As things are escalating in the world as unbelief and darkness grow then I see very real possibilities that within our lifetime very real and substantial persecution is coming our way. As I continue to convert and grow in the love of God which I am at present free to do without much interference from the world I am in a place of comfort. But when the time comes will I be converted enough to be able to stand up to the real persecutions that will be coming our way? Will I be like a shrinking violet and retreat into my cave like Peter and deny all knowledge of Him? I know by grace I can do all things but am I really prepared to make a stand and shed my blood for Him? That means to go beyond a place of fear to a place of trust even in the midst of persecution and martyrdom. We may not have to shed our blood but we should not be surprised if in due course we have to make a real stand and be prepared to shed our blood for the faith. I would like to think I would. I am pretty certain I would. But no one really knows until they enter the furnace fire!!
If the word has not converted, it will be blood that converts. —POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II, from poem Stanislaw
It’s our very sleepiness to the presence of God that renders us insensitive to evil: we don’t hear God because we don’t want to be disturbed, and so we remain indifferent to evil… the disciples’ sleepiness is not a problem of that one moment, rather of the whole of history, ‘the sleepiness’ is ours, of those of us who do not want to see the full force of evil and do not want to enter into his Passion. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, Catholic News Agency, Vatican City, Apr 20, 2011, General Audience
These are extraordinary times. I think the hour for extraordinary heroism is coming to all of us. Mark Mallett blog 23 March 2017
I hope and pray for final perseverance. To shed blood would be a great grace.['and straight to Heaven] Am I worthy to shed blood and be counted a martyr? ...no way. I do like this though. I pray sometimes for this.It would make up for my sins a little bit. Last week I attended a prayer vigil outside our capitals abortion hospital.Wow did we get a lot of abuse. I was a bit taken aback at how much abuse we got.Not just from the pro choice people but from the general public. I cant wait to go back and get abused some more
I cant wait to go back and get abused some more Made me laugh out loud Mac with that retort. Yes, the hostility is very real. The unholy do not like the holy!
First of all, I go on MOG site twice a day & I love reading everything. In this crazy world, it's so comforting to feel I belong among others who love Jesus, His Blessed Mother, and all that's holy. I don't post often but once in a while I feel moved to. About being prepared to shed my blood one day.....I think about it often especially since I see how much real persecution people get for standing up for their morals, religious beliefs...basically what is true and good (even more now in US). I think I read somewhere that some institution is banning wearing religious items. I always wear a crucifix around my neck. Nothing too big. I wear a miraculous medal ring and scapular under my clothes. I always think about a scenario where I would be told that I must remove these items. I say to myself that I would not...that they would have to cut my head off first. If I'm told to renounce my faith, I would reverently recite the Apostles Creed. When praying the Apostles Creed, I feel so fortified in my faith. I say these things but like you Mac, I hope I would have he grace and courage to do so.....especially if the persecutors threaten harm to my children. Mac, by standing up in front of an abortion facility, you are already proving you have God's Grace in you. That's the only way you could do that. You are staring evil in its ugly face and you risk being persecuted for it! Keep it up! I continue to be inspired by all of you! God Bless!
Good Thread Garabandal, this is my opinion : My Blood as my Soul are for the Lord as for the Lady and I am ready, the Lord can count on me at any time, if I had a single request, I will Pray our Lord to put me on the First Line, this would be my only wish and that the will of God be made, thank you.
Father John Hardon SJ, prayed throughout his priesthood for the gift of martyrdom and this he received, but not through blood. His was a dry martyrdom. He was despised by most of his fellow Jesuits. He was spurned by most in the modern world for his orthodoxy to God's truth and was marginalized by all who wanted the new way. As for my part, I will take whatever God's will has in plan for me. But, whether a blood or dry martyrdom, we will all go through one or the other in the end. God's will be done.
I read we get special angelic assistance when called to die for our faith. This gives me hope that I could complete the sacrifice. I do know that if I am asked to not wear my scapular at work, that would be the day I resign.
Like you, it would be the threat of my children that would be my weakness. I pray it wouldn't ever come to that. It is said, God only gives you what you can handle, and that I couldn't. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us!
I got a lot of pushback from the LGBTQ snowflakes locally for this letter. (The replies following my letter to the editor on the local newspaper web site are a good example.) Does that count for something? http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2017/03/letter-to-editor-dr-brain-kopp.html Letter To Editor Yes, Rome is burning, but we still have work to do With everything that is transpiring today in the Vatican, all these issues of seemingly “biblical proportions,” it's easy to forget the more mundane but very real problems back here at home. Sometimes they seem to pale in comparison to the historic, global, and not necessarily good and holy, chaos in Rome. We live in a small sleepy rust belt steel town of about 22,000 souls in west central Pennsylvania. Not much happens here, but the local city council in controlled by left wing Democrats (redundant, I know) who have subtly advanced ordinances aimed at “economic growth” through “equality” and “diversity.” As is always the case of late, this form of “tolerance” means advancing the LGBTQ agenda, and specifically allowing the unfortunate gender confused snowflakes here to use the restroom of their choice. Friends were attending a recent city council meeting where the ordinances were being discussed, and begged us to attend as part of an ecumenical pro-family rally on the steps of city hall. I had plenty of reason to decline. I’m recovering from some pretty serious health trouble, so Catholic, pro life and pro family activism has been placed on the back burner. The day of the city council meeting I couldn’t sleep the night before, I had my first job interview since the strokes at 10:00am, an appointment with my spiritual director at 1:00pm, and the rally and city council meeting at 5:30pm. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much, but after surviving 5 strokes, fatigue is my biggest issue, and I would have had ample excuse to bow out. I did so without any qualms of conscience many times over the last year, but my wife encouraged me to go, and its providential that we did. Today our local paper published a letter to the editor that I wrote while sitting in that cramped city council meeting. As you read it, I think it becomes obvious why this point needed to be made: Letter to the editor Sexual predators manipulate laws I attended the Johnstown City Council meeting recently where an ordinance to promote the homosexual agenda was debated. Opposition to this agenda is neither hate, bigotry, intolerance nor opposition to equality. The speakers, however, prove once again that verbal engineering always precedes social engineering. One of the first individuals I saw at the meeting was a registered sex offender whom I taught years ago. His status meant that I could not bring my young children with me into the classroom. I sincerely hope he has repented of his crime and reformed his life. At this meeting he was helping to hold a large LGBTQ sign. It is a fact that sexual predators are using this type of law to gain access to their victims and actively propagandizing for it. The increase in this type of crime is well documented in the media and literature. Innocent LGBTQ individuals should not suffer discrimination, but we must protect our wives and children from sexual predators. Women’s and children’s privacy, safety and personal security far outweigh the supposed rights of those suffering from an unfortunate gender identity disorder. Opposition to this ordinance is not hate. It is vitally necessary and it is our solemn duty to protect those we love. This man said hello when he recognized my wife and proudly showed off his rainbow “marriage” ring to her. But his face stirred dark memories; a quick search on my cell phone found this violent sex offender on multiple internet registries. I could easily have justified not attending this particular city council meeting. Compared to the real problems at the top of the universal Church, a city council meeting in a little town of 22,000 pales in comparison. But we can’t fix the Church universal right now, so lets keep working and having an impact back here at home. Fortunately the local ordinances were shelved at the last meeting. Maybe this letter will help wake up this sleepy little town so they stay there.
When I think of my child's life being threatened, I remember that it would be far worse for him to be taken and turned away from God. So I would almost feel relief if he would be killed first. Of course I do pray it never happens as well. But if he is dead, then he is safe in that kind of nightmare.
I have less fear of dying than I do of being stripped of my Scapular, Miraculous Medal, etc. like Rosalia mentioned above. Of course I have no children and am not married so it would be easier for me than for others. I also have more of a fear of imprisonment than dying.
Yes I am, but it depends. Bullet in the head : no problem. Instant, easy, in heaven before you can say "Canonisation". However if long, slow torture over a number days ( e,g, in the film "Silence" where the priest publicly apostasises but interiorly remains Catholic) , I might need supernatural grace to say "yes". Crucifixion can take up to 7 days. I would so much rather have a bullet in the head or be strangled or thrown off a tall building.
Some... maybe many here will suffer the martyr's fate but .... being a martyr does mean one is required to submit meekly to evil or abrogate one's duty to protect yourself, family, friends or innocents! GOD SAVE ALL HERE!! View attachment 6271
