Something must have happened ...

Truth has dwindled from the sons of men, falsehood they speak one to another, with lying lips, with a false heart.

Something for our times - a letter Franz Jägerstätter wrote from prison:

“As long as we live in this world, I believe it is never too late to save ourselves and perhaps some other soul for Christ. 

One really has no cause to be astonished that there are those who can no longer find their way in the great confusion of our day. People we think we can trust, who ought to be leading the way and setting a good example, are running along with the crowd. No one gives enlightenment, whether in word or in writing. Or, to be more exact, it may not be given. And the thoughtless race goes on, always closer to eternity. As long as conditions are still half good, we don’t see things quite right, or that we could or should do otherwise…. 

“If the road signs were stuck ever so loosely in the earth that every wind could break them off or blow them about, would anyone who did not know the road be able to find his way? And how much worse is it if those to whom one turns for information refuse to give him an answer or, at most, give him the wrong direction just to be rid of him as quickly as possible?”  - Franz Jägerstätter: Letters and Writings from Prison

I'm so happy we have Bl. Franz as an example of conscience.  Jägerstätter was the only one in his village to vote against Anschluss. His Catholic neighbors did not support his objection to the war. Neither did his spiritual advisers support him. He stood alone.

Remember - we are not alone - even if friends, family, church people and pastors abandon us - we have the communion of the saints and our Lord Jesus Christ. Trust.

Prayer of St. Claude de la Colombière ...

My God, I’m so persuaded that You watch over all who hope in You and nothing can be lacking to those who await from You all things, that I have determined to live from now on without any concern, letting go and giving You all of my anxieties. I will sleep and rest in peace because You, O Lord, and only You, have secured my hope.

Men can deprive me of possessions and reputation; illnesses can take away my strength and means to serve You; I myself can lose Your grace because of sin; but I will not lose my hope; I will conserve it until the last instant of my life and all the efforts from demons trying to take it away from me will be useless. I will sleep and rest in peace.

Others may expect happiness in their riches and talents; some may lean on the innocence of their lives, or the rigor of their penitence, or above all on the amount of their good works, or the fervor of their prayers. As for myself Lord, all my confidence is my confidence itself. Because You Lord, only You have secured my hope.

No one has been deceived by this confidence. No one who has waited in the Lord has been frustrated in their confidence.

Therefore, I am sure that I will be eternally happy because I firmly hope to be; and because You, Oh, My God, are in Whom I expect all. In You I hope Lord, and never will I be confused.

I know very well . . . too well that I am fragile and inconstant, I know well the power of temptations against the most firm virtue; I have seen thestars fall from heaven and columns from the firmament; but none of this can frighten me. As long as I maintain firm my hope, I will be conserved from all calamities; and I am sure to hope always, because I hope the same in this unchanging hope.

In conclusion, I am sure that I cannot hope in excess in You and that I will receive all that I would have hoped for in You. Therefore, I know You will sustain me on the most rapid and slippery slopes, that You will strengthen me against the assaults and make my weakness triumph over the most tremendous enemies.

I hope You will always love me and I will love you without interruption; to take once and for all my hope as far as it can reach. I hope in You and only in You! Oh, My Creator! In time and for all eternity.
Amen.


Let them...

Others may expect happiness in their riches and talents; some may lean on the innocence of their lives, or the rigor of their penitence, or above all on the amount of their good works, or the fervor of their prayers.

... let them.

This is interesting: What mental health experts have to say about Donald Trump ...

It may be just a theory - but it makes sense.

Sam Vaknin, a mental health expert and author, has studied over 600 hours of Donald Trump footage and made the harsh conclusion that Donald Trump is not simply a classic narcissist — he is, in fact, a “malignant and, probably, psychopathic narcissist.”

Vaknin says, the diagnosis for Trump is rather easy, although he does qualify that with the fact that no mental health professional can make a true diagnosis without lengthy testing and engaged dialogue with the person being diagnosed. But based on 600 hours of observation, Vaknin feels confident that Trump is a disturbed person.

“To my mind, Trump is the most perfect example I have ever come across of a malignant and, probably, psychopathic narcissist. Of course, he cannot be fully and assuredly diagnosed this way. Only a qualified mental health diagnostician can determine whether someone suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and this, following lengthy tests and personal interviews. But the overwhelming preponderance of presenting symptoms and visual and textual evidence for tentative profiling is definitely there.”

To see what other mental health experts have to say about Donald Trump, click here. - Source

Works for me.

Another aspect I thought was fascinating was this observation:

One of many mannerisms of Trump that concerned Vaknin is his unwillingness to tell the truth which may, in fact, be less of an unwillingness to do so and more of an inability.

Yet people actually believe him to be the 'last hope' for appointing a pro-life judge to the Supreme Court.

+ + +

Gotta run ... stuff to do.

Tea With Trump

Oops!  I meant, Tea With Mussolini.  A timely film if there ever was one.

As Mussolini came to power, Lady Hester, the leader of a small group of elderly British women known as the Scorpioni, assures her ladies that Mussolini will ensure their safety during the political turmoil which embroiled Italy at the time.  So confident was she in IL Duce's protection, she headed off to Rome to have tea with him, a photo op, and to guarantee his promise there would be nothing to worry about under his regime.

It was such a good film.

Speaking of Trump, did you know Reagan and Trump had a lot in common? Both had notable heads of hair.  Isn't that something!  I came across that bit of trivia online.  I think it proves that he couldn't be like Mussolini because Il Duce was bald.  Duce bag was so loved, they used to chant 'Duce! Duce! Duce!' at all the rallies.  Just like Trump's supporters: 'Trump! Trump! Trump!'  Violence included.

BTW: I just came across the following analysis of Mr. Trump's personality:

Donald Trump is not simply a classic narcissist — he is, in fact, a “malignant and, probably, psychopathic narcissist.”  - Source

It seems pretty obvious to me.

Meanwhile, on Fr. Z's return flight from ...

From the "My View for Awhile" archives.

-source-

The Boston Globe dropped Crux

But John Allen intends to keep it going.

I rarely checked the site, but I like John Allen.  I think the Globe dropped it due to lack of interest - or numbers.  It didn't do well.  And that is the way it goes with religious news in today's environment.

Religious news sites, like Catholic blogs, seem to do very little to attract people searching for God.  An exception would be sites such as Word On Fire and those dedicated to real evangelization, but news and gossip sites, which promote division, generally seem to repel those seeking 'theosis' as it were, and everyone else who already think religious people are crackpots anyway.

As an example, if you need one, check out the latest feud between Longenecker and The Remnant.

When you ask ordinary people if they have ever heard of this or that name from the blogosterium, they invariably say no.

It seems sort of crazy, huh.

Mic'd Up and Worked Up.

(This photo was titled "Gary" when I found it on Google.)

I watched another episode of Mic'd Up last night because Raymond Arroyo was talking to some guy in a wig about his new kid's book or something.  (I smell a movie deal.)   Religious TV can be so weird.

So anyway, Michael Voris is much better on Mic'd Up than he is on The Vortex - although last night he was slightly worked up - but he wasn't near Howard Beale level.  He had George Neumayr on and they were definitely doing heavy lifting on the Cardinal Wuerl story.  That lavish lifestyle and light in the loafers persona certainly got a lot of exposure.  Is it detraction?  Is it defamation?

I don't know.  Earlier in the show Dolan got his.  CM actually documented with video of the Cardinal's interview, and the parishioners - if you don't know the story, I'm not repeating it - but Church Militant has all the sordid details on their site here.  It makes you wonder what is really going on.  Why the Archdiocese doesn't connect with Church Militant and settle these reports.  Will a major news outlet pick up the story?  It's slightly unsettling, reminiscent of Renaissance corruption and extravagances involving bishops and priests and paramours.

Of all the people who need to be concerned about their soul, I suspect Michael needs to be.  Exposing lies and falsehoods is a dark art.  That said, we all need to be.  Concerned, that is.  For our own soul, that is.

In the case of people like Voris, Neumayr, and even Remnant reporters and editors, you cannot esteem one person without despising another - even though you say you despise the sin but love the sinner.  Likewise, making accusations really needs to be 'tried' and proved or disproved.  That is why there are courts - civil and ecclesiastic.  We can expose one another's nakedness - but there is a price to pay for that.  Neumayr brought up Randy Engel's book, remarking she had never been sued for her allegations against Donald Wuerl.   If the accusations are even true - or not - this is how calumny and detraction is perpetuated - the fact the author's claims were never disputed is not proof they are true.

I was reading some of the old lady blogs and their comments on the developing NYC Archdiocesan homo-priest scandal, and these folks, along with their commentators dig up more dirt and fling it through cyberspace as if they are somehow supporting the troops.  At one site someone posted a series of quotes from SSPX Archbishop Lefebvre claiming the Vatican is in apostasy and so on.  These reports incite others, who repeat rumors and alleged statements, sometimes attributed to private revelations and mystics, sowing greater confusion and error than the original reports.  The door is thereby opened to rash judgement, detraction, acrimony, defamation, and all sorts of evil.  It foments dissent and erodes trust.

I can't see how a 'good spirit' is guiding these conversations.

The so-called Lavender Mafia and its member would probably surprise devout Catholics who get worked up over this attempt at perpetual exposé.  Among the clergy in NY, no doubt there are faithful priests who may have homosexual inclination, who remain friends with fellow priests who disagree with Catholic teaching.  There are good 'gays' and dissenting gays... good guys and bad guys - working side by side.  Some get to be pastors and bishops, some slip up, some change, some go off the rails.  Some say they are SSA.  Some say they are gay.  Some don't say anything.  Many have friends in high places who also know the score.  Some have enemies in high places too.  They know one another.  They always have.

Just saying.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus who inspires and perfects our faith.

Don't forget: Priest and prophet forage in a land they know not.

Don't look too closely because the devil will show you their faults.

Let the dead bury their dead.

And.

Remember Lot's wife.

. . .

BTW - I still think Voris is a decent guy, I like to think of him as a similar type to "Lot, a righteous man oppressed by the licentious conduct of unprincipled people (for day after day that righteous man living among them was tormented in his righteous soul at the lawless deeds that he saw and heard)..." - 2 Peter 2:7-8.  Seriously.

He's a mighty decent guy, I must say.

My room is totally 

lined with his photos.

What?

Go to Joseph

Joseph was a righteous man, 

yet unwilling to expose Our Lady to shame ....

Go to Joseph.

With confidence.

He changes everything.  He really does.

Go to him.

I mean, really go to him.

Nothing is impossible - he will fix it.  He fixes stuff.

If Our Lady unties knots - know for sure St. Joseph fixes things.

You can't be lost if you entrust yourself to him.

He was a simple man.

A good man.

A righteous man.

But not self-righteous.

He was full of charity.

He did not judge.

He fixed things.



His novena starts today.

How to pray a novena?

Go to Joseph - even if just in your heart - and tell him about it ...

Don't try to impress him or do a lot of stuff you think will oblige him to hear you -

He's not like that.

Go to him as you are.

Tell him about it.

This just in: The Archdiocese of NY is a cesspool of iniquity!

So last year's news:  Rod Dreher.

What?

We must alert the seminarians.

The Queen Of England Enrages Homosexuals ...

According to who is reporting the story, that is  ...

So anyway a friend of a friend of the Queen 'reportedly' told someone the Queen 'privately' "opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage in England because of her deeply held Christian values,"

I added 'privately' opposed it because whatever her thoughts on it - it became law.  Likewise, as Head of the Church of England, one would expect Her Majesty to be opposed to it.  Protected by law, the Church of England is not obliged to perform same-sex marriages, and other religions organizations are free to refuse to perform same sex marriages as well.

"Those in civil partnerships can choose to convert their relationships to marriage, via a procedure expected to be in place by the end of the year, but are under no obligation to do so," reported the BBC.

"The law prohibits the Church of England from performing same-sex weddings, and allows other religious organisations to refuse to perform them."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/queen-elizabeth-christian-faith-opposition-gay-same-sex-marriage-158997/#L5zHIoF8YSwwU5AE.99

(The original story says nothing about homosexual outrage.  Read it here.)

I really like this.

-source-

Dressing down.

Fr. Scanlon said something in a Skype interview about the Holy Father, demonstrating by his example how simple a priest, a bishop should be - how to live.  Think of it - he lives in a geusthouse - a pilgrim, a stranger.  Fr. Scanlon is a holy Capuchin.  A confessor.  I was so pleased to hear him say that.

When people like Pope Francis, or Fr. Scanlon, or especially like the young priests known as the Companions of Christ in my Archdiocese speak, and make you want to be a better man ... when they inflame your heart with compunction and love - that is grace.  That is how the so-called 'new' evangelization works.  It has always worked that way.  Authentic followers of Christ.

It's not about private revelations and messages and apparitions and scary stories - we have those - but we have a greater than those - our priests.  When was the last time we had a simple priest for a pope?  An ordinary man?  Who did Jesus call?  Scholars?  Saints?  No.  Ordinary men.  Peter was a fisherman who said to Our Lord - 'leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man!'

Rejoice!

I'm offline a bit, chauffeuring a friend to surgery and post-operative care, etc..

I spend a lot of time in the waiting room, like Puddy.

The prayer of recollection.

I knew it!

Homosexual Ring in NY Archdiocese Reaches Highest Levels ...

When I think of all the Catholic blogs online ...

And this is how that works. The Archdiocese of Denver advises prudence and caution as regards Charlie Johnston's messages.

Charlie Johnston

And Charlie Johnston cooperated with the archdiocesan inquiry.

Prudence and caution.

Works for me.

Glenn Dallaire has posted details on his site Mystics of the Church.

The commission did not offer any determination on the supernatural origins of Johnston's messages, but simply advised prudence and caution - as well as advised that Johnston would not be approved as a speaker in the Archdiocese.  

Raison d'etre:

After reviewing the commission’s findings and in keeping with his pastoral office, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver has decided to strongly advise the faithful to exercise prudence and caution in regards to Mr. Charlie Johnston’s alleged divine visions and messages. As has been demonstrated with other alleged apparitions, the danger exists of people placing greater faith in a prediction than in Christ’s words and promises.

For these reasons, Mr. Johnston will also not be approved as a speaker in the Archdiocese of Denver.

For those who are disappointed by this finding, the archdiocese encourages them to seek their security in Jesus Christ, the sacraments, and the Scriptures. The faithful should also remember Christ’s words: “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mt. 24:36). - Statement

No doubt Charlie Johnston is a good man, devout Catholic, prayerful and faithful - highly intelligent and practical, filled with common sense as evidenced by his writings.  As far as I can determine, he always submits himself to the discernment of his spiritual directors and above all, to the judgement of the Church.  I think this is why much of his advice is so convincing.  The Archbishop simply recommends prudence and caution.  Nothing wrong with that.

(Read John of the Cross on locutions and you will understand.)

And this is how that works.

h/t P

Everything is so weird - the real weirdness gets missed...

Denver Airport Mural

“this indifference of globalization.”

It occurred to me today when I checked out Drudge.

A great big photo of a younger Trump with the headline Trump Shakes World Order, linking to a legitimate, albeit unusual story on Foreign diplomats voicing alarm to US officials about Trump.  It's unusual because foreign diplomats and leaders of other countries rarely get involved in US politics at this stage.

U.S. officials said it was highly unusual for foreign diplomats to express concern, even privately, about candidates in the midst of a presidential campaign. U.S. allies in particular usually don't want to be seen as meddling in domestic politics, mindful that they will have to work with whoever wins.

Senior leaders in several countries -- including Britain, Mexico, France, and Canada -- have already made public comments criticizing Trump's positions. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel branded him a threat to peace and prosperity in an interview published on Sunday. - Reuters

A threat to peace ... and prosperity.

Prosperity too?  That seems to get people's attention.  Mystic's attention.

People have traditionally turned to mystics and seers - oracles to discern the truth - or sooth, as in soothsayers.   They still do.

Sometimes the prophets sound a lot like the politicians and financial experts, not to mention Drudge headlines: WARNING OVER 'GATHERING STORM' WEIGHS ON GLOBAL MARKETS...

Gathering Storm.  Sounds like prophecy.

Then Cait Jenner says Hillary Clinton doesn't care about women, and Cait knows because ...

People are really screwed up.

Just a thought.


Bonus: Ivana Trump told her attorney that Trump liked to read Hitler's speeches.

NB: We can know chastisements and corrections are coming on our own, as John of the Cross makes clear:

"And likewise supernatural events and happenings may be known, in
their causes, in matters concerning Divine Providence, which deals most
justly and surely as is required by their good or evil causes as
regards the sons of men. For one may know by natural means that such or
such a person, or such or such a city, or some other place, is in such
or such necessity, or has reached such or such a point, so that God,
according to His providence and justice, must deal with such a person
or thing in the way required by its cause, and in the way that is
fitting for it, whether by means of punishment or of reward, as the
cause merits. And then one can say: At such a time God will give you
this, or will do this, or that will come to pass, of a surety.'" - Ascent of Mt. Carmel

Okay then.

So, I'm painting a small retablo of St. Joseph.

San Jose

Just some thoughts ...

I wish I could paint as simply as the santeros in New Mexico - their simple compositions are lovely.  I was going to do a simple New Mexican style retablo, then I added layers of paint detail and complicated it.  I'm not an artist or a santero - but I love the piece anyway, because it is San Jose, my dad.

Never try to figure him out - St. Joseph - let him near you - or you go to him and don't think about what his hidden life was like - just draw near him, and he will teach you silently, albeit obscurely.

I was thinking if I charged just for my time spent on the materials, prep-work, and painting - my art would be very expensive.  I think I'm going on 16 hours for this piece.

I don't care though.  Never did.  I'm content with a sufficiency. (1 Timothy 6:6)

Painting St. Joseph, no matter how badly it turns out, is a way for me to get close to him.

His feast day is coming up soon.

S. Felipe de Jesus

Nancy Reagan RIP

1921-2016

An amazing woman and devoted wife, as well as one of the chicest First Ladies ever.

Prayers for the repose of her soul.