I think Christians in USA should stop with political activism (although it's entirely their right to continue doing so, if they feel they should or must) and simply PRAY. Pray. And PRAY HARD. My childhood (Protestant) church's attitude was "Watch and pray." I never heard a political sermon or political comments from the pulpit. At this point it seems we've reached pointless striving. A hymn I recall: Jesus now, more than ever We are sailing through stormy weather All His children should get together For we need Jesus now more than ever.
It is the single most powerful thing we can do along with fasting. I myself often think that praying is not enough when in fact it is the best thing we can do. And Heaven has repeatedly asked for prayer from us. We need a 2x4 to the head before we sometimes listen
I'm a bit confused by your statement above. Are you suggesting that we here in the U.S. should not vote with what Christ teaches about killing of the innocent in terms of abortion, or against homosexual union, or against vice ? I think I'm not understanding what you are getting at.
I get what DS7 is saying. The time has come for evil to have its reign, so while we should vote according to our conscience and convictions etc, it is only through prayer and sacrifice that souls will be saved and that of this will end. Prayer is THE thing that we should be doing the most. And for souls called to human actions in their missions (eg politicians, lawyers, etc) all of these can become prayer if we offer all our actions to glorify God. The thing is the Spirit has to lead us in our missions and we have to turn over everything we do to His Will so that not a single moment of our lives is lost. Our Blessed Mother has been telling us for decades to "Pray, pray, pray..."
I think abortion being legalized forced Christian's into political activism but prayer has remained too. No one in the abortion battle denies the need of prayer first--unless they are atheists.
I always love what St Teresa of Avila said. I may be wrong , but I believe according to Catholic Teaching Catholics actually have a moral obligation to vote. This to me implies an obligation to at least some minimal political involvement. https://www.ewtn.com/vote/download/moralguide.pdf 'Guide to Moral DutiesConcerning VotingWe encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life. . . . Every actof responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power. We must exercise that power in ways that defend human life, especially those of God's children who are unborn, disabled or otherwise vulnerable. We get the public officials we deserve. Their virtue–or lack thereof–is a judgment not only on them, but on us. Because of this we urge our fellow citizens to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically and to choose their political leaders according to principle, notparty affiliation or mere self-interest.[Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics34, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 1' It reminds me of the old French saying, 'There is no more radical political action a person can take than not to involve oneself in politics'.
Thank you for all the replies. Vote, yes. My childhood church, besides teaching "watch and pray" also taught "vote as you believe the Spirit is guiding you." What I mean is this: Lots of people are LOST. This has especially been driven home to me since early 2017. I used to cut most everyone quite a bit of slack. Since all this ongoing mayhem? I can't. "We all like sheep have gone astray." Humans do have reasoning skills but lots of people DON'T use their reasoning skills. So PRAYER. I'm seeing things all around me which brings the phrase "it's like talking to a brick wall" to mind. So PRAYER.
I think America is sadly lost or in the process of being lost as each generation passes. What you see on the TV right now, all these young, angry kids protesting, are hardly the type to be at church ever Sunday, let alone prayer every night. This struggle now is between the old, Christian ways of this country slowly dying with the death of each baby boomer to this new country and path towards complete socialism and lack of God in the forefront that honestly seems inevitable to me. This line of thought has been beaten into Americans mainly in colleges starting back in the 1980's if not even sooner with the sexual revolution of the 60's and 70's. In the last 15 years, you have seen this mass exodus from the Catholic church into these mega feel good churches where you grab your latte and donuts then all get together in a big auditorium and listen to a sermon on how if you pray hard enough for successes and wealth you will have it. Or you watch some part of Disney movie, then get a sermon on it. There is hardly any worship in these services. What this country will look like in the next 20 years is really frightening to me. Of course there will always be people of God and prayerful folks so one can only hope that their dedicated prayerlife and love for God is strong enough for the rest of the country.
Yes. And I'll add that husband and I have lost EVERY friend, who also claim to be Christian, since 2017, because of political wrangling (mostly husband and them). The latest is a 30-year friend of husband's who went off on an expletive-filled rant after husband (who is disabled) had helped his uncle fix a car for 6 hours. This friend is also Roman Catholic, like my (lapsed) husband. Husband is pro-Trump; friend thinks Open Borders is a terrific idea (his daughters? granddaughter??) and voted for Hillary. Husband didn't get paid. Friend still hasn't apologized. Prayer has apparently fallen by the wayside. In 2005 I befriended a Baptist woman online (I was also Protestant then). I was taken aback at how deeply political she and husband are. She claims to believe God is in control and that unfolding events are God's prophesied will (the Book of Revelations)...yet she and husband are increasingly tied in knots and with ulcers over Nancy Pelosi, Muslims, Justin Trudeau (they reside in Canada), etc. They fight online with anyone & everyone. DO they believe God is in control? DO they believe Bible prophecies will be fulfilled no matter what? I wonder. Now I must resume my work day.
Well said, in this month, I've been spending less and less time focused on politics and more on praying for peoples' conversion.
I always liked what Professor Jordan Petersen said, 'Clean up your damned bedroom'. In other words convert the entire world beginning with yourself. Start by cleaning your own bedroom first. We know what these young people are saying in public. But I sense so much in their hearts that they are not saying. Things like, 'I hurt', 'I'm in pain' , 'I feel a deep inner emptiness'. 'Life seems futile'. 'Where am I going'. 'Why do I feel such rage?' 'What's the point?' Certainly they are angry, but maybe they are more angry at themselves. Life can be very, very hard indeed. But how terrible to face it without Faith. Without God there is only ever deep unhappiness, for as St Augustine said,
Don't be so quick to come to that conclusion. As a friend of mine pointed out, there are alot more people at Trump's rallys, that are peaceful, than are showing up to riot.
I agree but when you look at the audience demographics, majority are over 50. That is why I am saying we are just a generation off from many of these God loving Americans who will have gone home to our Father, then what are we left with?
You may be worrying unnecessarily. After the Brexit vote in UK in 2016, there was a huge push from the left for another vote. Because it was presumed the Brexit voters were all old and they would die off and the remaining votes were from the younger generation who media informed us, wanted to remain in Europe. Well lo and behold when the election finally came, it was the party which promised to get UK out of Europe who won hands down. So you would be very surprised how many younger voters actually are conservative in their thinking, but have to keep their true feelings secret so as not to be seen as the odd one out. It seems prayer and trust is far more powerful than any of us realise. Keep Watch and Pray. There are a lot of God loving younger people out there.
I think any young person who chooses God at this time is very,very special indeed. Light shines brightest when it is darkest. The only problem is that Our Lady has warned we have only a very limited time for conversion and then it may be to late. Twilight is upon us.
Fear not Andy, we are at the cusp of God's decisive intervention. Even if we are martyred, a new generation will enter the Era of Peace! Alleluia! Safe in the Father's Arms!
You certainly love that song, Padraig. Over the years you must have posted it six or seven times. As much as you like Abide With Me, I like Be Thou My Vision. How I love You, Jesus, but not yet enough!
Such an Irish hymn. The High Kind, the Ard Ri was King of Kings. Sometimes walking in the forest in the middle of nowhere I suddenly come across a little spot, perhaps a glade or well which is imbued with holiness and I think perhaps some saint, some hermit has sent a lifetime praying there centuries before, perhaps even some little monastery.
