the
love of God is still pursuing him, even if that recognition merely
drives him to flee all the more: “Stop loving me ! I do not want
Your love !”
Thus Horvat reads (article of 11 November, 2021) a recent surprise
election in the State of Virginia, by which the right-wing Republicans
swept all three State-wide races and surprisingly took back the House
of Delegates from the left-wing Democrats. Horvat says that
whereas “moderate Republicans promise everything but deliver next to
nothing”, it was the moral conservatives (“with their powerful pro-life
voting bloc”) who won this surprise election by voting on moral issues
of the so-called “Culture War”: on Critical Race Theory, radical sex
education, gender ideology and procured abortion. Notice how
closely these moral issues in fact involve and offend Almighty
God. Horvat says that these issues win elections because if they
are well presented, “they address deep problems inside the souls of
countless Americans”. In other words, the “Culture War” frames
the debate in terms of what is deepest and truest in us men, God’s
natural law, even if He Himself is rarely mentioned. “God, bless
America” – still.
But the left-wingers are intent on driving God out of His
Creation. Correspondingly, they hate the “Culture War”, and want
it never to be mentioned, nor its issues to be raised. The
cultural warriors who do so are “deplorables” (said Hilary Clinton),
with no legitimacy inside the liberals’ overwhelming liberal
culture. It goes without saying that the vile media do all they
can to stifle the conservatives and to stop them from framing the
issues as cultural or moral, i.e. pointing towards God.
They absolutely cannot handle Him, nor even His shadow. Man has
taken God’s place, and nothing and nobody may be put forward as
imposing on man any objective right and wrong. Therefore anyone
attempting to do so will be discredited as a “racist” or “sexist”, or
“fascist” or “anti-semite”, or by some other bigoted label of hatred.
And yet so little do liberals know themselves that they are fanatical
believers in “anti-hate ” legislation !
Horvat’s conclusion is entirely logical, and taken seriously, it could
save America from ruin: “Above all, conservatives must confide in God
to come to their help. Disguised behind the façade of a thousand
skirmishes is an all-out war against God and His order. Those who
champion His cause can expect His assistance.” Archbishop Viganò makes
exactly the same point.
Mother of God, whenever I pray your most holy Rosary, please let me
grasp that I am not “just praying”, but I am doing the very best I can
to assist you in your tremendous battle for the salvation of men and of
their nations, through your divine Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
MEDITATION: Thoughts
by St Theophan (1815-1894)
[Phil. 1:27-2:4; Luke 6:17-23]
The Lord blesses the poor, those
who hunger and weep, and the persecuted under the condition that
it is all for the sake of the Son of Man; this means that He blesses a
life which is surrounded by every kind of need and
deprivation. According to this saying, pleasures, ease,
honour are not something good; this is the way it is indeed.
But while a person rests in these things, he does not realize
this. Only when he frees himself from their spell does he see
that they are not the good, but only phantoms.
A soul cannot do without consolations, but they are not of the
senses; it cannot do without treasures, but they are not in gold
and silver, not in luxurious houses and clothes, not in this
external fullness; it cannot get by without honor, but it lies
not in human servility. There are other pleasures, there is
other ease, other honour — spiritual, akin to the soul. He
who finds them does not want the external ones; not only does he not
want them, but he scorns and hates them because they block off the
spiritual, do not allow one to see it, they keep a soul in
darkness, drunkenness, and phantoms.
This is why such people prefer with all their soul poverty, sorrow
and obscurity, feeling good within them, like behind some safe
fence against the spell of the deceptions of the world. What
about those people who have all these things without trying?
They should relate to all of these things, according to the word of
the holy Apostle, as one who possesses not (cf. 1Cor. 7:30).
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Love of God
29. Love Him with all your strength, think always
of Him, let Him do with you, in you and for you, whatever He wills, and
do not be anxious about anything else.
Links 
E-mail
Dr. Zambrano 
Home
Jubilee
2000: Bringing the World to Jesus
The
Tribulation Times Archives:
FAIR
USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the
use of which
has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We
are making such material available in our efforts to advance
understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this
constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted
material
as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance
with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest
in receiving the included information for research and educational
purposes. For more detailed information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of
your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain
permission from the copyright owner.