The safest place is to take the least place at the table, as Jesus advised. In that way as Jesus hinted , the only place you can go is up. In either case how do I know that the last place is where I am supposed to sit. I admit often I wonder if I should be sitting at the table at all. Me and the two dogs. Luke 14:10 The Parable of the Guests …9Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”…
Well...but the Fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of Wisdom. That was video is based on the Prophet Zephaniah and solidly pertains to our times. Fear of the Lord indeed.
Carol55 I just bought Birch's book and I have seen that timeline Not sure where the Warning fits in Several locutionists have messages containing Information that the Warning is near
'The Earth cries out' Pope Francis Moses' Song 40 'Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say, as I live forever, 41 If I sharpen My flashing sword, And My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, And I will repay those who hate Me. 42 'I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.' It is not the Earth crying out. It is not Global Warming. It is God's Justice.
I went to Confession today for the First Friday and First Saturday. Examining my conscience, I had to face up to the fact that I must take my share of the blame. Blaming the Pope and Bishops won't heal my own soul. The priest told me that criticising is ok provided I do so with charity. I need to work on the charity part. It's better to be humble than to be right especially when I'm in no position to effect change other than by prayer and sacrifice. So, best for me to button my virtual lip. Today's Mass readings are relevant to the current controversy surrounding the "development" of Doctrine. Somehow, the message of the homily at the Mass I attended managed to boil the readings down to "do good works". My lip is buttoned. Here's a link to the readings: http://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_reading/ Now, read this response from an Evangelical theologian to some nonsense from Jesuit Fr. James Martin: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/...l-theologian-responds-to-fr-james-martin-s-j/ It's heartbreaking to see a Protestant set a Jesuit straight on God's truth. Even more heartbreaking when I recall that the theologian is of a Christian denomination recently attacked in an official Vatican publication and Fr. Martin is part of the Vatican's Communications Department.
All the news lately just reminds me to focus on what the Blessed Mother would do if she was still here on her earthly pilgrimage. And it always comes back to 'Keep Watch and Pray,' just like Blessed Mother did when the time came for the passion and death of her only Son. I keep thinking how the Jewish faith was practiced and abused by those in authority at the time of Our Lord. It seems nothing has changed much in four thousand years. How patient is our God with humanity. As long as we pray hope and don't worry. Jesus is in control of everything. Heavenly Father has given Jesus authority to conquer and put all under His Holy Feet. We just need to Trust Jesus, Pray and Keep watch, clinging to Jesus and His Way, His Truth, His Life. Safe in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The videos about the three fountains in Italy and the man who was going to kill blessed Pius XII, has confirmed what I have felt in all this chaos for a long time. All we can do is Love and Forgive, and Jesus will take care of everything. Praised You Jesus, I Trust You with all my heart and soul and mind and body to take care of everything. Amen.
I'm not denying what you say here, but I also know that if it weren't for the efforts of folk like Mac, forum members would still be blissfully asleep at the wheel regarding the reality of our day. Sometimes we have a duty and an obligation to speak up, even if it's just on a little forum like MOG.
HH, You are correct, he does not mention the Warning or the Illumination of Conscience. I almost included where I think the Warning will be in that "timeline" but I decided to stick with what Birch has, more or less, I condensed it a little bit but I think it still remains true to what he states. If there are any errors in it feel free to let me know. Thank you.
In this post I read that in the upcoming book interview by Dominique Wolton (to be released september 6) our pope, the pope of the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church, supports civil unions for gay couples: https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=32577 I just can't believe it! I am appalled, it fills me with sorrow...
From your link: Elsewhere in the interview the Pope: Said that the Church must re-examine just-war theory. He said: “No war is just. The only just thing is peace.” Indicated that he remains opposed to legal recognition of same-sex marriage, but favors the acceptance of civil unions. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html Considerations Regarding Proposals To Give Legal Recognition To Unions Between Homosexual Persons Excerpt: "In those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty. One must refrain from any kind of formal cooperation in the enactment or application of such gravely unjust laws and, as far as possible, from material cooperation on the level of their application. In this area, everyone can exercise the right to conscientious objection." ... CONCLUSION 11. The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions. The common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society. Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behaviour, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society, but would also obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity. The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the good of men and women and for the good of society itself. The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, in the Audience of March 28, 2003, approved the present Considerations, adopted in the Ordinary Session of this Congregation, and ordered their publication. Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 3, 2003, Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs. Joseph Card. Ratzinger Prefect Angelo Amato, S.D.B. Titular Archbishop of Sila Secretary Heretic. Pure and simple.
http://m.ncregister.com/blog/msgr-pope/scrapping-the-just-war-teaching-is-a-bad-idea#.WaofmUEpDYU Scrapping the Just War Teaching is a Bad Idea Posted by Msgr. Charles Pope on Friday May 13th, 2016 at 2:38 AM Participants at a conference hosted by the Vatican called for the Catholic Church to renounce her just war doctrine and instead develop a new peacemaking framework “consistent with Gospel nonviolence.” Count me among those who are less than enthusiastic about such a demand. The Just War Theory (or teaching) is admittedly poorly named. For indeed, it role is not to justify war per se, but to rationally and reasonably limit recourse to it, and when it does come, limit the means and tactics used. Perhaps as never before, the many nations are taking its claims more seriously; more on that in a moment. But lets review the teaching, which is stated clearly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It distinguishes two aspects: Jus ad bellum – the criteria related to the right to go to war Jus in bello – once in war what limits must be observed in terms of tactics and military measures? The Criteria to be met in order to regrettably enter a conflict with military retaliation is well summarized in the Catechism. The “right to go to war (jus ad bellum) requires the following: The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time: the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain; all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; there must be serious prospects of success; the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition. These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine. The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good. (# 2309). Once a war is engaged, the Catechism states the norms that must be observed. The rights, the laws, in a declared war (jus in bello) are described in catechism as follows: "The mere fact that war has regrettably broken out does not mean that everything becomes licit between the warring parties." Non-combatants, wounded soldiers, and prisoners must be respected and treated humanely. Actions deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes, as are the orders that command such actions. Blind obedience does not suffice to excuse those who carry them out. Thus the extermination of a people, nation, or ethnic minority must be condemned as a mortal sin. One is morally bound to resist orders that command genocide. "Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation." A danger of modern warfare is that it provides the opportunity to those who possess modern scientific weapons especially atomic, biological, or chemical weapons - to commit such crimes. (CCC 2112 -1215) These principles have been eminently helpful in assessing war and limiting its effects. Consider World War II. Although is arguably true that the US and her Allies had a right, a just cause to go to war, it is also arguable that, once in the war, we violated many norms of the Just War teaching. We indiscriminate tactics such as carpet bombing, and fire bombing. These methods did not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, the materials of war and things needed for survival. The methods were severe in unprecedented ways. It will be granted that atrocities occurred on both sides and that, especially in Japan, it was not always easy to distinguish combatants and non-combatants. Recently however, technologies largely inspired by and influenced by the notions of the Just War Teaching have come a long way in being more careful to target true combatants. This is done through smart-bomb technology, lasers, more precise radar, and satellite imagery. I would argue that the Catholic and Christian teachings on so called “just war” have had a positive role in insisting on and urging the development of such technologies. Thus, at the very time it is most influential and helpful, some are proposing the complete elimination of a teaching that goes back 1,500 years. And what do they argue we replace it with? The conference members are not even sure! They argue “for the Church to instead develop a new peacemaking framework “consistent with Gospel nonviolence.” So we are supposed to scrap an ancient teachings that arguably has had good influence, for something that hasn’t even been developed yet? Count me out of any enthusiasm regarding such a proposal. I consider such a move rash and undisciplined. The conference group seems content to gather, issue their non placet (disagreement) with the Just War teaching, call for scrapping it, and then go home leaving a vacuum behind them. They offer no new vision, not even additions to the current teaching. Perhaps they left Rome thinking they had accomplished something? Count me among those who don’t think they did. The Just War Teaching, provides important insights and reasonable principles that seek to limit the recourse to war and its effects. It has not always been well observed by nations, but it remains a clear and cautionary plea from the Church that balances the need for legitimate national defense with the awful reality of war and a reminder that we must limit recourse to it and tactics used therein. It is well rooted in Scripture and Tradition. It is the best that we currently have. It would be rash to remove it without a credible and reasonable alternative.
Thank you and blessings to you, Carol, for your work in synthesizing Birch's worthy work. Regarding communism, it is already here; however, not the economic communism which Venezuelans and Cubans suffer. No we are suffering the pains of cultural Marxism. The destruction of the family, our legal system, our governments, everything is in a state of decadence. Evil in our culture is seen as good, as the debauchment of children, and now gender; and good is seen as evil.
The article cites Pope Francis' friendship with "Esther Ballestrino de Careaga, an Argentine Communist activist, who “taught me how to think about political reality.” This is an interview while he was then Cardinal. He said he met her when both were working in a laboratory, and she was his boss.
Dolours I too went to Confession in prep for First Saturday. I too am facing the demands of charity. I have been struggling with this where the Church is concerned for awhile. It is very dangerous terrain and that old maxim "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all" may be apt here. I am grateful to the watchmen on the wall who are calling out the errors but a holy priest told me when I first brought this to Confession after Amorim Laetitia was promulgated: " you have a right to be angry. But God has permitted this as part of the purification. We must pray. It will not be allowed to stand. I think we just keep taking it to the Lord in prayer and offer every sacrifice and mortification we can for our beloved Church. Speak when we must but always with great charity. I am grateful to be a very little soul and not in any great authority. I tremble for the souls I do have in my "territory" and how I must answer for them. Imagine the grave responsibilities of Bishops and Cardinals who must fight the wolves. And I think of the Pope and what is required of him. It frightens me. The Angel of Fatima said Pray! pray! Pray! I beg the Lord for the grace to keep oil in my lamp.
Yes Padraig. It is God's justice. And like "birth pains" it will only increase. More and more I see parallels to the Old Testsment and to the Israelites. The worship of baals. So many bloody idols across our lands. Our Lady came in 1917 to warn us and brought a sign of Biblical proportions to seal her words. But we have learned nothing!! Nothing. I am astounded at the blindness and can only plead with Our Lady to hold on to me tight in this raging storm around us that I may persevere to the end. I have NO trust in myself. None. But for God's mercy and grace I would be the blindest of all. "O my Jesus forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven especially those in most need of Thy mercy. "
Tanker how wonderful to be at such a gathering. Thank you for telling us about it. I too have to give myself a shake. It is disorienting. Right before Mass yesterday I had this sudden thought. We are all in the Garden of Gethsemsne now with Jesus. And Satan wants to sift us like wheat. And I prayed to stay awake and watchful. It is so hard because I am so weak. Very comforting to read your post. Truth is comforting.
Yes I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior. We are all part of this. We have all sadly contributed to the state of things. Well at least I have. God has dealt so mercifully with me. I don't want to be the unjust servant and fail to be merciful to others or fail to see my own part in this state we find ourselves.
