I believe Ireland is beginning to wake up. We have started a children's rosary in our Parish. We have it before the vigil Mass on Saturday evenings. We are so pleased at the number of children turning up with their families. Also families are coming and the children are not going to kneel on the Altar but participate from the body of the church. One of my daughters was never inclined to say the rosary. She is married with a young family. Every pilgrimage over the years I brought her back some religious souvenire and didn't ever see them. Lately I called to her house and she has an altar with everything on display. She also took up the rosary for Lent and she prays it with her children. I couldn't believe it. I have been praying for this for years. We will rise as fast as we fell by the grace of God.
. I pray her husband join the rest of the family in the Rosary. A father's participation seals the deal and influences the children immensely! Saint Joseph, intercede on behalf of this father, that he take up the role God has given as the spiritual head of the family.
I am very, very, very glad you report this maryrose. It's not only lovely to hear . . . but over just the last years or so I have started to feel the same thing. I've never felt this before. Since I first came here in 2004, it has all felt down, down, and further down. But mysteriously in the last year or so, I start to feel something different is happening. I wonder if anyone else here in Ireland feels this?
Just going to post my latest Irish 'video' here. I say 'video' as it's only a voice-only episode with my wife and I discussing the Irish situation. Before the 'video' I just paste in something taken from a letter I just sent to my mailing list: My own culture . . . I mean that I am English by blood, but American by birth. So I really am Anglo-American! Anyway, here is the 'video' on YouTube:
I feel a bit odd about this . . . but I'm going to ask a favour. If any of you here do see this and you like it—could you please hit the like button or even leave a comment? Even a very small comment of 2-3 words would be most appreciated . . . It's not just that it's good to get a sense of what people think—it's also that I really want to promote this video. As I indicated above, it's unusually important to me. As I said, it feels like the most significant thing I've ever posted on YouTube—in 8 years of posting now. And likes and comments do help with the algorithm . . . Thank you if you can help in any way. And I wish you all a most blessed and joyous Easter!
I place this episode from my wife here, which does not directly relate to Ireland, but which does—unusually for us—feature her speaking of her interior experience of Grace and Miracles, at least minor miracles . . . as many of you also speak at this forum. Something I personally find moving at this forum . . . I also find my wife very moving here, too. But then, of course, I'm biased !
A controversial departure for me here, which could startle, but I pray not upset, good people on both the Right and the Left. Wide-ranging video raising matters as varied as the beauty in Pope Leo; Pope Francis— God rest his soul; St. John Paul II; Pope Benedict on Wolves in the Vatican; Civil War in the Church; Henry Sire's The Dictator Pope; Shielding Sexual Abuse; Synodality—and the Sacred Majesty of St. Peter’s Throne. There is a Table of Contents with Timestamps so you can easily navigate through it.
Another video conversation between my wife and myself— with a lot about Ireland . . . Very personal and autobiographical about not only our initial conversion 25 years ago, but how over conversion has just kept deepening over the years. Our faith, deepening by the Grace of God, over 25 years. This Grace includes, I know, Providence leading us to this still sacred, holy island . . . yes, still . . . which did more for my faith than I will ever know how to say. There are also things from my wife regarding inner experience I'd find hard to speak of. Still, I'm very touched and moved by what she says, even if, of course, I'm biased . . .
A new video from me that is, frankly, completely NUTS—like no video I've ever done . . . (Although those who enjoyed the humour of the Gentle Traditionalist may recognise something similarly madcap here . . . ) It's both ridiculous—yet paradoxically extremely serious. And filled with my passion for Ireland . . . God bless you all. And God save Ireland!
And now the Long Version . . . an Apparently Lunatic Video on Very Serious Matters, including the New Age, the Church, Capitalism and Ireland. A lot here on Ireland. Saving Ireland — saving Ireland from my own culture, including but not limited to the New Age Movement coming out of my own culture . . .
