The Times They Are A-Changin'

This weekend we will once again test the theory that "you can't turn back the clock."

(Daylight standard time resumes Nov 4, 2012 in most parts of the United States)

King of All Nations

Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him: Art thou the king of the Jews?

Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me?

Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done?

Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence.

Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then?

Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.

Pilate saith to him: What is truth? And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: I find no cause in him. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the pasch: will you, therefore, that I release unto you the king of the Jews?

Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Then therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head; and they put on him a purple garment.

John 18:33 - 19:2

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As election day approaches in the United States, this is a good time to look with clear eyes at the self-serving nature of politicians through the centuries, and to make sure we have not given our allegiance to one who takes truth lightly, or even one who allows the killing of innocents because it is expedient or popular.

When I look at the unreserved support of the Democratic party for the killing of unborn children, at every level from individually commissioned acts of violence, to state and national support, year-in and year-out, for abortion turned into an industry, to the coercion of other nations to accept abortion as a diplomatic objective, I do not believe I can ever again vote for any individual who self-identifies with that bloody-handed party.

Of course, liberal/progressive/left-wing support for abortion is nothing new, but today, in the old Catholic calendar, it is the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a day suitable for looking again at the principles that should guide our society.

Any philosophy that scorns moral principles, any that places absolute power in the hands of government, unfettered by moral restraint, is dangerous and immoral. What else has liberalism been but that? The philosophy of the French terror, the Russian revolution, the cultural revolution in China. National socialism is supposedly at the other end of the political spectrum, but it is a product of the same depraved and violent belief that governments can and should be able to do anything they desire with the people under their dominion.

The power of worldly governments is not absolute. It is always temporary, contingent, and subsidiary. There is only one Who rules forever, and His throne is not in Washington, DC.

...I know the above is not really well argued. Some comments are left unexplained, others need more support, distinctions should be made. But it is the work of a Sunday afternoon as I wait to go to Mass, and now my time is up.

May the Lord of all guide you in the decisions you make, including any votes you may cast. Form your conscience well and act wisely and protect those who need your help. God bless you.

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But Jesus calling them, saith to them: You know that they who seem to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them: and their princes have power over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater, shall be your minister. And whosoever will be first among you, shall be the servant of all. For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.

Mark 10:42-45

Treasures of the Church

I went to a presentation this evening by Fr. Carlos Martins on the subject of relics, many of which he brought with him. The subject makes me somewhat uncomfortable, so I did not bring anyone with me, but Father did a good job with the topic. His talk was well thought out, and presented comfortably. Either of the people I might have brought with me would have found the presentation moving. I'll bet you would too.

If you talk to your pastor and get permission, you can make a request here for the exposition to come to your parish. There is no charge for the visit, but Fr. Carlos does accept donations.

The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away

On Friday I fell into sin. Immediately after, I lost my wallet. I accepted this as just punishment for what I had done (I'm usually not that spiritually mature). On Sunday, I did something kind for someone. Immediately after, I found my wallet.

No one in this world knew about both actions and wallet, but perhaps Someone elsewhere thought I needed stronger guidance than usual. I believe that all the events of our lives can contribute to our sanctification. Usually the connection is subtler than this, though.

As it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord, all-wise, all-loving, all-merciful, all-just, all-holy.

"Don't permit your miseries or defects to depress you. Rather, let them be steps by which you descend into the deep mine where we find the precious gem of holy humility."
St. Paula Frassinetti

(Found this evening in the Saints Discussion Forums)

Redeeming the Time

Brethren, See how you walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury: but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord: giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father; being subject one to another in the fear of Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-21

How may we redeem time?

By employing every moment to gain eternal goods, even should we lose temporal advantages thereby; by letting no opportunity pass without endeavoring to do good, to labor and, suffer for love of God, to improve our lives, and increase in, virtue.

Do you wish to know, says the pious Cornelius á Lapide, how precious time is: Ask the damned, for these know it from experience. Come, rich man, from the abyss of hell, tell us what you would give for one year, one day, one hour of time! I would, he says, give a whole world, all pleasures, all treasures, and bear all torments. O, if only one moment were granted me to have contrition for my sins, to obtain forgiveness of my crimes, I would purchase this moment with every labor, with any penance, with all punishments, torments and tortures which men ever suffered in purgatory or in hell, even if they lasted hundreds, yes, thousands of millions of years! O precious moment upon which all eternity depends! O, how many moments did you, my dear Christian, neglect, in which you could have served God, could have done good for love of Him, and gained eternal happiness by them, and you have lost these precious moments. Remember, with one moment of time, if you employ it well, you can purchase eternal happiness, but with all eternity you cannot purchase one moment of time!

(ASPIRATION) Most bountiful God and Lord! I am heartily sorry, that I have so carelessly employed the time which Thou bast given me for my salvation. In order to supply what I have neglected, as far as I am able, I offer to Thee all that I have done or suffered from the first use of my reason, as if I had really to do and suffer it still; and I offer it in union with all the works and sufferings of our Saviour, and beg fervently, that Thou wilt supply, through His infinite merits, my defects, and be pleased with all my actions and sufferings.

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury!

The Persian King Assuerus expressly forbade that any one should be urged to drink at his great banquet. (Esther 1:8) This heathen who knew from the light of reason, that it is immoral to lead others to intemperance, will one day rise in judgment against those Christians who, enlightened by the light of faith, would not recognize and avoid this vice. Therefore the Prophet Isaias (5:22) pronounces woe to those who are mighty in drinking and know how to intoxicate others; and St. Augustine admonishes us, by no means to consider those as friends, who by their fellowship in drinking would make us enemies of God.

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine (+ 11 August 1719)

St. Francis

...He set out exultingly for Apulia, but never reached the front. At Spoleto he was taken ill again, and as he lay there a heavenly voice seemed to tell him to turn back, "to serve the master rather than the man." Francis obeyed. At first he returned to his old life, but more quietly and with less enjoyment. His preoccupation was noticed, and he was told he was in love. "Yes," he replied, "I am going to take a wife more beautiful and worthy than any you know." He began to give himself much to prayer and to have in his soul a contempt of transitory things, and a desire to sell his goods and buy the precious jewel of the gospel. He knew not yet how he should do this, but by certain strong inspirations our Lord made him understand that the spiritual warfare of Christ is begun by mortification and victory over one's self. Riding one day in the plains of Assisi he met a leper, whose sores were so loathsome that, at the sight of them he was struck with horror. But overcoming himself, he dismounted, and as the leper stretched out his hand to receive an alms, Francis, whilst he bestowed it, kissed the man and embraced him with great tenderness.

Henceforward he often visited the hospitals and served the sick, as if in them he served Christ himself, kissing the hands of the lepers with great affection and humility. He gave to the poor sometimes his clothes and sometimes money. He made a journey to Rome to visit the tombs of the apostles, and finding a multitude of poor before the door of St Peter's, he gave his clothes to one whom he thought to be most in need, and clothing himself with the rags of that poor man he remained all day in the company of those beggars. One day as he was praying in the church of St Damian, outside the walls of Assisi, he seemed to hear a voice coming from the crucifix, which said to him three times, "Francis, go and repair My house, which you see is falling down." The saint, seeing that church was old and ready to fall, thought our Lord commanded him to repair that. He therefore went home, and in the simplicity of his heart took a horseload of cloth out of his father's warehouse and sold it, with the horse, at Foligno...

(From Butler's Lives of the Saints)

Sermon to the Birds

My little sisters, the birds, much bounden are ye unto God, your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere, and hath also given you double and triple rainment; moreover He preserved your seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden to Him for the element of the air which He hath appointed for you; beyond all this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains for your drink; the mountains and valleys for your refuge and the high trees whereon to make your nests; and because ye know not how to spin or sow, God clotheth you, you and your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing that He hath bestowed on you so many benefits; and therefore, my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praises unto God.