I think mysticism and the study of mystical phenomena are different from scence in that often they are hard to put in a test tube and validate, so to speak. Sometimes, as for instance the Holy SHroud of Turin for instance they are subject to quite a lot of postive validation. Perhaps one of the most remarkable of all time was the Great Sign in the sky at Fatima witnessed by thousands of people , including Masons and unbelievers. It make me sad that many of our fellow Catholics, especially amongst the clergy are simply not open to these. I can understand an atheist not believing but it seems to me unreasonable for a person of Faith to close the door to such things as the whole Bible is a tapestry of miracles; for instance the greatest mystical event in all history; the Resurection of Jesus Christ from the Dead. View attachment 3413
I think people have many reasons for not been open to these in the CHurch is the gradual lost of Faith in the last three cnturies and the rise of Science and Technology. People of culture and education have a perfect horror of being thorugh, 'Backward' and 'Obscurantist', 'Primitive' (especially I have to say amongst the clergy) or to put it simply they do not want to seem stupid and backward, of being laughed at. They beleive in God in a vague general sense as someone, 'Up there', who does not really impact the reality of , 'Down here'. In essense though this is not a question of the brain , of the head but a lack of prayer and so it is a question of the heart. They are simply not praying enough and engaiging fully with the great mystical graces of the sacraments, especially the Mass, the Eucharist, the Word of God...and so their hearts become hardened. Blinded.
THat is not to say we should be gullible or ignorant; we must use discernment. But neither again does it mean totally closing the dors of our hearts, which must be ever open. Heaven is really only a whisper away..and I have to say, with the great spiritual war going on all around us, hell is only ever a footstep away. To ignore this, I believe poses a great threat to our spiritual well being.
DOOR TO HELL The site was identified by soviet engineers in 1971. It was originally thought to be a substantial oil field site. The engineers set up a drilling rig and camp nearby, and started drilling operations to assess the quantity of oil available at the site. When they instead found gas, the ground beneath the drilling rig and camp collapsed into a wide crater and disappeared. Expecting dangerous releases of poisonous gases from the cavern into the nearby towns, the engineers saw it as best to burn the gas off. The gas was estimated to burn out within a few weeks, but it has instead continued to burn for more than four decades after it was set on fire. Reportedly, local spiders are attracted to the heat and often throw themselves into the pit View attachment 3415
AC...oh life just keeps getting better and better...lol God Bless ya Beth!!! What a back yard you have, its better than mine.
Oh infant....that's a lot of ground to mow! Admittedly, I don't mow ours, hubby has a riding mower....and even with that he is sick of it! Makes you wonder how the poor old farmer from day of old managed....hope we never have to find out....uggggg
Oh, by the way....there would be nothing that I would love more than to have this great group of the MOG family with me !! That would be the most awesome group to be with! All of you good souls....
I think it is true to say that prayer is the doorway to the mystical. Since many have abandoned prayer then they cannot even see the door never mind pass through it!
One thing I'm sure...that we will all meet ...if not here...in a much better world....and that is the absolutely best reason for everyone to be joyful! Sooner, or later, were outta here
I was just thinking last night that I don't recall it getting dark by 8:30 this time of year but maybe it does and I just am more in tune to nature than usually. Every year on the sunday before Labor Day we have a huge firework show in the City. It always starts at 9:05 because it is dark, but it was dark at 8:30 this past year. Maybe that is the proof I need to say it is getting dark earlier but who knows.