In theory, yes, you can reverse fertility by banning abortions, abolishing contraception, banning all anti-family initiatives and policies, and strengthening pro-natalist policies. However, in practice, because of society and the lobbies that practically rule everything, that is almost impossible. I think the message of Fatima that the final battle will be fought over the family was not emphasized for no reason, that it would be the last battle. These things are very difficult to reverse. After that, God steps in; there is nothing beyond that. There are probably a thousand things that could be said on this topic, but let's just take two basic ones that have emerged over the last 15 years or so and have drastically reduced fertility. For men, it is online pornography, although a large proportion of its users are women as well, and for women, it is social media. Throughout all of human history, for a man to win over a woman, he had to invest in the relationship. Sexuality was always viewed as the highest goal of the relationship between a man and a woman, and its consummation in marriage resulted in offspring. Christianity sees this as a reflection of God's creation, the greatest gift God has given us: a man and a woman, in love, creating new life. There is nothing greater than that... and this is not just a matter of Christianity. Every culture in the world, whether tribal, Muslim, or Hindu, valued chastity—that is, virginity—as the only proper way to enter marriage because it is a value not only for the woman but also for civilization itself. Fulton Sheen says that women determine how exalted every civilization is. However, today, for a man to achieve a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, he no longer needs another person. We have crossed out that spiritual and social aspect, satisfying only the physical need, where with one click you have access to millions of pieces of sexual content. Every day, more than 150 million people watch pornography. That is love directed toward oneself, not another person, and no new life is created there. There is no investment and no creation. Women, on the other hand, throughout history received affection from men. We might say that a man would even jump into a well if necessary for the woman he loved. The more feminine a woman was—not only in beauty but also in behavior—the more highly she was valued. That was where she received the attention of suitors trying to impress her. Today, however, social media has replaced that segment because attention is no longer directed toward building relationships and marriage, attention aimed at finding a spouse, but rather toward vanity and collecting likes on any kind of content that satisfies the human ego. In other words, men have been handed the naked female body on a platter through online pornography, while women have received attention for free and in enormous quantities through social media, where many of them sell their femininity. Keep in mind that smartphones only came out in 2007/08, online pornography expanded around those years, and social media has only really taken on this form over the last ten years with Instagram. Look a little deeper into these relationships, especially those of you who have more experience with raising children in the past. Almost all of your focus was on raising your children. You might have watched one news broadcast a day and read perhaps the front page of a newspaper. Now look at today: we are constantly bombarded with news—an earthquake in Venezuela, wars in the Middle East, an assassination of this or that person, ecological disasters, celebrities, dramas in TV series and films... Our brains were not created to worry nonstop, to be constantly occupied with pessimistic content, because then we lose focus on what matters most: the family, and ultimately God. Again, take child-rearing. In the past, you raised a child within the family, and that child grew up in the neighborhood with other children. That was where 99% of the values were formed. Outside influences barely reached them, and you were able to control them. Today, a child in Ireland can grow up with the same values as a child in Nepal, India, or France if they watch the same YouTuber, the same vlog, or read the same content. The child grows up in your home while acquiring values and learning from a person neither you nor the child has ever met, and those values shape their upbringing. Imagine that back in the 1990s some stranger had approached your child and told them how to behave toward their parents, school, or religion... you would probably have called the police immediately, and it's possible that person would have received a slap from you. Today, however, because we live in the age of technology, we have normalized it. In other words, we have removed the relationship between man and woman, reducing it to a primitive, lower form of satisfying only physical needs, while we have also replaced the relationship between parent and child with concern for everything and anything except children, leaving children to be raised by such a society. That is why today it has never been harder for people who have values to find a partner who also values those same principles—because they themselves must possess them—and to raise children, because danger stands at every step. This is only a small segment of the decline, but when you go a little deeper into these issues, you realize just how diabolical it really is, and how suddenly this change occurred.
Perhaps all the above has contributed to the increase in homeschooling and its related networks, which I believe can counter most of the above negative influences, especially if the husband joins in educating the children in a course or two, like "Religion." Educational co-ops help with socializing and family interactions.
Prayers for all. All this certainly seems to be a Sign of the Times. Everyone talks about Global Warming, no one talks of a Chastisement, a consequence of sin. Not even the Vatican: https://spiritdaily.org/blog/vatican-newspaper-highlights-global-temperatures/
The Vatican emphasizes the physical...food, comfort, housing for all, with no mention of our immortal soul.
The problem is that instead of having God as God they Worship Man as God and instead of a Church that is the mystical Bride of Christ they are creating a New Church , a False Church they make from their own ideas. All this is based in the most incredible pride. That they know better than God. Like Little Lucifers.
I think the problem with ignorance is that ignorant people think they know more than they do. They don't have eyes or ears that work, so they cut a swath of chaos wherever they go.
I agree. I remember when Pope Francis was elected, cardinal cupich said on an interview that the Pope was too busy with immigration and climate change to address abortion right now. I saw it directly on the news....no link. That was just the beginning...
Anyone experiencing sleep issues say the past 2 weeks? I am finding that I am maybe getting 5 hours of total sleep in the night and some nights wake up 4 times then struggle to fall back asleep.
Yes!! Horrible! But last night was good. I wondered if it might be from not drinking enough water. The weirdest dreams.
Yes dreams have been crazy too. Earlier in the week I had trouble two nights in a row falling asleep because for some reason couldn't get the 3 days of darkness out of my head and kept planning and strategizing around what I would need to do with enough lead up time to such an event given my kids are not with me 100% of the time from the divorce years ago.
BE ALERT: Some of the worst Air Quality worldwide has arrived in northern Ohio. The current AQI in parts of Toledo are over 600 which is twice the limit that’s considered “HAZARDOUS”. It’s advised to avoid all strenuous activity outdoors and those with respiratory issues to remain indoors to avoid respiratory problems.
My sister in the UP of Michigan can hardly breathe. The worst it’s ever been. I go outside and can smell smoke. We are very hazy but nothing like it is just north of us.
The sun is still trying to shine thru all the smoke in Calumet. While I was driving home this morning the smoke was just rolling in like fog. This has to be the worst of all the years we’ve been getting smoke from Canadian fires. (Calumet is in Michigan’s Upper peninsula)
I have been praying and thinking about things. I have an idea that something very bad has happened in secret in Rome in the Vatican. I suspect they are planning to do something really, really horrific which will bring the fullness of the Tribulation forward a lot. I did not think it would come for maybe another 3 to 5 years but because of what they plan in Rome it will be lots sooner now. I think this might effect sleep patterns. I would guess it is something to do with the Mass. I hope someone decent will spill the beans. Or maybe they've been doing even more Black Masses than they usually do.
Yes! When the tornado touched down yesterday, I felt complete thick black darkness. The air was so thick, I felt the anger of evil because I have blessed crucifix's on all the entryways and could not damage it. It went around our home and heavily damaged the home across the street.
I think this is what is meant by the Spirits of the Air. They also for instance make funny patterns with the clouds. Ephesians 2:2: "In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient
