Ratiocination and the Inexplicable

An open letter to the frustrated homeschooler

2009-12-19T01:07:00.002-06:00

'Tis the season for nervous breakdowns, especially for homeschoolers who have gotten derailed from their September bliss...a very dear friend of mine has been struggling mightily lately, and wrote for advice.

It took me a while to know what to say to her, because I scarcely feel qualified, being much less successful in any of these areas than I ought to be, but at the same time, I was compelled to offer what I could. I'd like to share with you my response:

Dear N,

I apologize that I have not responded to you sooner. After receiving your telephone message last Thursday, I could sense the growing frustration and even desperation in your voice and I knew you needed comfort and support, and I was not in proper condition to give it. I myself have been very drained, and my own frustrations with my children have left me feeling not far different from you…I felt I did not have any answers to share, only commiseration, which is not entirely helpful.

I have been thinking and praying about it a great deal, though, and I so deeply feel your pain and frustration. My children have also been running wild and leaving me feeling utterly powerless to do anything about it. I feel like lately not a day has gone by that I haven’t ended up screaming at them—and of course, regretting it.

And then this morning, when I was saying Lauds, I came across one of my favorite passages, from 2 Corinthians 12:

“For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.”

I feel like this all the time. And I always fail to remember to rejoice in my weakness, so that God can do the work. Which, of course, reminded me of my other favorite quote, from 1 Thessalonians 5:

“Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.”

One of the things that helps center me when I feel like I am thrashing wildly against the world is to re-read the book “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom. Her example of holiness in the face of pure evil is so inspiring to me. This quote was very powerful in her life, as she learned to give thanks even for the fleas in her barracks. If you’ve never read it, I can’t recommend it strongly enough, and I have an extra copy you can borrow.

But either way, remember this from Hebrews 12:

“For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds….My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.

For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons... Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.”

When you are feeling beaten down, know that it is because you are fighting that same uphill battle that every Christian who would remain faithful must fight. It is the most important and the most difficult struggle there is. But we are not helpless, even though it often seems like it. Think of the despair the apostles felt when they put Jesus to death. They didn’t understand how necessary it was that Jesus die in order to save us. Likewise, we must undergo all sorts of chastisement so that we can die to ourselves and let Christ’s will work through us:

“Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation: Casting all your care upon him, for he hath care of you.” (1 Peter 5)

As far as the kids and school go, really, your greatest priority with them is to lead them in God’s ways, and the rest is secondary in importance. Being great scholars will not bring them closer to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the strife of what is happening now most assuredly will only bring them further away from it. I think you would be wise to step back and take a little time to rest, refocus and try again when the time is right.

I also think that it is impossible to have firmness in some areas of their lives, if the firmness in other areas is not consistent. Please do not take this as a judgement, but only loving advice from someone who has the same problem and is always trying to correct it. :)

I would recommend to you that if you want to make it clear to them that you expect obedience and perseverance in their school work, they need to experience the same expectations in all areas of their lives. They need firm guidance, boundaries and responsibilities. Talk with them about your responsibilities to them (which come from God) and their responsibilities to you (which are extensions of the same). Examine carefully all of the aspects of their discipline in following you, and find the weakest points, and work on those. Once you do, I think the other areas will improve as well.

Honestly, I would totally put schooling on hold while you deal with these issues, partially so that you don’t stress yourself out, and partially because these issues are the foundation on which Peace in your home will be built. Allow yourself the time to do what needs to be done for the sake of this peace. Make those things which stand in the way of their submission to God’s will (through you) be enemy #1, whether that means unplugging the TV, keeping all food in the house under lock and key, removing toys, you name it. If it is a stumbling block, it must be removed.

And lastly, but not least, I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of constant prayer. It is sometimes hard to find the right time and the right words, and that is the great beauty of the Divine Office, also called the Liturgy of the Hours. Not only does it place the beauty of prayer and contemplation in your hands, it carries an even greater benefit: you are praying in concert with the entire Church when you recite the office.

It may seem absurd, when you are already weighted down by everything else that must be done, to think of adding one more responsibility into your busy schedule. I never believed I could manage to make time. But as soon as I started trying it, I found it to be such an immense comfort and joy, that by now, no matter how busy I am, no matter how late I've stayed up, it's unthinkable for me to fall into bed without saying Vespers and Compline. (Yes, I prefer to say them together in preparation for bed...) Honestly, the benefits, while seeming invisible, are immense, and they bring great peace and strength.

It goes without saying that the daily Rosary is very powerful and important too. There is, however, a subtle difference between the Rosary, where the prayers are, to a great extent, supplications, and the Divine Office, which is centered around the Psalms, and tends to focus a little more strongly on praise. I feel at peace, humbled, and joyful when I recite these prayers, knowing that I am taking my place as a dutiful child, ready to rejoice in submitting to His will.

May God bless you in your endeavors, so that they may bear good fruit. Your family will be in our prayers.

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The Walrus and the Carpenter

2009-05-18T23:03:00.007-05:00

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

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More on the Notre Dame Scandal...

2009-05-13T20:49:00.004-05:00

Though I try not to get caught up in scandals, the issue with Notre Dame is close to my heart. As a graduate, I know the prevailing atmosphere there, and it has deteriorated since my time. When we talk about sending our children there, I cringe. I don't want them in the same environment that helped convince me to leave the church. For this reason, I feel it necessary to speak out on this issue, as it is for me a microcosm of what has been happening at Notre Dame for the past generation or two.

Today, Notre Dame forwarded to me a letter that was sent to all the Notre Dame graduates. Here is an excerpt:

The decision to invite President Obama to Notre Dame to receive an honorary degree and deliver the Commencement address has triggered debate. In many cases, the debate has grown heated, even between people who agree completely on Church teaching regarding the sanctity of human life, who agree completely that we should work for change – and differ only on how we should work for change.
Yet, there has been an extra dimension to your debate. You have discussed this issue with each other while being observed, interviewed, and evaluated by people who are interested in this story. You engaged each other with passion, intelligence and respect. And I saw no sign that your differences led to division. You inspire me. We need the wider society to be more like you; it is good that we are sending you into that world on Sunday.
I am saddened that many friends of Notre Dame have suggested that our invitation to President Obama indicates ambiguity in our position on matters of Catholic teaching. The University and I are unequivocally committed to the sanctity of human life and to its protection from conception to natural death.
Notre Dame has a long custom of conferring honorary degrees on the President of the United States. It has never been a political statement or an endorsement of policy. It is the University’s expression of respect for the leader of the nation and the Office of the President. In the Catholic tradition, our first allegiance is to God in Christ, yet we are called to respect, participate in, and contribute to the wider society. As St. Peter wrote (I Pt. 2:17), we should honor the leader who upholds the secular order.
At the same time, and born of the same duty, a Catholic university has a special obligation not just to honor the leader but to engage the culture. Carrying out this role of the Catholic university has never been easy or without controversy. When I was an undergraduate at Notre Dame, Fr. Hesburgh spoke of the Catholic university as being both a lighthouse and a crossroads. As a lighthouse, we strive to stand apart and be different, illuminating issues with the moral and spiritual wisdom of the Catholic tradition. Yet, we must also be a crossroads through which pass people of many different perspectives, backgrounds, faiths, and cultures. At this crossroads, we must be a place where people of good will are received with charity, are able to speak, be heard, and engage in responsible and reasoned dialogue.
The President’s visit to Notre Dame can help lead to broader engagement on issues of importance to the country and of deep significance to Catholics. Ultimately, I hope that the conversations and the good will that come from this day will contribute to closer relations between Catholics and public officials who make decisions on matters of human life and human dignity.
There is much to admire and celebrate in the life and work of President Obama. His views and policies on immigration, expanding health care, alleviating poverty, and building peace through diplomacy have a deep resonance with Catholic social teaching. As the first African-American holder of this office, he has accelerated our country’s progress in overcoming the painful legacy of slavery and segregation. He is a remarkable figure in American history, and I look forward to welcoming him to Notre Dame.

My response to this is predictable, as you know how I love to pick apart poor logic. I wrote the office of the president at Notre Dame the following:

Dear Father Jenkins,

I received a copy of the letter you have sent to the graduating class regarding the controversy surrounding President Obama's speech. I think that your comments would make sense if you were merely inviting him to speak--but that is not the most serious issue here. An argument based solely on the long-standing custom of conferring honorary degrees on presidents holds little water. Such an excuse could have easily been used by a German Catholic university to confer such an honor on Chancellor Hitler in 1938, and would have been a grave error then, just as it is now. To confer an honorary degree is not merely an honor; it is in essence an act of wrapping its recipient in Our Lady's blue mantle, with all that may entail. No one would suggest, in hindsight, that it would have been wise to confer an honor of this sort on a man such as Hitler became.

Nor did he ever make a secret of his aims. Our current President has likewise made his aims clear, and to embrace him in this way shows more than just poor judgment; despite all protestation to the contrary, it does indeed serve as a tacit approval of this man's policies, both current and future. The day may come, as it did for those who trusted Hitler, that we will rue such a decision for many years to come.

Please understand that I am not inferring that Obama is another Hitler; only that the policies of Hitler were quite obviously incompatible with Church teaching, yet the leadership of the Church took the same stance you are taking, and did not rebuff him. We still bear the brunt of this neglect, as evidenced by reaction to the Pope's current trip to Jerusalem. To engage leaders that hold views such as Mr. Obama's requires not honorary degrees but a willingness to stand our ground as people of exceptional and unbending moral character. Any less is just appeasement.

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War, weapons and right

2009-04-08T23:56:00.003-05:00

The world we live in right now and the leaders who govern it (or is govern the right word???) call to mind a bit of wisdom that is understood by few and scarcely dreamt of by most.

A perfect paradigm for teaching this wisdom lies in the current initiative by President Obama to eliminate all nuclear weapons, in the name of consistency, good will and a wholly Christian sense of peacemaking.

I applaud the sentiment, for it indeed seems just, as none can possibly deny a) the hypocrisy of denying other nations access to them; b) the absolute horror that nuclear weapons embody; and c) that we ought, as Christians, to promote peace and good will among all the nations. Blessed are the peacemakers and all that.

The conundrum, however, is this: as a single person, one ought rightly to observe one’s conscience and the teachings of the church in dealing with others. Likewise, a group of people retain a collective conscience, which is ideally a homogenous patchwork of morality and right. But when that group is expanded to the size of a nation, the proportion between the constituents and those governing it becomes tenuous, and—unless buttressed by the pillars of strength that are faith and morality—the ability of the whole organism to maintain that collective conscience erodes.

Moreover, in accepting the governance of a group of such size, one is bound to no longer rely solely on his own conscience in matters of right and wrong—he must, in matters of importance to the state, regularly submit to the collective conscience, whether it is voiced by ballots or by royal council. This voice demands both safety and justice. Therefore he must, at times, employ such means as necessary to achieve these ends, or risk both the stability of his country as well as his reign. Unlike our only true Father, for whom both means and ends are one, the earthly ruler is often bedeviled by these details…for if Christians lived and died wholly by Christ’s teachings, we would surely be extinct.

Though a ruler be just and good, though he be upright in all things, yet when the devil knocks, he must choose between his country…and his soul…

My kingdom is not of this world, said Jesus when questioned by Pilate. As his death approached, he proclaimed: Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (Jn 12:31)

If Christ is not the prince of this world, then we must understand who the prince of this world is, and we must understand that to be a ruler means to serve under this prince. This is why Christ exhorted us:

And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ. (Mt 23:9-10)

Pray, then, for our leaders, and for the people that they govern, that we may not suffer the end of those who have not faith:

Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me: Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. (Jn 8:42-44)

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? (Jn 18:37-38)

By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. (Mt 7:16-19)

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So hard to remember, so easy to forget...

2009-04-07T01:06:00.006-05:00

When bad things happen, what do you do?

Even the most prayerful among us cannot help but react in more or less the same way when troubles set in: we seek to avoid them, we fret over them, and we bemoan our fate. Many wonder why, if God is so great, does He allow terrible things to happen? Doesn’t He care? Is it possible that He cannot control these things?

The most common explanation for these questions has to do with free will, and Adam’s fall, and the introduction of pain and suffering as a consequence. This is a valid and important component in understanding human suffering; however, there is another equally important component that is often overlooked, because it is much more difficult to comprehend. It involves a radical re-thinking of our understanding of pain and suffering.

Our God…is a God of exquisite suffering.

OK, that’s a rather shocking suggestion, in part because it smacks of accusing God of being a sadist. Our minds naturally rebel against the mere suggestion that suffering could be good, much less the suggestion that suffering plays a part in the nature of our God. The idea is so far contrary to common sense that we never even consider such a thing. Yet if we allow ourselves to explore this idea, we find that it is nearly impossible to deny.

…He will reign on David's throne…(2 Sam 7:16)

Christ was the long-awaited Messiah: many had expected that He would deliver them--not just spiritually, but physically--from the yoke of the pagan Romans. Like his forefather David, he would be a great warrior who would establish a new and glorious kingdom.

Yet how could Our Lord employ violence? How is it possible that God himself could commit sin, whether by lying, stealing or killing? Though he clothed himself in a mantle of weakness by becoming human, it is inconceivable that he could accomplish the salvation of all people by the sword.

…for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot ask my Father, and he will give me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? (Matthew 26:52-54)

Instead, he was led as a sheep to the slaughter and made to suffer insult, injury and ignominious death. So then if suffering were truly evil, how could Christ have submitted to such a thing?

Moreover, of all the might at His disposal, why should our Lord choose such submission as the means of our salvation? Surely He would have preferred an easier way! Rather, Christ desired this path of redemption precisely because suffering is the natural consequence of all the things that Christ himself instructed us to do:

But I say to you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every one that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again.

And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner. And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much. But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6:27-38

Could anyone hope to follow such instructions without being made both pauper and laughingstock? Yet all of these things Christ himself did, and He exhorted all who would listen to do the same, time and again.

…Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

Matthew 5: 11-12

The entire New Testament teems with examples of Christ’s teachings on the subject. Surely Christ regarded suffering as a necessary “evil” for the salvation of our souls! Surely no one of passing familiarity with scripture would argue otherwise. The early Christian martyrs, the desert hermits, the Church Fathers, the monastics—all of these understood this perfectly.

Yet all of us, when we attempt to put Christ’s words into practice, fail again and again, because our common sense continues to be unable to take insult after insult, to forgive “70 times 7 times”, to give until it hurts. Surely we must take some self-preservation into account!

Here we are forced to realize that though all these things seem bad to us because of our human condition, these things are not evil in the eyes of God, nor do they truly cause suffering to those who no longer are imprisoned by the flesh.

But this still does not necessarily mean that the nature of God Himself is one of suffering—only that it is necessary for us as humans to suffer if we wish to gain eternal life. How can we interpolate further? To truly understand this concept would require a library and a lifetime…so any hopes of fully explaining it in a mere blog post are beyond impossible. I will briefly touch on the subject, but if you are interested in more on the subject, you’ll need that library…

The people that walked in Darkness…

The best way I can possibly describe this concept in brief is…light. We are not strangers to the concept of light as a symbol of the divine, from “Let there be light” to “the light of the world” to the tongues of flame that came to rest on the disciples’ heads at Pentecost. Nearly every religion associates light with divinity, and for good reason. Without light, there would be no life, no warmth, no energy…it is that without which nothing else could be.

But light has another very interesting property: it is opposite, but not equal to, darkness. By this I mean that, though you can shine a light into a dark room, you can not shine a dark into a light room. Light has a positive nature. The only way to escape from the sunlight is to block it with something, from a parasol to a planet. Darkness is merely the lack of light. (To say that it has a negative nature would make it sound equal and opposite, as in math…so rather than giving it that name, we might call it imperfect. Aristotle called the positive actual and the imperfect potential…) It is easy to see how we can draw parallels between this sort of positive nature and divinity.

There are many other things on this earth which share this sort of nature…heat, energy…even life itself will persist unless stopped. It is even possible to loosely claim that goodness and evil are like light and dark; however, the nuances that exist within both words are very tricky, and do not always work out as we would expect. Suffering happens to be one of those things, as it is normally—and naturally—lumped in with evil. But if we look at suffering, we find that perhaps it is not so.

For example, we said that escaping from the sun required some sort of blockage. At first glance, we might naturally assume that suffering is due to a blockage of health or well-being. But which one actually does something? And which one has something done to it? The light dispels the darkness, not the other way ‘round…heat travels from warm areas to cool areas…and illness, pain, heartache…they disrupt the equilibrium of health and well being and contentment. Like force upon a body at rest, it is suffering that acts upon our frail humanity.

Yes, I didn’t believe it at first either, but the more I questioned it, the more certain I became: Suffering, like light, is positive in nature…and like all things positive in nature, has its true source in the Divine.

The antithesis of Pandora

Think about our example of the sun again: its light is so intense that it has the ability to blind us. Likewise, the heat and energy it produces can be punishing. Even though they are essentially good and necessary, our bodies are often unable to tolerate those things of positive nature in too great intensity. It is exactly so with suffering.

However, when our souls leave our bodies, light and heat and suffering shall not cease to exist for us—but because we are not encountering them with our bodies, our experience of them will not be the same. We shall then be able to see clearly how every instance of suffering opens for us an avenue of spiritual growth, healing and redemption.

We are now like those who, accustomed to a dark room, squint and curse at the bright sunlight. The nature of our sinfulness—of our bondage to Satan—makes us recoil at the helping hand that suffering brings. When our all-too-human desire for comfort causes us to recoil at suffering, we are unknowingly recoiling from God’s grace.

For yes, suffering is pure unadulterated grace.

Only when we manage to put our instinct for self-preservation aside do we succeed in turning the other cheek. Only when we continually put ourselves last—without complaining—do we succeed in continually putting others first. Only when we give everything we have do we succeed in taking up our cross as Christ commanded. And only when we welcome suffering do we receive this enormously healing grace, not merely for ourselves, but for all. Impossible, you say? Well, naturally!

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God…To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus…And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.

(Luke 1: 26-38)

Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

With these words, Mary brought into this world God’s own son. If this was possible, then even our own tiny little ‘fiats’ can bring untold grace into the darkness of this world. When we get the sniffles, we can say ‘fiat’-- Thy will be done, Lord. When we are bedridden with double pneumonia, it is quite a bit harder to say, but the harder it is, the more grace there is waiting. When our lives are crashing down on all sides…when we face anger, guilt, despair…when our loved ones don’t treat us as they should…when we are reviled and persecuted and slandered…we must learn to see the hand of God--not punishing us, but reaching out to us. Mary didn’t have to say ‘fiat’, and neither do we. But by doing so, she became Queen of Heaven, mother and mediatrix to the human race. And in a small way, we too participate in God’s plan for our salvation by accepting our crosses…with a kiss.

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Some light reading for you...

2009-04-02T21:40:00.001-05:00

OK, for those who will only use the Douay-Rheims Bible, this may not be in your book, but I understand it can be found in the vulgate as 4 Esdras? The following quotes are from the Revised Standard Version, which was the only version I could find. Link here. In this version, the following excerpts are listed as 2 Esdras chapter 15 and 16. I highly recommend reading the whole thing, but here are some particularly interesting quotes:

“…Do not fear the plots against you, and do not be troubled by the unbelief of those who oppose you. For every unbeliever shall die in his unbelief."
"Behold," says the Lord, "I bring evils upon the world, the sword and famine and death and destruction. For iniquity has spread throughout every land, and their harmful deeds have reached their limit. (2 Esdras 15:3-6)

Let the farmers that till the ground mourn, because their seed shall fail and their trees shall be ruined by blight and hail and by a terrible tempest.
Alas for the world and for those who live in it!
For the sword and misery draw near them, and nation shall rise up to fight against nation, with swords in their hands.
For there shall be unrest among men; growing strong against one another, they shall in their might have no respect for their king or the chief of their leaders.
For a man will desire to go into a city, and shall not be able.
For because of their pride the cities shall be in confusion, the houses shall be destroyed, and people shall be afraid.
A man shall have no pity upon his neighbors, but shall make an assault upon their houses with the sword, and plunder their goods, because of hunger for bread and because of great tribulation. (2 Esdras 15:13-19)

The nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and from the day that they set out, their hissing shall spread over the earth, so that all who hear them fear and tremble.
Also the Carmonians**, raging in wrath, shall go forth like wild boars of the forest, and with great power they shall come, and engage them in battle, and shall devastate a portion of the land of the Assyrians with their teeth.
And then the dragons, remembering their origin, shall become still stronger; and if they combine in great power and turn to pursue them, then these shall be disorganized and silenced by their power, and shall turn and flee.
And from the land of the Assyrians an enemy in ambush shall beset them and destroy one of them, and fear and trembling shall come upon their army, and indecision upon their kings.
Behold, clouds from the east, and from the north to the south; and their appearance is very threatening, full of wrath and storm.
They shall dash against one another and shall pour out a heavy tempest upon the earth, and their own tempest; and there shall be blood from the sword as high as a horse's belly and a man's thigh and a camel's hock.
And there shall be fear and great trembling upon the earth; and those who see that wrath shall be horror-stricken, and they shall be seized with trembling. (2 Esdras 15:29-37)

Behold, provision will be so cheap upon earth that men will imagine that peace is assured for them, and then the calamities shall spring up on the earth -- the sword, famine, and great confusion.
For many of those who live on the earth shall perish by famine; and those who survive the famine shall die by the sword.
And the dead shall be cast out like dung, and there shall be no one to console them; for the earth shall be left desolate, and its cities shall be demolished.
No one shall be left to cultivate the earth or to sow it.
The trees shall bear fruit, and who will gather it?
The grapes shall ripen, and who will tread them? For in all places there shall be great solitude; one man will long to see another, or even to hear his voice.
For out of a city, ten shall be left; and out of the field, two who have hidden themselves in thick groves and clefts in the rocks.
As in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree, or as when a vineyard is gathered some clusters may be left by those who search carefully through the vineyard, so in those days three or four shall be left by those who search their houses with the sword. (2 Esdras 16: 21-31)

As Holy Week approaches, we should be mindful that our Lord says, “Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore, and do penance.” (Apocalypse 3:19) Then let us remind ourselves to rejoice in all circumstances, as our Lord chastises us for love’s sake.

**Carmania was located in what is now Iran. Assyria at its height covered everything from Iraq westward to the Mediterranean sea and part of Egypt, Arabia and Turkey.

How is this not abundantly obvious???

2009-03-31T15:31:00.005-05:00

Though I always preface all of my comments regarding the economy with the disclaimer that I am such a poor economist that I couldn't keep to a budget if my life depended on it, I also insist that this detachment keeps me from being muddled. After all, does it really take a genius to see that we've had this coming for a long time?

Case in point: I have been arguing my point of view quite a lot lately, all of it falling on deaf ears. Every time I felt I desperately needed a big dry erase board so that I could illustrate what I am talking about. Rather than having to make drawings, I have culled a few charts to help me here.

Our first chart here shows the history of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, from 1885 to the present. Do you see that little blip around '29-'32? Yep, that's the Great Depression. It looks like nothing compared with the runup that started in the '80s and is on its way down now. The precipitous rise was hampered for a while by 9/11/01, as you can see, but was aggressively resuscitated. Those who are still in denial, are naiively optimistic, or are simply not being intellectually honest continue to insist that with more aggressive resuscitation, we will recover again and somehow maintain this unbelievable high...Now here's the same chart, though it only goes as far as 2004 and it is calculated logarithmically--meaning that the meteoric rise you saw in that first chart is compressed significantly. I like the fact that the person who made this chart has demonstrated what I have repeatedly pointed out. No matter how dramatic the rises and falls, they tend to go in periods...the upward growth is relatively smooth...but the periods that follow this upward growth are chaotic, having a jagged or 'roller coaster' effect. It is during these periods that people suffered the most. The sacred cow "free market" always eventually fixed these problems (though, if this chart is right, it takes between 10 and 20 years...), but what happened to the real people on stage while the free market did its work behind the scenes? What happened to the average standard of living? What happened to crime levels during these periods? How did people cope with all of this? These are the questions we need to be asking right now.

Regardless of whether the Obama Administration does everything in its power (at which I tremble...); regardless of whether or not the free market will always correct itself if it is allowed to do so; regardless of how far we fall and how fast, what will help us most right now is to understand what life was like during those red phases. There were lots of casualties, both figuratively and literally. We have got to face this fact, the sooner the better.

Here's another example to reinforce my insistence that when markets become unsustainable, they have no choice but to correct themselves. This sounds fine in theory, but this is what a correction typically looks like; and the higher the rise, the greater the fall. These two charts show the 1929 Stock market crash and the Nasdaq crash in the late '90s/early '00s. We have every reason to expect our chart to look like this. However, if you look back up at that first chart, at how we shot up into the stratosphere over the past three decades, the prospect of what is to come becomes rather frightening. If our chart is going to look like these ones, we've got a long way to go before we hit bottom!

But I believe that the next chart is the most telling of all, and it is the main reason why I've been predicting this for over ten years. This chart shows the level of personal household debt compared with our Nation's Gross Domestic Product:Our level of personal debt grew very significantly during the '80s, but then in the late '90s it shot way up and has by now broken the 100% line. This means that our personal debt--our mortgages, credit cards, etc--exceeds our earning capacity. This doesn't even take into account our government's national debt. When did this precarious situation last occur? You guessed it--the late '20s. And the graph more or less mirrors the ones we've been looking at above...

Surely you are getting the picture. There is a reason why, historically, graphs with huge upswings are followed by huge downswings. It's pure and simple common sense. If I have to explain it to you, you must be an economist.

...See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
(Matthew 24:6)

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An open letter to Notre Dame

2009-03-23T15:31:00.004-05:00

Dear Father Jenkins,

It has come to my attention that not only will President Barack Obama will be the principal speaker at Notre Dame’s commencement Ceremony on May 17, but he will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. As a Notre Dame Alumna, I fail to understand how this could be so. Is it accurate to say that Notre Dame is Catholic, or has it fallen prey to the secular humanism that prevails in our misguided society?

As Catholics, we are bound not only to be salt and light to the world, but we must further resist the temptation to follow the mores of the rest of the world. "Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God," spoke James in his epistle. Shall Notre Dame be friends with this world, bestowing its honors upon a man who has proved himself to be an enemy of the unborn? I know what words our Lord would use to describe such an act, but out of respect for the remnant of a University I once loved, I will not use them here.

To say that I am disappointed scarcely describes the sensation of disgust nor the heartfelt sorrow when I consider that what was once a beacon of Catholic truth to the world has become as salt without flavor: "...wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men." (Matthew 5:13) This is what Notre Dame's reputation for worldliness has done for it. You may congratulate yourselves that our President has agreed to honor you with his presence.

Those of us, however, who love God and His laws more than we do any President, shall weep. For you cannot have both the honor of a man who said he would allow his daughters to have an abortion rather than 'punish them with a baby' and also have the honor of Him who said "...he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:5-6)

We shall continue to pray that the University will demonstrate its commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church with regard to this matter. technorati

Am I the only one who sees this coming???

2009-01-08T14:15:00.003-06:00

I'm going to go out on a limb and say what surely others must also be seeing: the invasion of Gaza is glaringly obvious as a sham. The whole point of the invasion is only marginally about rockets and Hamas and Israel's security.

Israel is calling everyone's bluff, not because they think everyone is bluffing, but because they want the game to move ahead. They have begun World War III.

They're tired of posturing and chest-beating. They need an excuse to attack proto-nuclear Iran, and this is the most plausible. They know that there's a whole host of nations who will be unable to avoid getting involved as it spirals out of control, and they're OK with that.

And there are so many countries who are equally well waiting for an excuse to start dogpiling each other. This is going to be like a barroom brawl on a colossal scale. It's going to make both WWI and WWII look like wii.
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Government...of the people...

2009-01-05T00:07:00.005-06:00

As is often the case, the very night I wrote my last post, I stumbled across a bible verse that was singularly appropriate:

Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear you.

The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.

And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?

And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.

And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?

And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us.

And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?

And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us.

And it answered them: If indeed you mean to make me king, come ye and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.

Now therefore if you have done well, and without sin in appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of him who fought for you,…rejoice ye this day in Abimelech, and may he rejoice in you. But if unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out from the men of Sichem, and from the town of Mello, and devour Abimelech.

(Judges 9:7-20)

(Abimelech was one of the sons of Gideon (also called Jerubaal), who convinced his fellow Sichemites to appoint him as their ruler when Gideon died. In doing so, he killed all seventy of his half-brothers…except Jotham, the one who spoke the above words before escaping.

Jotham's curse indeed came true: Abimelech decimated Sichem, and in the process got a millstone dropped on his head…by a woman.)

The noble and upright—the olive, the fig and the vine--are those who form the bedrock of society. Their greatest gift is not in wielding power over others, but in producing good fruit.

But the brambles, producers of no good or useful thing, in whose flourishing these others languish, are quite content to usurp and to subdue.

Our elections have presented us with no olives, no figs, no vines. Again and again, we are forced to choose from among the brambles. And we can only expect that these brambles will fulfill their destiny of bringing about their own destruction while consuming even the great cedars of Lebanon. And we have chosen them.

We have chosen them…

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Government? What Government?

2009-01-02T22:49:00.006-06:00

Mr. Smith went to Washington, but Nixon still got caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Both the Richard Daleys were/are so crooked, it’s amazing they don’t walk sideways. Clinton endured impeachment hearings for his shenanigans, Gore took his election to the Supreme Court. California has the ability to put referendums on the ballot, but not the backbone to enforce the will of the people. Now Al Frankenstein is making a monster of himself in Minnesota, and the Scarecrow Governor Blago--who hasn’t got a brain--has Brer Rabbit Rush trying to cram Aunt Jemima Burris down our throats.

So my question is…

…does anyone actually have the slightest faith in our government anymore???

If so, WHY?????

govern—a verb

1. to exercise authority over; to control and direct the making and administration of policy in

2. to control the actions or conduct of; to hold in check

There are a few other meanings, but these two are the ones which concern us. Is it possible for the first to have any real meaning if the second is ignored?

How can one govern a country (or state, or city) if one cannot govern oneself?

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Grab a pitchfork, grow some virtue.

2008-12-12T00:15:00.005-06:00

OK, I’m about to say something incredibly unpopular to all those out there who have come to depend on easy access to the foods they want and need, including the segment that relies on farm-fresh food co-ops.

News flash: we are heading into a “slowdown” that all the talking heads keep comparing to the Great Depression. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take a genius to see that our world is radically different from the way it was in 1929. This is not a “slowdown” or a “recession” or any other softball term the press and the powers-that-be are desperately trying to throw at it. What is now happening is something that no one now living has ever experienced before.

Our entire way of life is about to change very, very drastically. This change is going to be so huge that no one has the slightest ability at the present moment to accurately predict, nor even imagine, its breadth or its depth--despite some very good guesses.

Anyone who wants to complain about being deprived of their constitutional right to the food they want to eat—healthy or not, simple or exotic, raw or plasticized—is welcome to do so, but this complaining is merely a way of attempting to evade the responsibility laid upon us when we left Eden.

We have been separated from the firsthand production of food for so many generations that not only has the skill been forgotten, but we consider it our birthright to be able to live where we choose, how we choose, doing what we choose, and to simply pay for everything by working at what we choose. This has been the norm for what seem like ages: why would we view the world any other way?

So aside from a few backyard tomatoes or strawberries, we scarcely expend any firsthand toil for our food supply--until it is suddenly disrupted by power outages, or droughts and shortages, or raids and seizures by various government authorities. Then we complain and blame and point angry fingers and become rather indignant. But in truth, we have only ourselves—and the generations immediately preceding us—to blame.

Over and over again, we have chosen to divorce ourselves from the land, from the nurturing of life that sustains life, to the point where we are occasionally deluded enough to demand that our lives be sustained by other means. This choice--however natural it may seem within the context of our society--is nevertheless a choice to forsake the virtue inherent in producing one’s own food.

Food production is more than a business, and access to food is dependent upon more than merely supply and demand. Surely we learned that lesson with the shortages we experienced over the past year. But likewise, our expectation that we ought to be free to make a living making nothing more than money—with which we can buy necessities like food—is based on nothing more than the tenuous relationship between an unsustainable urban population, unsustainable agricultural methods, and unsustainable methods of distribution.

When we read the bible, we invariably find an absolute continuity between man, animal and land. In fact, we often fail to appreciate the enormity of some of the feats described therein because of our ignorance of this bond. We have been liberated from the slavery of living by the sweat of our brows. But in return, we have been willingly enslaved by the innumerable middlemen that have stepped into the void we have created between us and the fruit of the earth.

In the years to come, if we expect not only to have our food the way we want it, but even to have adequate food at all, we are going to be forced to produce it ourselves. We can continue to delude ourselves as long as the status quo holds out, but the status quo is changing right beneath our feet. We can no longer afford to depend entirely on commerce for our food supply.

Part of the reason for this is that those who do supply that food will continue to experience deflation in prices, but not necessarily a deflation in costs. With a consumer base that is increasingly unable to afford anything but the basics, the lucrative niche market in organics and other exotics is going to melt away. As with most other industries right now, the suppliers will be thinned out, and those that remain will struggle mightily.

To be sure, the sphere of food production is rank right now with unjust regulations and downright dastardly dealings.

Equally sure is the necessity to fight that injustice in every way possible.

But the best way to make a true and lasting difference in the lives of all involved is to take matters into our own hands—literally. We must produce as much of our own food as possible. Not only will it be the freshest, healthiest possible food, but in doing so, we are freed from the bondage of dependence on the rules, regulations and methods of Big Ag. Easier said than done, sure. For many, it may be more or less impossible. But our lives may depend on it before long…

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Irresistible...

2008-12-09T16:38:00.003-06:00

Courtesy of Rod Dreher's Crunchy Con blog, this lovely ad which sums up the general feeling about the latest bailout: (Click on the link above to see the original full size image...the fine print is worth it...)
'nuff said.

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Busted.

2008-12-09T15:51:00.004-06:00

I am finding it very hard to not take pleasure in another's misfortune, but this bit of divine justice is just irresistible: The arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The only politician I can think of that deserves it more is Daley himself, but he'll be getting it eventually too.

Relish this image:

When I think of the crap Blowhardevich has pushed through the Illinois legislature...guhhhhh!

And what a string of Holidays it's been! St. Nicholas Day, Pearl Harbor Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, now this!!! I think this calls for a big gooey dessert with dinner! We'll make something entirely new, and we'll call it "just deserts"...

UPDATE: When on a restricted diet as we are, it is especially hard to think of a really decadent dessert to fit the bill...but I managed to think of just the thing: I had just bought a bunch of hazelnuts from the store and had never made anything with them...so we crushed them up and made SCD-legal gianduia...mmmmmmm...
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The false god of Convenience

2008-12-04T23:46:00.002-06:00

If a man is judged by what—and whom—he surrounds himself with, what chance have any of us? Jesus himself said that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to gain the kingdom of heaven. Most of us do not consider ourselves “rich”, yet if we compare the average American (or other first world citizen) to the rich men of Christ’s time, we cannot help but see the disparity.

Stop and ask yourself: how much of my life is dependent upon convenience? Better yet, turn the question around: How much inconvenience is there in my life, and how well do I cope with it? The devil is in the details, they say, and never does this saying feel more true than when we find ourselves stuck dealing with details without the help of some sort of convenience, whether it is a computer or an appliance or a car or even just a steady supply of electricity.

Our lives are so filled with conveniences, we couldn’t count them if we tried! We wake up in the morning thanks to our alarm clocks; we get ready for our day with the help of indoor plumbing, heated water, and various commercial grooming products and appliances. Our sheets, blankets, mattresses, pillows, towels, clothes, and shoes are mass produced and affordable. Our meals, whether cooked from scratch or pre-prepared, are readily available from local supermarkets or restaurants, prepared and stored in any number of convenient contraptions and containers. We get around with machines requiring little more than the turn of a key and periodic maintenance: with cars parked conveniently in our attached garages, with bikes, with readily accessible trains and buses, with elevators and escalators. We can fill our time during the commute with radio, CD’s, books or recorded books, all in air conditioned or heated comfort.

Most of us then spend our day utilizing myriad conveniences that run the gamut from specialized office equipment to state-of-the-art machinery to the tiniest of labor-saving devices. We are blasted with information from all directions through news and advertising. We connect with others by phone or e-mail or blogs or websites or even webcams; we entertain ourselves with orgies of conveniences: TV, movies, video games, music, comfortable furniture; we attend millions of activities and venues and special interest groups. We can even enjoy sports without actually partaking in them or even being present.

When it gets dark, we flip a switch. With almost no effort, our houses stay warm or cool. With slightly more effort, our clothes and dishes are clean and dry. We may even have the convenience of having someone else do all the cleaning, mowing and other maintenance for us.

When we fall ill, we have merely to pop an over-the-counter medication, or visit our doctor for other magic pills. Through the convenience of insurance, it’s all covered. Even when heart disease or cancer or diabetes threaten, we can rely on the convenience of modern medicine to rescue us from the inconvenience of changing our habits.

And that is really what it comes down to: habits. When our habits revolve around ease, comfort, and convenience, it is all too easy to view inconvenience as if it were the root of all evil. Which brings me back to my question: How much inconvenience is there in my life, and how well do I cope with it? Most of us—myself included—have a conditioned response of impatience with these annoyances. Worse yet, we undergo endless anxiety in the name of maintaining--or expanding--our level of convenience.

When the person in the car in front of you is being a doofus, how do you react? What happens when you have to wait in a long line? Can you keep your cool when something breaks down? When you are stuck in a protracted power outage, do you feel like you don’t know what to do with yourself?

Our dependence upon the constant convenience of our lives distracts us from our humanity—from our strengths and our frailties—but most of all, it distracts us from the sense that out there exists that than which no greater thing can be imagined…

Though it is not necessary to be a Luddite in order to effectively contemplate the divine, the spiritual benefits we gain through the discipline of ‘doing things the hard way’ are unmistakable.

For when we look at the things that truly matter in our lives, we find that, invariably, they are inconvenient, messy, and downright hard-to-deal-with. Yet the rewards far outweigh the hassle—and when we seek to avoid the trouble of dealing with them, our lives are ever less rich and meaningful (though we sometimes fail to realize it). These nuisances may include relationships with others…raising children…making or building or creating things…learning new skills…breaking bad habits…practicing virtue…going to church/praying the rosary, etc… What would you add to this list?

So would I be ecstatically happy if I were suddenly uprooted from my life and sent to live among the Amish? I doubt it. But I have no doubt that I would grow spiritually from the experience in ways that are utterly impossible to predict.

…Amish boot camp for the spiritually congested…now there’s a concept!

In sum, there is a good reason why we often use the word virtue when we speak of hard work, but not when we speak of using the many conveniences listed above. The good news is that we can practice that virtue without becoming a hermit in the desert. Recognizing conveniences for what they are—merely conveniences, and not necessities—is of the utmost importance. Whether we manage to divorce ourselves from them physically or only spiritually, entirely or only partially—the greatest hope we can have of avoiding the fate of the rich man is to set about extricating ourselves from our relationship with comfort and with convenience.

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Humility: the long-lost little sister

2008-12-02T14:55:00.002-06:00

Perhaps one of the most difficult things for man to come to grips with is impotence. (And I don’t mean the Viagra kind…) When we are given to see what is happening around us, yet we are powerless to do anything at all about it, the need for humility before the power of God is awakened. Such lessons have a great potential for being extraordinarily painful, for we so easily forget that control over our own lives is no more than an illusion. When we intensely feel that we are not in control, frustration, depression, impatience and despair can quickly overwhelm us.

One of the most thorough ways of learning this lesson is by raising children. When they are young, it is both easy and imperative that we exert control over their lives; as they grow, our control over their lives diminishes more each year. Sometimes the pain of being unable to keep them from harm is excruciating, no matter how insignificant that harm may be in the grander scheme of things.

But most of all, when our lives experience significant upheaval--when we are faced with the inability to know how to plan our lives--and we must trust not only in God's will for us, but also His timing, the only answer is a bonecrushing lesson in patience and faith. These are the times that try men's souls, said Thomas Paine, and he knew what he was talking about.

This too is a gift we can lay on the altar of our personal sacrifices. Humility is really a long-lost little sister who must be embraced with joy, however bittersweet. For we must remember that when it is God’s will that opposes us, it is for a very good—if unseen—reason. To bear good fruit, a tree must be trained and pruned; just so are our lives in the Master’s hands.

And so we give thanks for the lessons that impotence brings us and learn to love the scourges of the Lord.

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How can you say I worship false gods???

2008-11-15T23:37:00.005-06:00

There are many who claim that the word ‘mammon’ is merely the Aramaic word for ‘wealth’ and that there is no such God.

I am here to tell you that the worship of mammon is a religion every bit as much as any other—regardless of whether its god is truly a demon or merely an idea—and that he stands for more than merely wealth or avarice: he is the apotheosis of human practicality.

After all, we have to have at least some common sense to be able to navigate this world, right? Better yet, the more “street smarts” you have, the more successful and prosperous you can be. Our entire lives are dedicated to this principle, from nursery school to college degrees to success in the business world. And who can argue that such application of hard work, determination and the desire to provide for a family…are wrong???

The answer is that such things are certainly not wrong. The difficulty arises when this sense of practicality comes between us and a true, heartfelt love for God and His commandments.

That is easily said, but vague—and vaguely irritating. Why?

The answer lies in the nearly seamless way in which this practical ‘business sense’ has become enmeshed as part of our culture. It is nearly impossible to see how something as simple as wanting to succeed in business could be construed as a religion, much less as worshipping a false god. After all, most successful businessmen are Church-attending Christians.

But upon closer inspection, the seams begin to show—and to fray—when the precepts of one religion conflict with the other. Ethical concerns are merely the tip of the iceberg in this respect. The most insidious ways in which conflict between Christianity and Mammon worship can be seen are often more subtle: They are those times when we dismiss the exhortations of Christ as utterly impractical and therefore ridiculous, even annoying or childish.

Nor is this a new concept; scripture tells the story of the rich young man who asked Jesus how he could gain eternal life:

Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:21-24

When we are faced with moments like this, where true faith in Christ becomes inconvenient, impractical, unbusinesslike, even downright impossible, our true faith shows. Do we cling to our trust in the Lord and become ‘of such heavenly mind we are of no earthly good’, or do we cling to the safety and comfort of normalcy—of the things we can see, touch and prove? The answer seems practical enough.

Perhaps you are beginning to see that “practicality” is at best a very lukewarm Christianity, which, when hard pressed, resembles Christianity very little. It is not Christianity. We cannot serve two masters. Either worldliness is our goal, or heaven. We really can’t have both, as we can see from this passage from the Epistle of St. James:

Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God. But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

James 4:5-8

And to those who would argue that this “common sense” is human nature, I wholeheartedly agree: and in the same breath I will say that you have proved my point, since we know that our nature is one of sinfulness:

And we are all become as one unclean, and all our justices as the rag of a menstruous woman: and we have all fallen as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 64:6

None is good but one, that is God.

Mark 10: 18

At which point we are left with the rest of the story of the rich man:

And when they had heard this, the disciples wondered very much, saying: Who then can be saved?

And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:25-26

It is impossible for us to attain heaven—especially due to our prosperity—by our own devices. Only by throwing ourselves upon the mercy of the Lord, as a child throws himself upon the lap of his mother, can we hope to call ourselves true Christians. If we truly love Christ, we must despise Mammon. If despising Mammon means becoming as a leper, so be it.

Amen I say to you, there is no man who hath left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, Who shall not receive an hundred times as much, now in this time; houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come life everlasting.

Mark 10:29-30

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A quick update

2008-11-15T21:28:00.004-06:00

I have not posted for some time because my life has recently entered a tailspin. Ironically enough, it is not due to the rapidly collapsing economy or the like. It all began with a friend who loaned me a tri-field meter, and, God willing, may end with moving our family...somewhere else...

For those of you who have never heard of a tri-field meter, it is a device that allows you to measure the strength of the electromagnetic fields around you (among other things). This post from May of this year contains a table showing common measurements of these fields as produced by the electrical appliances and gadgets in your home or office, which are measured in units called milliGauss.

In order to put these measurements into perspective, it helps to know that several countries worldwide have adopted official standards for safe levels of daily exposure to these electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, ranging from 1 to 3 milliGauss. Our own EPA has proposed a safety standard of 1 milliGauss.

Personally, I'd like to know what drugs they are on, because after driving around the neighborhood with this tri-field meter, it was hard to find a spot where it dipped below 2 mG. But worse, when nearing certain power lines in residential neighborhoods, in close proximity to the houses, I got readings as high as 35.

And this is where my own personal tailspin comes in. Measurements inside my house ranged from 8 mG to 25 mG. These were not readings that I took standing next to the refrigerator or among myriad appliances. These were the ambient readings throughout the house, with the highest readings being in my children's bedrooms.

I knew, based on symptoms I have been experiencing for well over a year, that EMFs were a problem in our house, but I had no idea it was this bad.

And if that weren't bad enough, when I stepped out in the backyard, the readings, instead of dropping, continued to climb as I walked toward the very rear of the yard--where the power lines run through the middle of the block. These are not the giant high-voltage lines. They look like standard residential supply lines. Standing in the backyard--where my children play every day--the readings were between 35 and 50 mG, and if I held the meter over my head, it climbed above 100.

I checked the other blocks in my area and found that the readings were not nearly so high--and then I realized why. Most of the power lines carry a single wire on top. Ours carry three. And the current in those lines must be unbelievable.

To say that I am alarmed by this news surpasses understatement. I have found myself practically unable to do all but the most critical tasks (feeding, dressing and schooling the brood) and have become unhealthily obsessed with figuring out how and where we can move...yes, in this housing market... The only thing that keeps me from being utterly paralyzed is knowing that God is on our side, and if it is His will to rescue us, then it will happen.

If it is not His will, then I must consent to suffer...which would be so much easier if I didn't have to watch my children's delicate nervous systems being driven to distraction not only by all the environmental poisons they are already saddled with, but now this.

Thy will be done, Lord. I will continue to be patient, somehow...

Please keep our family in your prayers.

Are you Voting Antichrist?

2008-10-09T15:56:00.003-05:00

I am inundated these days with e-mails and phone calls and people spouting what they've heard in the news or on TV, telling me how crucial it is to vote for so-and-so, and how they have the unique ability to save our nation or destroy our nation or whatever issue happens to be foremost in their minds.

So I've got to say it again.

I don't care how nice one politician seems, or how knowledgeable, or conservative, or courageous, or pro-life, or...fill in the blank with whatever word you see fit.

By nature, politics are of this world, and even the most moral, upright citizen faces great danger when given power over others. In addition, moral, upright citizens are not only more or less unelectable, but they would be utterly miserable serving the machine that is politics.

So I don't care how moral this or that politician seems, or even is. Barring an unprecedented and cataclysmic change in Washington, it won't make a spot of difference. Stop trying to convince me otherwise.

I say Rubbish.

What is now underway has been coming for well over a century, and who is in power will make precious little difference. It's in God's hands now.

All of these arguments are nothing more than the delusions of those who are still desperately clinging to the notion that we have control over the events that are now taking place, and that will take place in the near future.

In a way, it is good to retain that sort of hope for the future, like when actors on a stage attempt to save a performance gone horribly awry, partially for their own sake as much as for the sake of the audience.

Understand that I have not discarded hope: rather, I have discarded the notion that a name on a ballot will change anything whatsoever. Satan is the prince of this world, and the battle to remove him is not ours. We vote for him every time we put our own needs ahead of others. If I shall vote, it shall be through attempting to rid myself of this habit.

My hope now is in the triumph of the Immaculate Heart, which will not be affected by any votes and is still a few years of horrible suffering away.

If all of this makes you feel impotent, then pray fervently and offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Give to others every chance you get, even if it is only your prayers. Seek ways to share of your abundance with those who are in need. Seek only that profit which is spiritual, and forgo financial profit.

God is merciful and has given us a great gift in this monetary collapse. I'm sure that it is hard to see it that way, but just think: losing the comfort and security of our possessions helps us to let go of our worldly addictions and put our whole trust in Him! This is the greatest of gifts!

We might be thankful that God has seen fit to begin in this way, rather than plunging us first into war, famine, or pestilence--though they will come in their due time.

The sacrifices of the coming year will be beneficial for the sake of souls, if perhaps not so much for our bodies. Right now God is especially pleased by fasting, whether it be fasting from food or from other indulgences. We must offer our sufferings for the sake of those who cannot now see past despair and worry. Each mortification brings with it the possibility that another soul may be saved from eternal suffering.

In summation, what is now happening has been preordained for millennia. This house is condemned to be destroyed down to its very foundation: ought we to fret that it has twisted and missing floorboards, or that it has gaping holes in the walls? These are the very reasons why it is condemned. Those who would convince you that this or that politician will be better than that one at fixing the problem are, in essence, attempting to salvage the condemned house. It will not be saved. It will be rebuilt, and this time it will be built by the hand of God, and it will last unto eternity.
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This is our travail

2008-10-07T23:51:00.003-05:00

With the financial storm looming overhead, it is natural to spend our time thinking about what we can possibly do to insulate ourselves against calamity. Our natural instincts turn to providing for ourselves and for our loved ones, as it is precisely times like these that "survival of the fittest" becomes the name of the game.

Yet, while that is the way of the world, we know that the ways of the world are not God's ways. In my worldly desire to plan ahead, I am thinking of money, and how to best preserve our supply of it. But in turning to scripture, I reminded of what money is really for:

And the people rejoiced, when they promised their offerings willingly: because they offered them to the Lord with all their heart: and David the king rejoiced also with a great joy. And he blessed the Lord before all the multitude, and he said: Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of Israel, our father from eternity to eternity.
Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all princes. Thine are riches, and thine is glory, thou hast dominion over all, in thy hand is power and might: in thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things. Now therefore our God we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy glorious name. Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to promise thee all these things? all things are thine: and we have given thee what we received of thy hand. For we are sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all our fathers. Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no stay.
O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name, is from thy hand, and all things are thine.

(1 Chronicles/Paralipomenon 29:9-16)

In these times, it is not ourselves or even our loved ones that we are supposed to be worrying about.

For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
(Matthew 16:25)

It is so easy in our fight for survival to think that the greatest good is to preserve one's life and livelihood. But life and livelihood come not from our own power, and they quickly pass away into eternity.

...be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on... which of you, by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?
If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest? For your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.
(Luke 12:22, 25, 26, 30-33)

We ought not to be thinking like the rich man--our whole mind must be turned now to the Lazaruses who lie suffering at our doorstep. And as we beg the Lord to help bear our burdens, so must we bear one another's burdens.

We must fight our impulse to save, hoard and protect.

Instead we must give, serve and love.

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An honest question

2008-09-30T21:09:00.004-05:00

...So when (yes, when, not if...) congress finally passes this "bailout" bill, is one of the conditions going to be that all the executive positions at those banks be sacked without severance, fined heavily, and they can thank their lucky stars if they don't go to prison? I'm just wondering...

How anyone can actually be so far in denial as to think that throwing nonexistent money after bad money is going to fix this problem...is beyond me anyway. Like the passengers on the "unsinkable" Titanic, most still believe there is a way to save the ship. And unfortunately, like the Titanic, there aren't enough lifeboats for all. What this bailout amounts to is nothing more than making sure the first class passengers have first dibs on the lifeboats.

Let them sink, I say, because we're all going to sink anyway.

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By the sweat of our brow?

2008-09-28T20:21:00.003-05:00

Has it ever occurred to anyone else how perfectly ridiculous it is that we should have to pay to go to the gym to exercise off all that food we eat?

I mean, think about this: for millennia, people have struggled to eke out an existence, all the energy they gain from their food going into producing more food or goods or other necessary pursuits. True, during prosperous ages, and among the elite classes, there has been plenty of decadence, but try, if you can, to imagine the characters from a Dickens novel wasting their precious morsels on exercise for exercise’s sake…

What a shock the characters from Dostoevsky might have if they could see us struggling with obesity, spending hours lifting weights, doing pilates, pedaling stationary bicycles or climbing stairstep machines. We are obsessed with exercise, our entire faith in its magic to transform us into something we are not.

Even with the financial condition of our country crumbling, so very few of us have any concept of what abject poverty really is, amidst our widescreen plasma TVs and cellular phones and kitchen appliances of every sort. I’ve been in poor neighborhoods before—both urban and rural—but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a child who was forced to wear rags or go shoeless. We suffer widespread malnutrition of a different sort—but has anyone ever seen a starving child except on commercials?

So the next time you’re getting ready to do whatever “exercise” it is that you do, think to yourself for a moment: what can I do to put my energy to productive use, rather than squandering it on climbing stairs that go nowhere? How can I convert the food I have consumed into a worthwhile end other than an additional repetition at the bench press? At the very least, couldn’t you ride your bicycle to the gym instead of driving there--just to use a stationary bicycle? Better yet, skip the stationary altogether (and save the money) and get some fresh air and sunshine instead. Consider it practice for the tough times that are coming.

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How many will suffer before we wake up?

2008-09-26T15:34:00.003-05:00

Here's a great article at Breitbart.com covering the dangers of cell phone use:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080926011656.0kfws57m&show_article=1

a quick excerpt:

"Recalling the 70 years that it took to remove lead from paint and gasoline and the 50 years that it took to convincingly establish the link between smoking and lung cancer, I argue that we must learn from our past to do a better job of interpreting evidence of potential risk," said Herberman.

I love the beauty of that statement.

Of course, it fails to mention that wireless technology is just as bad, if not worse. It shows proper concern for cell phone use among children and teens, but fails to recognize the dangerous equivalent of "secondhand smoke": the fact that most schools and libraries have cellular antennas on the roof, not to mention wireless internet throughout. A large proportion of homes are getting wireless modems. These sources of radiation may not be directly applied to the ear, but they are much stronger, and they are continuous.

I'm glad that there is at least some exposure to this concept that our wireless addiction needs some sanity applied, but warnings on the packages of cigarettes wasn't enough, and it won't be enough here either, because in both situations (that is, smoking and cell phone use), the innocent are harmed.
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Consolation

2008-09-24T11:02:00.001-05:00

For those seeking consolation in these times comes this morsel from Handel’s Oratorio Theodora…

First a quick background note: The story of Theodora takes place during the fourth century reign of Diocletian. Faced with certain death if they do not sacrifice to the Roman gods, a group of Christians including Theodora and her friend Irene are advised to flee. Irene eloquently protests this advice in the following recitative and aria:

Ah! Whither should we fly, or fly from whom?
The Lord is still the same, today, for ever,
And his protection here, and everywhere.
Though gath'ring round our destin'd heads
The storm now thickens, and looks big with fate,
Still shall thy servants wait on Thee, O Lord,
And in thy saving mercy put their trust.

As with rosy steps the morn,
Advancing, drives the shades of night,
So from virtuous toil well-borne,
Raise Thou our hopes of endless light.
Triumphant saviour, Lord of day,
Thou art the life, the light, the way!
(da capo)

Words fail.

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Lord help us all

2008-09-13T01:32:00.003-05:00

I can’t help but marvel at how the majority of people in this world are blissfully unaware of the magnitude of disaster we are facing. (And I’m not talking about hurricanes…) It is as if everyone were so completely absorbed in watching a glorious sunset , forgetting in their awe and wonder that time is not standing still; that in a moment they will be plunged into night. We stand at this brink, for the light has not left us entirely, and all seem to assume that when the sun has gone, their way will continue to be well lit by the power of man, as it has been for generations. And when the lights fail to enter on cue, what then will be???

This is the fear that strikes into the hearts of those who, by clear knowledge or vague intuition, know that the dark is coming, but not when, or where, or how dark, or what to do. (Naturally, of course, we ought not fear, but yet that sense of trepidation lurks beneath our every move.)

We madmen can plainly see that the emperor is naked, but our voices are stifled by fear or force, and fall on the deaf ears of those who stubbornly refuse to admit that they could possibly be wrong. Oh the depth of the pride and the folly! We are flying headlong into what may be the most mysterious--and yet most consistently predicted--moment in all of history. And if you don’t know what moment in history I am talking about, brush up on your Marian apparitions and read the Book of Apocalypse (Revelation), Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah, Esdras, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21…and this list is by no means exhaustive. Here is an interesting link as well.

Nearly all of these accounts agree on enough points to be quite clear. Those of us who can see it coming like a monstrous storm on the horizon have no further proof than these. That, and the bone-deep knowledge that makes clear the ominous flashing of lightning far off in the distance. It will be swift; it will be complete; it will be painful; it will be soon.

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