So Strange. What Professor Jordan Peterson is saying about sex here sounds exactly what the Catholic Church has been saying for 2,000 years now. He is coming to this from a different direction, but arriving at the same place. Very comforting. It's tempting to say, 'I told you so!'
Yes Padraig, the above is a prime example of the "Prayer of the Faithful" going off the rails. I safely admit that it grabs one's attention. But it never was to be constructed to become an examination of conscience! Yeesh! Also, pray for me; one of my high school classmates came up recently to his camp on Lake Ontario. He stopped in for Sunday Mass on a weekend when I happened to be preaching and decided, unbeknownst to me, it would be great to have me preach down in Syracuse in September on the weekend of my high school class's 50th anniversary (Yeesh!) A former pastor of mine will be celebrating the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass features the following Gospel from Mark 8: Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” There's part of me that wants to run for the hills!
The Promise of Jesus is such a comfort. That in the time of need He would send the Holy Spirit to instruct us. So He will place the right words on your lips. I was talking to a young man in work the other night and he referred to his , 'Partner'..another male whom he is living with. I wondered how I might insert a word of warning about this without him launching nuclear missiles when the conversation swung round to the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. From there I easily managed to steer things to Medugorje and the Mother of God appearing there. He said his mother and grandmother were great devotees and so the door swung open of its own accord. Man proposes and God disposes.
Ah, Dibrovnik. It was our departure city at the end of our Medjugorje pilgrimage in 1987. Geralyn bought a beautiful hand spun tablecloth there which we use on festive celebrations like our Seder supper on Holy Thursday evening. We will probably give it to Rachel's family eventually since she was one and a half years old back then and is sentimental. Our eldest, Fr. Benjamin, is coming home for a couple of days. The three of us will then head down to Lancaster, PA, where Benjamin will baptize Zellie on July 16th using the Traditional Baptismal Rite in Latin. God is good even if these visits are so sporadic.
I was there in 1988 after going to Medjugorge. I too bought some beautiful lace. It was a magnificent city. You are so blessed in your beautiful family. You and Geralyn are reaping the wonderful rewards of a truly Catholic life. Enjoy your time with your children!
This is probably just about one of the strangest Catholic stories, I believe you will ever hear. I heard it first many, many years ago when I was very young. It sounds totally incredible but I believe it to be true. Strange, strange, strange. I do love strange.
A wise priest in that story and a soul that was saved; and the elimination of satanic deception! Alleluia! What a plot!
I was going to bed a few days ago when suddenly , right out of the blue I felt a strong urge to bless bed and the bedroom with Holy Water and Blessed Salt. When the Devil attacks at night time I usually feel a strong sense of kind of looming an atmosphere of dark waiting of the ominous. It reminds me of the sky and the atmosphere just before a storm. A sense of dark presence , a kind a brooding , rage and hate. A waitiness. He came sure enough . It was a surprise he had not come in such a long time . In thought there was real danger I would die or wind up in hospital. I fought him off by saying the prayer , 'Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!' Which the Devil hates but which has huge power over him. Also for a change I tried the Litany of the Saints . I especially like to use the names of saints who fought Satan toe to toe , so to speak. I did notice that the names of some saints and better effect than others. This battle must have went on for hours. But when I woke up my Angel Guardian was bent over my bed and had his hand on my forehead and looking at me with compassion said, 'Ho are you my dear one?' This was so unlike him, he is mostly a tough nut and a bit of a drill Sergeant. It surprised and touched me. The Devil, is very,very powerful at the moment. Very,very powerful. So much sin in the world have opened huge Gate Ways to Hell.
I am having awful attacks by the devil at the moment, especially when I try to pray, he is trying to stop me praying and make me sin. "Sin leaves us weak and helpless, but divine grace heals and strengthens" - From Rosary confraternity prayer.
My Spiritual Director used to always say, 'Take it as a compliment!' I am sure he would not be bothering you if you were not bothering him Bothering the Devil is what we all should be doing. The bigger the bother the better.
I think the devil is really out of his cage at the moment, everywhere. But on the other hand I have the feeling that huge graces are being granted to people as well.
