Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?

I do.

Today on The View - yes, I watch it - they had a segment on RuPaul's Drag Race, which I have never watched.  There were several drag queens celebrating their craft, identities and Queer Culture.  I'm not a fan - never have been.  I used to go to bars which featured drags, but I never enjoyed the show.  Friends seemed to love it, I just wanted to drink and dance.

I hated the exaggerated portrayal of women and the bawdy entertainment.  It's worse these days as they emulate fashion models, disco-divas and a category of celebrities who are only famous for being famous.  Like the Kardashians - who happen to model a straight form of drag queen.  So-called couturiers - fashion designers, have picked up drag-queen-queer style and mainstreamed it, to some extent.  (That all began with grunge and goth copied from the streets a couple of decades ago.)

The glamour of evil.

I like to revisit club-dance-trance music once in a while online.  I'm a huge fan of Chaka Kahn and discovered a great dance song by her sister Taka Boom, "Must Be the Music".  If I was 20+ years younger, and I came across that song, you couldn't make me stay home.  Watching the video, I noticed the back-up singers, very cool, moving 'discreetly', sort of like acolytes in a temple.  I was fascinated by the crowd and the musicians and the lights, viewing it as a kind of mesmerizing ritual, with the mantra "must be the music" repeated incessantly.  It can be rather seductive.  

A very old impression of this kind of entertainment came to mind for me.  After my conversion, I thought gay bars and disco and gay behavior were reminiscent of ancient cultures which engaged in temple prostitution, sacred prostitution associated with fertility cults.  In our day, there are no longer fertility cults, rather, today it's all about infertility by choice, through contraception and abortion.  Today some activists actually regard abortion in terms of pagan sacrifice for a greater good, similar to  a sacrifice to Astarte, goddess of fertility and sexuality.

The result may perhaps be similar to the way Israel behaved, turning from the Lord to idols and depravity.  Even the Levites defiling themselves, as in Exodus:

Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought communion sacrifices. Then they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel. - Exodus 32:6

Today I read that an group called "Ruth sent us" may be responsible for stealing a tabernacle from a Texas church.  It was found a few days later by a Burger King, intact, the only thing missing was the Blessed Sacrament, all the consecrated hosts.  'Ruth sent us' activists made a statement last week saying they intend to burn the Blessed Sacrament - the Eucharist - in protest for the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade.  Which reminded me of the Exodus passage, 'the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought communion offerings... and rose up to revel'.  

Must be the music.

UPDATE: Stolen Tabernacle Found with only Consecrated Hosts Missing

I should write something.

 It's been a longtime that I have written anything here.  I spend too much time on FB only writing little snippets that I usually remove - inappropriate humor, something too revealing, or a political comment people wouldn't like or understand, and so on.  My humor no longer fits in with world events.  I'm preoccupied with the war in Ukraine and that is pretty much the focus of my prayer and spiritual exercises.

The leak concerning Roe v. Wade has overtaken MSM and a lot of social media.  I'm so sick of partisan fear mongering.  No surprise how well the dissimulation by the Trump appointees worked out to reverse Roe.  It hasn't happened yet, but it will.  Didn't people know that?  Isn't that why women wanted the ERA?  Now they will attempt to codify women's reproductive rights.  When it discussed in those terms, as well as the 'right to privacy' concerns for a woman and her doctor to decide, it's a somewhat compelling and reasonable concept.  Until you know and understand what abortion is and does to unborn children.  It's mutilation and murder.

The business of mutilation extends beyond birth of course.  It's big business - one can reconstruct one's body to look like an animal or an extraterrestrial, to change one's gender, to become more beautiful and so on.  It can be used for good and it often is - but there is a dark side.

I used to read a blog by a former Dominican priest who often said, "Women only have the rights men allot them."  

On the other hand, women like Hillary Clinton want to change that.

“There is one lesson from the past, in particular, that we cannot afford to ignore: You cannot make progress on gender equality or broader human development, without safeguarding women’s reproductive health and rights,” Clinton said near the end of a speech marking International Women's Day. “That is a bedrock truth.” - Hilary Clinton, CNN

“Far too many women are denied access to reproductive health care and safe childbirth, and laws don’t count for much if they’re not enforced. Rights have to exist in practice — not just on paper,” Clinton said.

“Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will,” she explained. “And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed. As I have said and as I believe, the advancement of the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of their societies is the great unfinished business of the 21st century and not just for women but for everyone — and not just in far away countries but right here in the United States.” - Hilary Clinton, The DC

 I think the Dominican was right, to some degree.  After all, it was an all male Supreme Court which ruled in Roe v. Wade.  

Khrystos Voskres!

 

Voistynu Voskres!

“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged.

“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,″ Francis said. ”May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.

“‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?’” - Urbi et Orbi, Francis

Who knows the pity and sorrow of the Mother of God, our sorrowful intercessor!

Putin's Patriarch Cyril celebrated this past Sunday in the Russian Military Cathedral,

infamous for its "steam-punk" design, and pro-war Soviet symbolism.

"Mothers wail:

- We do not cry for ourselves, but only that our sons be spared.

Fathers mourn:

- recalling past hopes, no longer believing their sons will return.

Wives tear their hair:

- in anguish for their husbands.

In Alexandria and in Syria the same words of prayer rise to heaven,

- prayers for mercy and prayers for victory.

But heaven remained unmoved." - Aleksey Remizov

We cannot be indifferent.

 The bodies of village mayor Olga Sukhenko, her husband and son and that of a man believed to be a Ukrainian serviceman, who was not yet identified, lie in pit in the village of Motyzhyn, Ukraine, Sunday, April 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A lifeless body of a man with his hands tied behind his back lies on the ground in Bucha, Ukraine, Sunday, April 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

The last frame filler.

Winter 2021-2022.

Probably my 5th Benedict Joseph Labre painting, the 2nd after Antonio Cavallucci.

Now I will work on more free-style works.  I also need to send a lot of stuff to auction.  My dreams about packing and boarding my flight suggest time is running out.

It is accomplished.

Ave Maria!

In thanksgiving for the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine, the Church and humanity, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The hope of nations be accomplished beyond all telling.

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all... - Titus 2:11

Today is the long awaited Consecration.  What a wonderful prayer of Consecration from the Holy Father.  For me, everything speaks of the mystery of grace today, from the Mother of Divine Grace.  Every reading, every psalm, and of course every prayer at Mass.  From today's preface:

For the Virgin Mary heard with faith

that the Christ was to be born among men and for men's sake

by the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit.

Lovingly she bore him in her immaculate womb,

that the promises to the children of Israel might come about

and the hope of nations be accomplished beyond all telling.

Through him the host of Angels adores your majesty

and rejoices in your presence for ever.

May our voices, we pray, join with theirs

in one chorus of exultant praise, as we acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts… - Preface of the Mystery of the Incarnation

Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.

O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside. - Consecration

So. What do the opponents of Pope Francis think and say about the Consecration?

 

Are they rallying around the Pope?

Where are the Cardinal critics of the Pope, who had been calling for a new consecration, on this?  Are they uniting with the Pope?  I'm told many traditionalist-Fatimists will not participate - I have no way of verifying that.  As Sr. Lucia once said regarding the secret and the 1984 Consecration, "Some people are never satisfied."

How about Fr. Z?  Is he united with the Pope?  Will he support the Holy Father?  Will he join in the Consecration?  Hard to say.  I came across the following comment on a post he did.

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf says:

23 March 2022 at 8:23 AM

BUT WAIT… there’s more.

Did you notice that care of the Earth is included in the consecration? It isn’t heavy-handed, but it is there.

Also, this following comes from Ann Barnhardt, who does not even in the slightest believe that Francis is the real Pope nor that this consecration is other than something masonic … or worse. What’s worse? Here:

Now, an interesting tidbit that I was alerted to by a Spanish-speaking reader. In the Spanish, Italian and Portuguese versions of the faux-consecration text released by the Antichurch, the title “Queen of Heaven” (intact in the English version), is perverted to Queen of “tierra del Cielo” in Spanish, “terra du Céu” in Portuguese, and “terra del Cielo” in Italian. Never before have these languages used this bizarre form with the word “tierra/terra” when referring to Mary as Queen of Heaven.

What “Regina della terra del Cielo” literally means is “Queen of the land in the sky”… AND GUESS WHO GOES BY THAT TITLE??? Yup. The Pachamama demon. The “land in the sky” is one of the Pachademon’s “domains”, and “Reina del tierra del cielo” is a Pachamama title. It is “wenu mapu” in the Mapuche language and religion.

Agree or disagree with Ann about Francis, THAT is pretty disturbing.

I’ve never heard Mary referred to as Queen “of the Land of Heaven”.

This Pachamama demon thing never seems to go away.

And… I’d like to know… where is that damned black bowl NOW? - Fr. Z

The critical spirit.

From now on I want to avoid the critical spirit regarding those who oppose and resist anything and everything the Holy Father says and does.  Today's reading at Mass seems to speak to all of us, especially as a precaution against hardening our hearts and resisting the Holy Spirit.  The following stood out for me this morning:

Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech. - Jer 7

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah
as in the day of Massah in the desert

Where your fathers tempted me... - Ps 95

 

Whoever is not with me is against me

and whoever does not gather with me scatters. - Lk 11:23

Leave them to Heaven, I abjure the critical spirit and return to the Lord with my whole heart, for he is gracious and merciful.

 

RT @Pontifex: Let's prepare to live through a day of prayer in the solemnization of the Annunciation, asking that the Mother of God may encourage the hearts of those oppressed by the cruelty of war. May the act of dedication to Her Immaculate Heart bring #peace to the world.

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it)

March 24, 2022

The Final Consecration

Now that the Consecration will be accomplished in a new circumstance, which actually corresponds exactly with the original request of Our Lady to Sr. Lucia, while affirming the efficacy of the 1984 Consecration by St. John Paul II, the arguments and disputations on Fatima ought to cease.

Apologists for Fatima, along with their conspiracists regarding the secrets and the consecration, will find themselves out of a job.  Spreading misinformation and fear, as well as distrust in the Magisterium and Papacy should cease.  Historians can do their job, the Church can guide and define devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, including the devotion of the First Saturdays, but the oddball Fatimists should eventually realize their work is over. 

 How many have been deceived over the decades? 

Even people like Cardinal Burke and the notorious Archbishop Vigano, not forgetting the late Fr. Gruner and associates, along with other Fatima apostolates, based much of their claims upon conjecture and speculation regarding the Secrets and so-called botched Consecrations.  For instance Cardinal Burke, at one time more or less claimed his argument for a new 'faithful' consecration in accord with Our Lady's exact request, insisted the Fatima message was focused upon an apostasy in the Church.  His conclusions were pretty much based upon the scholarship of Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, now a Carthusian.  Much of Frere Michel's work and conclusions were published and circulated before the Consecration of 1984 and long before the public release of the Third Secret of Fatima.  In Fact Fr. Gruner's cult disputed everything officially revealed on Fatima blaming apostates within the Church.  They even promoted the fantastical theory that Sr. Lucia was replaced by a double who had been obliged to say what the Vatican ordered her to say.  Over the decades these people have inadvertently and sometimes deliberately contributed to the malformation of a poisonous sect or cult within the Fatima apostolate.  Sadly, even the legitimate and approved Fatima apostolates are frequently affected, followers often riddled with suspicion and uncertainty due to an obsessive/compulsive religiosity based upon misinformation and apocalyptic angst.

I hope they all go out of business, their fear mongering discredited, their funding dried up, allowing a period of peace so that devout persons may return to a well integrated Catholic faith and praxis.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

I said in another post I welcome the Consecration.

I also said I hoped that a strong catechesis would accompany it.  That too has been accomplished.  A prayerful reading of the Holy Father's letter to the Bishops, along with the full text of the prayer of Consecration is in effect a strong, prophetic catechesis.  The text of the Consecration is a moving prayer, not unlike the great prayers of the Old Testament.  I recall the prayer of Ezra, Daniel, Esther, Solomon, Judith and so on.  The Consecration is complete and total.  I think it is magnificent.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns. We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons. We stopped being our neighbour’s keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!

Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life. He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity. By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love.

We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times. In you we place our trust. We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.

That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus and he worked the first of his signs. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to him: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help!

Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer.

Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.

Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation.

Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world.

Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness.

Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.

Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love.

Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity.

Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.

O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside.

Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (Jn 19:26). In this way he entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, he said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history. At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ. The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty.

Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine. Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.

Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days. Our Lady of the “Fiat”, on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God. May you, our “living fountain of hope”, water the dryness of our hearts. In your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion. You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen.

[00434-EN.01] [Original text: Italian]

I have nothing to say.

Story here.

In a good way.

The holy Father acquiesced to the Ukraine Bishops request to consecrate Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and I am very happy.  Already it seems the Russian onslaught has stalled - perhaps that will change - but the same Bishops invite us to join in a novena in preparation for the consecration.  The Vatican has affirmed the validity of St. John Paul's consecration in 1984, so this consecration is an extraordinary grace.  I have such peace.

Many people who follow apparitions and private revelations are all a buzz - calculating timelines and comparing/linking all the predictions and prophecies - just as they have always done.  Others, victims of conspiracy theories and falsehoods about Fatima and the Holy Father, are parroting their same old claims and objections against it.  I have nothing to say on all of that.  It doesn't matter - since the bishops have spoken and the Holy Father has responded positively, already doing all he can in his efforts for peace.

Peace, great peace and joy.