St. Margaret of Castello

Every so often I miss a piece of news important to me. Who knows why? Perhaps for a day or two I simply failed to check my usual news sources, something that happens often enough. Of course, major news stories tend to have legs, and receive coverage that may last weeks or longer. They’re hard to miss. But some stories, especially those religious stories that the mainstream media would rather not cover, can be buried on back pages of newspapers or websites, or simply ignored. For these stories I rely on Catholic or other religious news outlets where even seemingly minor religious events still receive coverage. But six months ago, in April, I completely missed hearing about an event that would have thrilled me had I known of it.

On April 24 Pope Francis canonized Margaret of Castello (1287-1320), and I simply missed the news. I finally heard of her canonization last week during a parish Bible Study session. I can’t recall why I happened to mention Margaret during one of our discussions, but I made the comment that many of us who revered this holy woman hoped the Church would come to canonize her soon. After all it had been only 700 years. That’s when one of our Bible Study’s participants told me, “She was canonized earlier this year.” 

I could hardly believe it. I’d been hoping and praying for her canonization for years…decades. St. Margaret’s canonization was a bit unusual, in that Pope Francis used a procedure called equipollent canonization. It does not require a miracle, but there must be a long history of devotion to the candidate, who must also have a reputation for miracles as well as a life of holiness. Margaret certainly qualified, and all of us who have been praying for her canonization thank the Holy Father for announcing her sainthood. Her feast day is April 13.

I was first introduced to this wonderful saint many years ago, probably around 1980. I had stopped by a Catholic book store in Hyannis on Cape Cod. Chatting with the sales clerk I happened to mention we were forming a pro-life group in our parish. He asked if we had already selected a patron saint. Of course, we hadn’t. He then recommended we consider Blessed Margaret of Castello. I had never even heard of her, so he lent me a relic of the saint to take to our meeting. Coincidentally (Not!) the very next day a parishioner handed me a book she thought I’d like. It was a copy of Father William Bonniwell’s book, The Life of Blessed Margaret Castello. I knew now the Holy Spirit was telling me something. After reading the book I also knew that Blessed Margaret had to be our patron. At our next meeting I told our members all about Margaret. She was chosen unanimously, the perfect saint to intercede for the unwanted. Today I have a statue of Margaret that I keep on a small shelf right above my desk. I think of her often and ask for her intercession daily.

I won’t go into detail on her brief life (she died at 33), because you can either buy the book mentioned above or read an abbreviated version of her life online here. Once you learn about her, you’ll agree she is the perfect saint for our times. Margaret was the daughter of a wealthy, well-connected couple who were horrified and embarrassed by the birth of their less-than-perfect child. How “imperfect” was she? She was blind, lame, suffered from severe curvature of the spine and dwarfism, and by the world’s standards was ugly. Today her enlightened parents would no doubt abort her, causing us to wonder how many modern saints have been lost to the world because of parents whose only measure of their child’s worth is physical perfection. Who could better represent the unloved of our modern society, those outcasts we dispose of through abortion and euthanasia?

Here’s a link to a video of the reading of the Decree of Equipollent Canonization and unveiling of the banner of St. Margaret at a Mass in Citta Di Castello on September 19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIKdoKGTtEc

St. Margaret, pray for us.

Right-handed Privilege?

Did you catch the news about the presentation at UNC Chapel Hill that stressed the horrors resulting from our right-handed society? Apparently Christina Parle, who has an MS in something and works for the university’s Social Responsibility office, gave the lecture on behalf of the school’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Now, supposing that those fraternity and sorority members who attended the lecture were actually sober, I expect they were shocked by Ms. Parle’s comments. After all, at least a few of those students who specialize in the Greek alphabet are probably left-handed. 

Ms. Parle, we are told, was explicit. Being right-handed enables one to use tools designed specifically for them. Life, therefore, is much easier for righties, an advantage that provides them with for more opportunity than those sinister lefties can ever hope to receive. She also implied that all those dexterous righties also possess a “sense of belonging” that the lefties lack. I guess there was a lot more, but I’ll openly confess I didn’t have the patience to sit there and watch it all. I have no idea if Ms. Parle is a physical lefty or righty, although we can all guess which side she’s on politically. 

Left-handers make up about 10% of the world’s population. The numbers, though, seem to be changing, if only slightly. In recent years the number of male lefties has increased by 2%, while females have remained about the same. No one knows why, although scientists who study such things (likely funded by government grants) believe it might be caused by hormonal, genetic, cultural, or societal factors. This explains a lot and we thank the scientists for publishing these guesses and the other results of their exhaustive research. Scientists, though, don’t limit their investigations to humans, but have also studied cats, dogs, and other of God’s creatures. Did you know that about 40% of cats and dogs are left-pawed? Why are almost half of our pets lefties while the vast majority of humans are righties? Once again, no one knows for sure. More research is surely called for here. There’s so much more to share with you, but I’ll let you examine the research yourselves. Here’s a link that will lead you the fascinating results of all these left-right studies: New Scientific Findings on Left-handedness.

As for me, I am completely left-handed. In fact, the only thing I do right-handed is shoot a rifle. As a ten-year-old I spent much of a summer at Camp Adahi in Union, Maine. Part of this highly traditional camp experience included learning to shoot a .22 bolt-action rifle. Because the bolt handle is on the right side, we all were told to shoot right-handed, and so I obeyed. It obviously didn’t cause me any real problems because I always managed to shoot well, and as a midshipman at the Naval Academy qualified as “expert” with both the formidable M1 garand and the .45 semiautomatic pistol. Anyway, I do everything else left-handed, except where right-handed tools and equipment force me to do otherwise. Unlike Ms. Parle, though, I have found this to be a real advantage. 

Because I am forced to use my right hand on so many occasions, I have actually become somewhat ambidextrous. For example, I spent many years as a Navy pilot, and the “stick” that controls an aircraft’s attitude is designed to be operated by the right hand. The left hand must be free to control many critical operations such as engine power, other control surfaces (flaps, etc.), radio communications, and navigation. At first, I found it odd to rely on my less dominant hand for the most critical part of flying, but I quickly learned to do so. Over time I saw this as a real benefit because I became increasingly comfortable using either hand for many daily activities. 

I also disagree with Ms. Parle’s belief that righties enjoy a sense of belonging not experienced by lefties. I believe exactly the opposite. Because we are a relatively small minority, we lefties tend to notice each other more readily and actually form a kind of bond unavailable to righties. I’ve never heard anyone, while watching another sign his name, say, “Oh, you’re right-handed!” Never happens, because rght-handed people are such a large majority, they rarely even notice each other. But just this morning, when visiting a neighbor in our local hospice facility, I had to sign in at the front desk when I arrived. As I began to write, the receptionist said, “Another lefty, like me. You’re the third this morning!” Trust me, right-handed people never say that about each other. Maybe this means we lefties are more likely to visit the sick — another area begging for research. 

It’s now pouring rain, accompanied by much lightning and thunder, and I have to leave in 20 minutes to conduct a graveside service at a cemetery in a neighboring town. Keep me in your prayers.

Blessings and God’s peace, to both the right-handed and left-handed.

Homily: Tuesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time - Year A

Readings: Rom 8:18:25; Ps 126; Lk 18:18-21

About 60 years ago, when I was a freshman at Georgetown, our theology course focused on Sacred Scripture. Our professor was an ancient Jesuit, probably in his sixties, who loved to tell stories. As we studied Jesus’ parables on the Kingdom, he told this brief parable of his own.

A man entered a garden shop and was surprised to see God behind the counter.

"You can have anything you want, free of charge!" God told him.

Surprised and thrilled, the man said, "Oh, I'd really like to be wealthy!" But from the expression on God's face, he realized he might have made a mistake; and so, he added, "and, of course, the same for all my neighbors."

But God still hesitated, so the man thought: perhaps I should have asked for something more spiritual.

"I'd also like peace and blessings on me and my family."

But God still did nothing.

"Ok," he blurted, "I'd like peace in the world! And an outbreak of love; yes, an epidemic of love from one end of the world to the other!"

With this, God shook His head and said, "You've come to the wrong shop. We have only seeds here."

Yes, God is in the seed business. He loves to give us little things that He will turn into very big things.

Of course, like Jesus, the good Jesuit father was trying to show us that God’s gifts demand a suitable response from us.

His gift of faith is handed to us in countless different ways, tiny seeds that He will fertilize and water if only we accept them, take them to heart, and give them room to grow.

Brothers and sisters, the Kingdom isn’t a place; it’s really a web of relationships, God’s people working together with Him to bring His love and His justice into the world. And it’s through Jesus Christ that God’s love, God’s power, breaks through into our lives. We need only accept Him, and accept the Gospel, that tiny seed, that small measure of yeast, and the result will be beyond our imagining.

Remember those words of Jesus as He began His public ministry? 

“The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel” [Mk 1:15].

Yes, dear friends, the Reign of God is here but it needs a response from us; it needs repentance and faith. Repentance, that metanoia, the call to undergo a complete change of mind and heart, a conversion, a willingness to turn away from self and turn to God. And faith – an acceptance of this wondrous gift that overcomes all fears. Let your faith smother those fears. How did St. Paul put it to the Romans, who had real reason to fear?

“…the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us” [Rom 8:18].

And it’s through us that God reveals His mercy, and His love to the world. Just as the yeast is inserted into the flour, we too must allow God to insert us into the world. We become infiltrators, or as Paul prefers to call us, “ambassadors for Christ” [2 Cor 5:20] – ambassadors of the Kingdom – allowing God to appeal through us.

That’s our job, as Christians, to expand the Kingdom, spreading God’s Word and God’s love in the little slice of His creation He’s given to each of us.

We need only visit His little garden shop, and He’ll give away the seeds – that’s the business He’s in.

Is Older Better?

It’s an interesting question, and I suppose the only acceptable answer is, “It depends.” So often we assume that with age comes wisdom. Have you ever noticed how centenarians respond when asked to reveal the secret of their longevity? Their answers vary widely, but only rarely display signs of wisdom. I’ve heard everything from “coffee and grits every morning” to “a glass of whiskey every night.” I’ve never heard anybody say, “I really didn’t do anything special. I suppose I was blessed and have good genes.” This would probably be the most honest response, one that likely reflects true humanity and some degree of scientific validity.

My dad used to say, “Yes, indeed, some older people are truly wise and have gained wisdom through a lifetime of both education and experience. But I’ve also known a lot of stupid, old jerks.” As someone who is now, at age 77, in the midst of my seniority, I agree with my dad’s observation, although into which category I fall has yet to be determined. I’m sure most of us can agree, when it comes to people, wisdom is likely distributed sparsely but randomly among most age groups, with the possible exception of teenagers.

As for lifespans, God has allotted His human creatures a reasonable number of years. How did the psalmist put it?

For all our days pass away under thy wrath,

our years come to an end like a sigh.

The years of our life are threescore and ten,

or even by reason of strength fourscore;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

they are soon gone, and we fly away [Ps 90:9-10].

I’ve always liked that “fly away” metaphor, and as someone who is well past this biblical span, I expect I’ll be boarding that flight and departing all this toil and trouble in the not too distant future. But until that final sigh I’ll just continue doing what I trust God wills for me.

The average healthy person might make it into the 80s or 90s, but such lifespans are negligible when we look at others of God’s creations. The longest-lived of all living creatures, however, are plants. Among the oldest are trees, particularly those categorized as “clonal colonies.” Some of these date back many thousands of years to some original plant of which they are descendant clones. I’m sorry, but I don’t consider these natural clones individually ancient. When it comes to old plants, I want to know about a tree or some other plant that is itself very, very old. There are a few. Among the oldest — and as you might expect there’s a lot of controversy surrounding these claims — is a tree rooted in California, a 5,000-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine. It’s truly an interesting looking tree, although it’s small size belies it’s extreme age. (See the photo below.)

California’s Bristlecone Pine

If you’re interested in reading about others among these aged plants, here’s a link: Oldest Living Things

As for animals, a long life is probably the result of genetic advantages aided by a kind of learned and instinctive wisdom. A long-lived animal in the wild has likely learned how to survive any number of perils that could have taken its life in a literal heartbeat. Others, perhaps, enjoy rather sedentary lives in a relatively protective environment. If they survive the threats of their first years, some species often live quite long lives. Giant tortoises, for example, are known to live upwards of 200 years, making them the longest living land animals. I don’t believe they’re particularly active creatures and I know nothing of their intelligence, but they look wise enough as they plod along quietly munching vegetation.

Ancient Tortoise

I once read of a Macaw 🦜 that outlived three generations of owners. A man in his sixties purchased the newly hatched bird from a pet shop. Although the man died just a few years later, he willed the bird to his daughter, a wife and mother in her 40s. When she died 30 years later, the bird, at the age of 35, was adopted by her eldest son, who by then was in his 50s. He, too, died in his 70s, and by then the bird was only a middle-aged 56. The family decided to donate the bird to a local zoo where he still lives today in his early 70s. I guess there’s a lesson here: If you want a Macaw as a pet, get it when you’re young.  

There are many other long-lived animals. Elephants often survive into their 70s, but the longest lived creatures tend to make their homes in the ocean. Like those old tortoises, bowhead whales can live to be 200. And a Japanese koi named Hanako died a few years ago at the ripe old age of 226. Greenland sharks can swim around for hundreds of years, some thought to live past 500, making them the longest-lived vertebrate. It must be the cold water and the seafood diet. Presumably, though, these sharks don’t eat ocean quahogs, a nice edible clam that is also known to live to be 500. 

Greenland Shark

 Most animals, though, have relatively short lives. I often think of the dogs that have joined our family. As a child I grew up with four different dogs, but the longest-lived only made it to 13. And during our 53 years of marriage Diane and I have also shared our lives with four dogs. Our current dog, Maddie, is actually quite spry for a canine who will be 14 in January. Because she is a Bichon Frise, she is genetically stubborn and a certified brat. That’s right, we should have suspected as much when we adopted her from a Bichon rescue group that called itself, “The Brat Pack.” Both we and the dog have, however, adjusted to this reality and come to a kind of understanding: Maddie obeys us when it suits her to do so. But she also offers great affection. We hope she stays with us for a few more years.

Maddie Sleeping As I Write

I’m not a PETA supporter because they believe and say some extremely stupid and very wrong things about people and animals. But I do enjoy all of God’s creatures, even the seemingly nasty ones, and believe we have an obligation to treat them humanely. God gave us responsibility for the creatures of the earth: 

“And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" [Gen 1:28].

Of course, based on recent news reports, Dr. Fauci seems to disagree with the humane treatment of animals. The sad news describes horribly cruel and deadly experiments on dogs which he apparently supported. I won’t repeat the details here, but you can read them at this link: Fauci’s Puppy Experiments. Almost as bad is a story out of the now openly totalitarian nation of Australia. It seems officials ordered that the dogs held at a dog pound had to be shot dead. Why? Because rescuers were due to pick up the dogs from the shelter and the officials were concerned that the rescuers might possibly have COVID. Here’s that link: Aussies Shoot the Dogs. 

These are just a couple of the problems that arise when governments decide to exert control over all aspects of the lives of citizens. Power misused begets cruelty, hatred, persecution of opponents, and usually death. Just consider the thousands of nursing home deaths in New York and other states caused by the thoughtless decisions of governors addicted to near absolute power.

God bless the earth and all its creatures, the young and the old, the wise and the not so wise.

NBA’s Jonathan Isaac — Faith and Freedom Over Fear

I’m not an NBA fan, and never really was. Okay, I lied. I did follow the NBA during the 1980s when the Boston Celtics put together those remarkable teams led by Larry Byrd, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale, who were supported by such talented players as Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Reggie Lewis, and so many others. But those days are long gone and today’s NBA has become just another woke organization driven by money and political correctness.

I suppose today I’m not much of a fan of any professional sport. I enjoy what’s left of amateur athletics, although it’s become more of a challenge to find true amateurs in any sport. College athletics, at least the big, money-making ones — football, basketball, even baseball — have become increasingly professional. Money rules! If you don’t believe this, just look for the highest paid state employee in your state. In almost every state it’s a football coach at one of the state universities. Yes, indeed, we spend our money on that which is apparently most important to us. To follow that thought any further leads us to places we really don’t want to go.

Another noticeable and regrettable change, in both professional and college athletics, has been the near disappearance of true sportsmanship — you know, an attitude driven by fair play, true respect for one’s opponent, and being gracious when winning or losing. This change seems to have grown out of the idea that winning is everything, again because winning means money, more money for coaches and more potential money for the athletes with professinoal ambitions. It’s also a symptom of the political and societal divisions that now plague our nation. Civility is gone, replaced instead by “in your face” attacks. We see it in politics, in the media, and on the playing field. We have constructed a “new morality” that is essentially amoral. How paradoxically fitting for today’s woke generations.

Given the almost universal enthusiasm for professional and collegiate athletics today, I suppose all this makes me a bit of a contrarian. I won’t deny it, because I often find myself standing on the outside looking in. I also enjoy encountering and listening to other contrarians, even those with whom I disagree, simply because they go against the grain and actually believe strongly in something, strongly enough that they risk all to share their beliefs publicly. But I especially enjoy listening when one of these contrarians speaks his mind graciously and decently without condemning those who attack him for his beliefs. (Reminds me of St. Therese’s “Little Way.”)

Last night I was led to a recent interview of an NBA player named Jonathan Isaac. To be honest, I’d never heard of him because, as I stated above, I’m not an NBA fan and haven’t watched a basketball game in over 30 years. But having started watching the interview, I had to watch it all. Mr. Isaac is a remarkable young man who has decided that his religious faith and the freedoms Americans hold dear far outweigh any fear of a virus. (Okay, Dear Diane just informed me he plays for our “local” NBA team, the Orlando Magic, proving she’s far more tuned in to the real world than I.)

I have received both Moderna shots and, as you have probably guessed, Jonathan Isaac is unvaccinated. But like him I believe that vaccination, particularly against this virus, should be a decision made by each individual. Given my age (77) I considered the shots a wise move. After all, the average age of those who have died from COVID-19 is near the average life expectancy of Americans. Yes, we old folks should probably protect ourselves. But for younger Americans, especially the very young, the death rate from the virus is minuscule. For them the decision becomes a trade-off: Which is worse, known potential vaccine side effects or the effects of contracting the virus? For those younger Americans who have already had the virus, their natural immunity offers more protection than any vaccine. And both the vaccinated and unvaccinated carry the virus and can transmit it to others. Sadly, the bureaucratic CDC and the ubiquitous Dr. Fauci have consistently ignored the proven science of natural immunity in favor of the politically inspired mandates that do little but increase government control over American citizens. Yes, indeed, we live in a modern day Wonderland that even Alice would have trouble navigating.

Anyway, the video is worth watching and certainly worth sharing with the young people in your life. Here’s a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuSgJcp7NnI

Weather or Not

Every year I enjoy checking out the Winter Outlook of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as they try to predict the weather patterns we will encounter over the next five or six months. Sometimes they’re reasonably accurate, but  occasionally odd things happen to upset their predictions. Come April I’ll glance back in time and decide whether the weather fit their prediction, especially right here in The Villages. I really don’t care about the weather in Seattle or Las Vegas or Minneapolis or Des Moines. I don’t live in any of these places, nor do I intend to travel to one of them this winter. My only concern is for the weather where I happen to live, here in Central Florida, and any other places I might be tempted to visit between now and the arrival of Spring. I realize this might sound a bit selfish, but I’ll let the folks who live elsewhere worry about their weather while I focus on my own little slice of creation.

According to NOAA, “a developing La Niña” will cool the equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean. That, and the ominous sounding “polar vortex” which is thought to be weak this year are apparently the key influencers of our upcoming winter weather. As for the Southeastern USA, and that includes us, we are told to expect warmer than usual temperatures and below average amounts of precipitation. To me that sounds like a hotter, drier winter in Florida. 

Dear Diane, on one of her little shopping trips yesterday, found two nice warm sweaters on sale and bought them for me. Unless we decide to head up the coast to visit family and friends at some point this winter I have a feeling these sweaters will remain unworn. Of course NOAA may be wrong and we might have to shovel snow for the first time since moving here in 2004. 

If you’re interested in hearing the NOAA winter outlook for yourself, here’s a link to their video:

https://youtu.be/cLrmyXVXum8

St. Jerome - History Repeating?

St. Jerome was born in Dalmatia around the year 340. Twenty years later he traveled to Rome where he was baptized. In Rome and in Trier, Germany he studied under some of the Church’s most eminent scholars. But Jerome was as much mystic as he was scholar. He went to the Holy Land, spent over five years in the desert engaged in prayer, penance, and study, finally settling in Bethlehem. There he lived and worked in a cave believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. He died in Bethlehem in the year 420, and his body is buried in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Jerome, along with St. Augustine, became one of the great scholars of his time. Augustine even declared , “What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known.” Jerome was fluent in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and also Chaldaic, the common language spoken throughout much of the ancient Middle East. These skills provided him with the linguistic foundation that enabled him to achieve what most believe to be his greatest accomplishment, the translation of the entire Bible into Latin. This “Vulgate” translation was for centuries the only version of Sacred Scripture used by the Church.  

St. Jerome's Cave in Bethlehem

St. Jerome also lived during some very trying times as he witnessed the beginnings of the fall of the Roman Empire. Indeed, the Visigoths under Alaric actually sacked the city of Rome in the early days of the fifth century. Greatly disturbed by what the barbarians were doing to his world, Jerome made the following observations in the year 406, describing the devastation experienced throughout the Empire:

___________________

"Nations innumerable and most savage have invaded all Gaul. The Whole region between the Alps and the Pyrenees, the ocean and the Rhine, has been devastated by the Quadi, the Vandals, the Sarmati, the Alani, the Gepidae, the hostile Heruli, the Saxons, the Burgundians, the Alemanni, and the Pahnonians.

Oh wretched Empire! Mayence [Mainz, Germany], formerly so noble a city, has been taken and ruined, and in the church many thousands of men have been massacred. Worms [Germany] has been destroyed after a long siege. Rheims, that powerful city, Amiens, Arras, Speyer [Germany], Strasburg, - all have seen their citizens led away captive into Germany. Aquitaine and the provinces of Lyons and Narbonne, all save a few towns, have been depopulated; and these the sword threatens without, while hunger ravages within.

I cannot speak without tears of Toulouse, which the merits of the holy Bishop Exuperius have prevailed so far to save from destruction. Spain, even, is in daily terror lest it perish, remembering the invasion of the Cimbri; and whatsoever the other provinces have suffered once, they continue to suffer in their fear.

I will keep silence concerning the rest, lest I seem to despair of the mercy of God. For a long time, from the Black Sea to the Julian Alps, those things which are ours have not been ours; and for thirty years, since the Danube boundary was broken, war has been waged in the very midst of the Roman Empire. Our tears are dried by old age. Except a few old men, all were born in captivity and siege, and do not desire the liberty they never knew.

Who could believe this? How could the whole tale be worthily told? How Rome has fought within her own bosom not for glory, but for preservation - nay, how she has not even fought, but with gold and all her precious things has ransomed her life...

Who could believe that Rome, built upon the conquest of the whole world, would fall to the ground? That the mother herself would become the tomb of her peoples? That all the regions of the East, of Africa and Egypt, once ruled by the queenly city, would be filled with troops of slaves and handmaidens? That to-day holy Bethlehem should shelter men and women of noble birth, who once abounded in wealth and are now beggars?

___________________

St. Jerome’s words remind me of what a modern classical scholar, Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, recently said about our own nation and the many threats, both exterior and interior. it faces -- challenges that mirror those faced by fifth-century Rome.

“Every nation that has survived has had borders that were defensible and clear, and the idea that they have their own space to inculcate their language or traditions or customs, then enhance their constitution. Without that, it’s just short of a migratory, 5th century A.D. Rome where people come across the Danube River and destroy the nation-state…Identity politics is another natural human pathology where we identify by our superficial appearance, and when we start to do that we regress to something like the former Yugoslavia or Rwanda. And that trajectory will be our future unless we stop it and realize that we’re a very rare multiracial democracy that’s given up — each of us — our primary identities as race or [ethnicity] and have absorbed, instead, the idea of Americanism…Tribalism — we could use that word — is now endemic, and everybody is trying to find a tribal affiliation. It’s a search to find a cache, because if you are oppressed or a victim — victimized — then you feel that you have certain rights to compensation, or reparatory action from the government.”

Victor Davis Hanson

By the way, Dr. Hanson’s many books are all worth reading, and offer us remarkable insights into the similarities and differences between ancient and modern times. I’ve been reading him for years and have learned much from his words. Here’s a link to a brief article he wrote in 2013 in which he addresses the likely decline of America, a decline driven largely by governmental policies that attempt to redistribute wealth:  The Decline of America

One comment from the article is especially telling, and seems prophetically to point ahead eight years to our current situation:

“Given our unsustainable national debt — nearly $17 trillion and climbing — America is said to be in decline, although we face no devastating plague, nuclear holocaust, or shortage of oil or food.”

Okay, we haven’t suffered a nuclear attack — at least, not yet — but huge debt, plagues, and shortages certainly abound.

Pray for our nation and our world: “Come, Lord Jesus!” [Rev 22:20]

A Story of Success, Failure, and Salvation

Years ago, an acquaintance — let’s just call him Fred (not his real name) — died rather suddenly, the result, as I recall, of a brain embolism. Fred, a financial wizard of some repute, was considered, by most human standards, very successful. His expertise in the confusing and challenging area of international finance landed him an influential position at a major financial institution. His reputation grew, his expertise was sought, so he decided to start his own consulting firm providing financial and organizational advice and direction to companies hoping to expand their international business. Instantly successful, he opened a Manhattan office and even maintained a small apartment in the city which he used when work was especially demanding. Fred, his wife, and their two teenagers lived in a large home in an upscale New York suburb. They vacationed in all the best places, and the kids went to the best schools. Yes, indeed, Fred enjoyed a very good life. Well...it would have been a good life, had he actually enjoyed it. If you had asked those who thought they knew Fred well to describe him using one word, I’m sure most would have responded with, “angry.” 

Fred and I were both consultants and first met when we happened to be assisting the same company at the same time. Our work, of course, was very different. Fred showed his clients how they could make tens of millions by expanding internationally, while I provided needed training for front-line managers and sales and support people. Occasionally I also offered some customer-focus direction. Fred got paid very big bucks, while I got paid. We were both happy...well, I was anyway.

I referred to Fred as an “acquaintance” because our few meetings had always been in business situations, and we certainly weren’t friends. I suspect Fred had few, if any, real friends, something that become more apparent over time. The last time we met was a dinner Fred and I shared in the restaurant of the hotel in which we were both staying. For once he seemed quite pleasant. For whatever reason he was unusually talkative that evening and far more revealing than ever before. Perhaps he’d concluded I was no threat. Anyway, for several hours, over dinner and drinks, we talked about of many things. Fred told me about growing up as an only child in a rural Pennsylvania community. His dad was a heavy equipment operator and his mom taught elementary school. 

I can’t recall how or why, but at some point the subject of religious belief arose. He told me his father was Lutheran and his mother Jewish, so “religion wasn’t something we talked about. It was pretty much avoided, so I suppose I’m agnostic.” His family wasn’t poor but neither were they wealthy. He said he had always envied those with money and decided he would find a way to join their ranks. He had some memorable lines; for example, “Education actually became my religion, the path to the salvation I hoped for.” He studied hard, earned scholarships, and in graduate school chose a challenging field in high demand. His was a planned success. In his words, “My work is my life, and my life is my work.”

At some point that evening, when I asked him about his family, he responded oddly by saying only, “I take care of them, so they’re happy enough.” He then changed the subject and began to describe the weaknesses of the client company management that had hired us both that week. The occasion was a company-wide series of meetings. I would conduct about a week of customer focus training for the company’s field engineers, while Fred would work with the management team, helping them implement the plan he had developed for their fledgling international operations. As he spoke to me about their lack of vision, he grew more irritated and more sarcastic. I suppose my expression of surprise tipped him off, for he stopped suddenly and laughed. “As you can tell, I don’t suffer fools gladly.” Indeed he didn’t, but I knew he was wise enough not to display his irritation in the client’s presence. And I knew he trusted me, knowing I would never reveal his true feelings to those he served. 

It was my turn to change the subject. “Fred, you said your family was happy, but how about you? You’ve worked hard. You’re certainly successful. You’ve just published a book. Quite honestly, though, you don’t seem very happy. What are you hoping for in this life you’ve been given?” 

The question obviously surprised him, but Fred was an intelligent man and far more introspective than I’d expected. “An interesting question,” he said, “but with no easy answer — the kind of question I’d usually avoid. I’ve never thought of my life as a gift. You’re getting theological on me, aren’t you?” He raised a hand to stop me from responding and added, “Let’s just leave it at that. You’ve given me something to think about, and that’s always a good thing.”

I never saw Fred again. When I returned home, I sent him a copy of Peer Kreeft's book, Making Sense Out of Suffering. It had been published just a few years before and for some reason I thought Fred would benefit from it. I suppose I saw his anger as a symptom of a suffering soul. He responded with a brief, rather cryptic note: "Thanks for the book -- a lesser gift, but it's led me to think of a greater one. We'll see. - Fred"

Fred died about a year later, but It was some weeks before I heard the news. I believe he was in his mid-50s at the time, probably ten years my senior. I can't explain why, but I felt compelled to call his wife, a woman I had never met, to express my condolences. After a few explanatory comments, she said, "Oh! You're the one who sent the book. It really had an impact on Fred.” I didn’t pursue that comment but just told her I would pray for her and her children, and would also pray for Fred. She thanked me for that.

So often, as we struggle through life’s ups and downs, we mistakenly assume only wealth and success can bring the happiness we all seek. Fred was perhaps a perfect example of this fruitless search, a man who had achieved much in the eyes of the world and yet was demonstrably unhappy. I sensed he had reached a turning point, a realization that life pointed to something greater than the material rewards he had actively pursued. Our loving, merciful God offers His gift of faith to all of us, and does so repeatedly in ways to which we are most likely to respond. Our task is to recognize the offering, the wonder of this gift, and to respond in thanksgiving and love. I pray that Fred, before God called him to eternity, had come to understand and accept God’s gift of life as “the greater” gift. 

The Amazing Grace Notes

Our parish, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Wildwood, Florida, is truly blessed to have some remarkably talented musicians who share their talents at every weekend liturgy, at funerals, and whenever we need liturgical music. Every so often these three women put on a concert as a fundraiser for the parish, and I thought perhaps my select group of readers might enjoy their latest. It was conducted live on both Facebook and YouTube earlier this week. They call themselves (and so do we) “The Amazing Grace Notes” for obvious reasons. Here’s a link to the YouTube video of their concert. Watch it all and enjoy it

https://youtu.be/DIxDmfWnpUY

An Emmy for Kamala

As I suppose everyone knows by now, Vice President Harris recently agreed to take on an entirely new responsibility. How she can possibly handle this added burden, given the number of critical assignments the president has already tossed onto her plate, is anyone’s guess. 

After all, she’s already responsible for managing the borders of the United States and judging by recent and rather embarrassing reports, it would seem she has a lot of work to do. As “border czar” her actions might seem to be rather low-key, but the administration can’t stop praising her accomplishments. Accepting the validity of this praise, we must admit that without her behind the scenes diplomacy the minor problems at the border would likely be far worse. Thank God the DHS Secretary has promised America that “the. border is closed”— otherwise the VP’s work would be even more demanding.

But that’s not all. President Biden has also tasked her with ensuring the protection of voting rights, another difficult challenge given her party’s focus on ensuring exactly the opposite. Once again, she must work feverishly in the shadows to seem to meet the expectations of voters while not discouraging the fraudulent activities of the party’s operatives. I suspect she has found a way to meet this challenge and will succeed, at least in the minds of those few Democrats who actually believe her to be electable.

Oh, there’s more. The president has also given this obvious superwoman responsibility for broadband Internet. In this duty she must oversee the federal government’s expenditure of over a billion dollars to provide an expansion of hi-speed Internet to Native American tribal lands as well as to Alaskan and Hawaiian communities. But that’s just a tiny piece of her overall goal of spending $100 billion to ensure the provision of reliable, hi-speed broadband Internet service to all Americans. Judging by her previous experience as a Democrat senator, she will surely have little problem spending the money.

Her latest assignment? She is now the nation’s chief space cadet, having accepted the honor of chairing the National Space Council. The NSC is responsible for developing the nation’s space exploration policies and overseeing the development of space-related national security strategies. 

Just a few days ago we were given a beautiful example of her enthusiastic approach to this new spacey responsibility. The Vice President released a video of her meeting with a number of school-age children. Her goal? Presumably to motivate all those newly woke kids to chuck their dreams to major in gender studies, comic art, or cannabis cultivation and choose instead to study something that might actually help them land a real job. But then we found out that the children in the video were not “real kids” but paid child actors who had auditioned for the job. Of course, that Kamala and her staff would do this is perfectly understandable. Like her boss, opening yourself to the unpredictable comments and questions of regular folks is problematic. The following is an example of what could happen:

Far better to hire a bunch of actors (or answer questions only from mainstream media) so everyone involved follows a pre-approved script. Watch the video and see if our VP didn’t earn herself an Emmy. Here’s a link to her video. Prepare to cringe.

https://youtu.be/Wlxq4S-4CCY

Columbus Day…A Little Late

Despite the title I gave this post, Columbus Day was actually celebrated a bit earlier this year. But that’s just my view, that of a holiday purist, someone who believes dates are important reminders of real people and events, and that holidays should never be moved to Mondays. Columbus Day used to be celebrated on October 12 to commemorate the day the explorer arrived in the Americas in 1492. But this year it was moved to Monday, October 11, so government workers could take advantage of a 3-day weekend. That came about because of the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act,” passed by Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on June 1, 1968. Even back then, when I was a 20-something young naval officer and, therefore, a government employee, I considered this law a travesty. I actually wrote to my congressman, encouraging him to vote against it, but not surprisingly received a only form letter in response. Even today I still receive form letters from members of congress, so things haven’t changed much. Anyway, I’ve been far too busy lately and, although I certainly hadn’t overlooked Columbus Day this year, I had little time to celebrate. And so, today, I’m commemorating this heroic figure a few days later than usual. 

But these days, the larger issue is whether we should celebrate this man and his accomplishments at all. Some states and localities have canceled any commemoration of Christopher Columbus and instead substituted the celebration of “indigenous people.” I find this to be almost as stupid as the Monday Holiday Act, largely because it is driven by lies instead of historical fact. 

For the left, those who hope to eradicate all vestiges of Western Civilization in our national life, Christopher Columbus is a prime candidate for cancelation. In the view of these idiots, he is a symbol of imperialistic European greed. They also frequently accuse him of encouraging the genocide of those peaceful indigenous folks he encountered when he reached the Americas. This, of course, is complete garbage. When you really study the life of this extraordinary man, you encounter a deeply religious Christian, a devout Catholic who desired only to serve God and his fellow human beings. He desired the best for those he encountered in the new world, and for Columbus the best was their salvation.

Columbus Statue High Above Barcelona Harbor

As a naval officer, I can say without qualification that Christopher Columbus was a remarkably competent seaman. He was a sailor from his youth and over time became an excellent navigator, a demanding and challenging skill in those days. An Italian from Genoa, he had sailed the North Atlantic as a young man and came to realize that a voyage to the East would be possible by sailing West across the Atlantic. (By the way, in those days no one, except the truly ignorant, believed the earth was flat.) Columbus realized, too, he would need serious financial backing to make such a voyage, support he eventually received from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

Columbus made several voyages to the new world, and always treated the native peoples with great respect. When any of his crew mistreated the natives, they were severely punished. In his diary, Columbus wrote, “…in the world there are no better people or a better land. They love their neighbors as themselves, and they have the sweetest speech in the world and are gentle and always laughing.” He was horrified when he encountered the vicious Carib tribe, a warlike people who were cannibals that practiced sodomy and the castration of young boys they captured, among other horrendous practices. He rescued and returned their captives to their home islands. Interestingly, Columbus also asked King Ferdinand to apply any profits from these voyages to the financing of a crusade to recapture Jerusalem which he believed was tied to Christ’s Second Coming. Who knows? He may have been right. The fate of Jerusalem is still in some uncertainly.

If you want to learn about the true Columbus, read one of Samuel Elliot Morrison’s wonderful books on this remarkable explorer and even greater Christian. And continue to celebrate his life, his accomplishments, and his faith every year on October 12.

Kill the Babies Or Else…

President Biden and his increasingly far-left regime, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and most Democrat politicians have all proven one thing: they hate children. Why else would anyone actively promote the slaughter of unborn children and strive to stop any attempts to limit abortions? Remember, back in 2011, when President Obama threatened to cut off all Medicaid and related funding to Indiana when the state legislature and governor passed legislation to stop state funding of Planned Parenthood? Just think about that. If you don’t kill the unborn, Obama declared, we will cut medical funds to the poor. How nice...

Today is no different. As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to overturn the Texan law that severely limits abortion in the state, Joe Biden has pledged a “whole of government” response. He has called on his evil but feckless attorney general, Merrick Garland, to “protect abortion rights” of all Americans by applying the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra also chimed in saying, “…we are telling doctors and others involved in the provision of abortion care, that we have your back.” 

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, reminds us that “There are no lengths the Biden administration won’t go to in their drive to prop up the abortion industry and impose abortion on demand up to birth nationwide, on a public that resoundingly rejects their agenda.” But note the change in the pro-abortion forces’ language. Once they wouldn’t utter the word, “abortion,” but instead used such euphemistic phrases as “reproductive health.” But no longer. Now they openly declare their intention to support “abortion rights” and “abortion care.” I find the latter particularly disgusting. For whom are they providing “care”? Certainly not the unborn child who is torn apart during this “safe procedure.”

\What disturbs me most, however, is the cowardice of our bishops. Few seem willing to openly and consistently confront the Catholic politicians who support abortion. There are, of course, exceptions and Nancy Pelosi’s bishop, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, has been a true stalwart. The archbishop recently stated, “A conversion of heart of the majority of our Congressional representatives is needed on this issue, beginning with the leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.” He then continued with more than mere words, but called for spiritual action on the part of the faithful: “I am therefore inviting all Catholics to join a massive and visible campaign of prayer and fasting for Speaker Pelosi: commit to praying one rosary a week and fasting on Fridays for her conversion of heart.” I intend to join Archbishop Cordileone and in my own small way, ask all those who read this blog to do the same. 

Another disturbing event, related to the slaughter of these modern day innocents, took place just the other day when Nancy Pelosi visited the Vatican on October 8. How ironic that this was the feast day of St. Simeon, who greeted the newborn infant Jesus when He was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph. How many infants have never been presented in a church for Baptism, thanks to the child-hatred of Nancy Pelosi. 

More disturbing, however, was the reception the Vatican gave Pelosi. The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development stated, “We welcome Speaker Pelosi from the U.S. House of Representative. We talked about caring for the environment, in the light of [Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical] Laudato si, migration issues, human rights, health in times of pandemic, and the work of the Vatican COVID Commission.” Note the one subject that apparently went undiscussed: abortion. Apparently the "human development" of the unborn does not merit any attention. This was especially troublesome given that Pelosi, along with the president, is among the most prominent Catholic politicians and has done all in her power to advance and encourage abortions in the U.S. 

Pope Francis and the Pelosis

Pelosi and her husband also had a private audience with Pope Francis, but the Vatican had no comment about any subjects discussed during their meeting. One can only hope the Holy Father explained Church teaching to this self-proclaimed “devout Catholic” who seems to consider herself holier and smarter than the Church. One wonders what Archbishop Cordileone thought of her Vatican visit.

Brothers and sisters, pray for the unborn, pray for those who seek and perform abortions, pray for those politicians who further the culture of death, and join the Archbishop of San Francisco by praying the Rosary and Fasting every Friday for the conversion of all.

Let’s All Be Multicultural

Are you a multicultural American? I’ve been asking this question of myself for some time now, but really haven’t come up with an acceptable answer. My own heritage is 100% Irish, so I have no problem with the Irish and all those Irish wannabes drinking green beer or eating corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day. This despite the fact that the Irish, the ones who actually live in Ireland, apparently rarely, if ever, consume corned beef and cabbage. Just don’t tell that to all those Irish-Americans who consider themselves more Irish than the Irish. I, however, detest cabbage in all its forms so I tend to focus on the Murphy’s Stout or perhaps a wee dram of Paddy’s or Kilbeggan Irish whiskey.

I also enjoy joining the Germans for Oktoberfest when, once again, beer takes center stage. There seems to be a pattern here. But we can’t ignore the many, tasty German foods: varieties of wurst, or schnitzel, or sauerbraten. Just trash the sauerkraut, another disguised version of always distasteful cabbage. 

And then there are the Italians, probably my favorite collection of ethnic Americans. They have all kinds of holidays, perfect excuses to celebrate and share their wonderful food and excellent wines with those of us who wish our names had more vowels than consonants. There’s nothing like a good Neopolitan pizza and a bottle of inexpensive Chianti. Yes, I actually am an Italian wannabe, and look forward to our next trip to Italia, once they scrap all the COVID nonsense. 

I also love the Jews, our elder brothers and sisters in faith, but don’t really care much for their traditional foods. I suppose I’m too much of a meat and potatoes guy. But on second thought, I always did enjoy Mrs. Moll’s potato kugel and brisket. The Moll family were our neighbors in Larchmont, New York, where I grew up as a kid. I hung out with their twin sons, Richard and Robert, and would on occasion be asked to join them for dinner. If I happened to be there at lunchtime, Mrs. Moll would always offer me a nice thick pastrami sandwich. Jewish wines, however, tend to be far too sweet for me, so I politely decline them when asked. I like to think that at Cana Jesus didn’t turn water into a first-century version of Manischewitz, but perhaps offered the newlyweds a drier kosher wine.

I also enjoy many Asian foods, from China, Japan, and Vietnam, although my all-time favorite Asian food is Filipino lumpia. Back in the mid-70s, aboard the USS Okinawa, the officers’ wardroom was blessed to be managed by Senior Chief Filipe who made the best lumpia I have ever tasted. I’m searching for a good recipe and when I find it will have to convince Dear Diane to give it a try. I’ve also sampled perhaps too many glasses of sake as well as a variety of excellent Asian beers. 

So, you see, I am very multicultural, at least when it comes to food and drink. I also enjoy the people I have known, wonderful folks who, like my grandparents, immigrated to this country and settled here in the U.S.A. for the long term. Most brought pieces of their cultures with them — their unique foods, their music, art, and literature, their faith — making wonderful contributions to our uniquely American melting-pot. Because most immigrants came here for a purpose, to escape repression, corruption, violence, genocide, and the other evil trappings of their decaying societies, they willingly embraced the American form of Western Civilization. Thank God for that. 

But today, things are changing. The multiculturalism of the left makes some truly foolish claims; for example, that no civilization is better than any other. Sorry, but even the most cursory study of history and culture will show this to be false. Western Civilization has been a true gift to the people of the world. It has brought them more personal freedom, more economic opportunity, more political freedom, more progress in the sciences and technology than any or all other civilizations. Why do you think so many people have continued to take such horrendous risks to enter this country while virtually none leave? Sadly, our current administration and its fellow travelers seem to despise the nation and the civilization that allowed them to take office. It takes centuries to develop a multinational civilization, but only a few short years to destroy it. If we let them, those in power today will lead us back to the barbarism that results when civilizations die. We can’t let that happen. Pray for our troubled, divided nation and our civilization.

How the French See Islam

Harris Interactive, in a survey they have called, “The Heart of the French,” offers some snapshots of the current religious and societal views of the French. As a result of significant migration in recent years, the population of France has undergone significant changes. Of particular interest are the thoughts of the French relating to the future growth of the nation’s Muslim population. I’ve included just a few tidbits below. The survey was conducted in late July. 

Note: If you would like to access and digest the complete survey and its results, you must be a French speaker, or at least a French reader. Unfortunately, I minored in German, and with the exceptions of a few “social phrases,” French remains a mystery to me. I relied, therefore, on the summarized reports of others. For the complete survey (quite long), click here: Le cœur des Français  (If anyone can find an accurate translation of the survey, please pass it along.)

• 39% of French believe Islam will become the largest religion in France. 55% of Muslims and 44% of Roman Catholics believe this. 

At first  glance, this can be misinterpreted because today most French are essentially irreligious. This is particularly true among France's younger citizens. The threshold needed to become the "largest religion" is, therefore, not very high. The most relevant result here is that vast majority of Muslims are faithful believers, while most non-Muslim French have rejected Christianity, whether Catholic or Protestant.

• 72% of French believe France will lose its historic identity if Islam becomes the largest religion. 83% of Catholics and 67% of Protestants and non-religious people believe this. 

Interestingly, only 17% of Muslims responded by saying France would lose its historic identity were Islam to become the nation's largest religion. I can’t say what this wide divergence of opinion indicates, other than the fact that many French and Muslims view the impact of Islam on French culture very differently. 

According to a 2019 poll, 61% of French citizens believed that Islam was not compatible with French society. At the same time, when asked which party was best suited to handle the challenges relating to the Islamization of France, the rightist National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen, received the highest score in the poll. France, of course is well “ahead” of the United States when it comes to Muslim migrants and immigrants. A Pew Research study predicted that the Muslim population in France will grow from 2020’s 5.7 million to 13.2 million by 2050. Muslims would then represent 20% of the French population. 

It’s all very interesting, but considering how the current US administration is dealing with immigration issues, we might expect similar responses from Americans in the future. I suspect Pew Research or another polling group might soon conduct a parallel study in the U.S. If so, its results will certainly be of interest.

The Reality of COVID-19

We’re well into our second year of coping with the COVID-19 virus and yet so many people are still overcome by fear. We have a collection of vaccines that offer real protection. Does it protect everybody? No, some vaccinated people have also contracted the virus, but in most instances these cases tend to be rather mild. And many others, who have survived the virus, have enhanced immunity, far greater than that provided by the vaccines. 

But perhaps the most telling statistics relate to deaths as a result of COVID. As of October 6, there have been 700,952 deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID virus — this out of a total U.S. population of 334 million. Over 76% of these deaths were among those aged 65 or over. But how many of these seniors had other underlying health issues that likely contributed to their deaths, or were actually the primary cause of death? Over the past 18 months I have conducted or assisted at dozens of funerals and committal services. Quite a few of those who died had tested positive for COVID, but many of these also had terminal illnesses and were not expected to survive. As one doctor told me, “Follow the money.” Apparently hospitals benefit from COVID cases.

Very few young or middle-aged adults have succumbed to the virus. Those between the ages 18 and 49 account for a little less than 6% of all COVID deaths, or 41,783 of 700,952 deaths. Those Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 account for 17.5% of the COVID deaths, or 122,500 of the 700,952 total deaths. Perhaps most surprisingly, though, is the fact that less than one-tenth of 1% of those who died of COVID were below the age of 18 — a total of 499 deaths out of 700,952. In fact, far more children died from other individual illnesses, accidents, and other causes than from COVID. It appears children, if they contract the virus, tend to have only mild or asymptomatic cases and also do not spread it to others easily. In previous years, for example, influenza killed far more children each year than COVID since it hit our shores in late 2019. Masking children in our schools, then, would seem to be designed not to protect them or their teachers, but to exert control. And always remember, governments like to exert control.

You can view a graph of these statistics here: COVID-19 Deaths as of 6 October 2021.

I include the above to remind those who are fearful that the chances of reasonably healthy people of any age dying of COVID is quite small. I’m currently 77 but am not worried about getting COVID. Of course I believe in exercising prudence and so both Diane and I got the vaccination earlier this year, and will likely get the booster, especially if we decide to travel north to visit family this fall. But fear? No, I have no fear, and neither should you. But my lack of fear doesn’t stem from statistics. 

First of all, if, as a Christian, you allow fear to consume you, your faith is weak. As I so often remind others, perhaps too often, the opposite of faith is not despair; rather, it is fear. Jesus often reminds us of this. Remember that wonderful Gospel passage [Mk 4:35-41] when, crossing the Sea of Galilee, a storm arose causing the disciples to waken a sleeping Jesus and ask Him: “Do you not care if we perish?” Of course, Jesus immediately calmed the sea and storm, but He then asked the disciples that double-barreled question, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” And He asks you and me that same question today.

I get all kinds of questions about COVID. Some people have asked me, “Is God punishing us by inflicting us with this disease?” I usually answer by saying, “Darned if I know, but I don’t think so. We seem entirely too capable of punishing ourselves without God’s help.” Of course, It all started back in Eden, didn’t it? Our first parents, who had been created “very good” by God [Gen 1:31] decided that wasn’t good enough and ignored God’s warning. They disobeyed and brought death into the perfect, deathless paradise God had created. That sin, that original sin, brought death and all kinds of other bad stuff into the world, and among that bad stuff is COVID. God doesn’t will death and disease, but His permissive will allows it. You see, I don’t believe in coincidence when it comes to God. After struggling through these 77 years I’ve come to the realization that everything that happens in my life has a purpose, and if I remain faithful, it will always lead to good. 

The very core of the Gospel may be found in those wonderful words from John: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” [Jn 3:16]. Eternal life, folks. That’s what it’s all about. So, why would any of us who believe the Gospel, who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and who live our faith — why would any of us be fearful?

If you’re still plagued by fear, I suggest you spend some time every day in prayer, preferably before the Blessed Sacrament, asking Our Lord to deepen your faith and dissolve your fears. There’s nothing to fear, brothers and sisters, because we’ve been shown the path to eternal life. 

German Bishops: Paganism and Schism

Did you hear the latest out of Germany? A Synod of German bishops and lay leaders of the Catholic Church, perhaps predictably, voted overwhelmingly (168 to 28) to approve the blessing by Catholic clergy of what the synod calls “same-sex partnerships.” This vote was in response to a Vatican decree that explicitly prohibited such blessings. Of the 196 who voted at the synod, I don’t know how many were bishops. I believe there are 27 German dioceses, but there are certainly a greater number of bishops. But even so, this vote is a definite step toward schism. I find it especially troubling that the synod apparently believes, unlike Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, that truth is determined by majority vote. I certainly cannot confirm my suspicions, but I wonder how many of the voters are active homosexuals. 

To read a more detailed discussion of the synod’s vote, see the coverage by CATHOLICVOTE.ORG. There you will also learn that the synod went even further on related issues:

Friday’s statement included not only the approval of blessings for homosexual couples, but also advocacy for “more tolerance for contraception and masturbation,” Rocca reported. The statement amounts to “an appeal to the pope, acknowledging that many of its proposals ‘essentially fall within the teaching competence of the Bishop of Rome and can therefore not be undertaken by the Church in Germany.’”

The vote, of course, is openly heretical, since it contradicts 2,000 years of Church teaching. In a very real sense it returns us to the pagan world faced by the apostles as they fulfilled Jesus’ command to preach the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. In those days homosexuality and the sexual abuse of women and slaves was for many a way of life, especially among the upper classes. But St. Paul didn’t hesitate to challenge the zeitgeist by preaching the Gospel teaching that marriage between a man and a woman is a sacramental and sacred bond and that sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful. The difference today is that members of the Church in Germany are siding and sinning with the pagans while denying the truth of the Gospel. 

Where this will lead, I cannot say. But one hopes the Holy Father will be firm in repudiating the conclusions of the German synod. We shall see. I find myself thinking again of the words that a German theologian, Joseph Ratzinger, wrote in 1970, long before he became Pope Benedict XVI:

"From the crisis of today, the Church of tomorrow will emerge. She will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning. She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity. As the number of her adherents diminishes, so will she lose many of her social privileges…she will be seen more as a voluntary society, entered only by free decision…Undoubtedly she will discover new forms of ministry and will ordain to the priesthood approved Christians who pursue some profession…Alongside this, the full-time ministerial priesthood will be indispensable as formerly. But…the Church will find her essence afresh and with full conviction in that which was always at her center: faith in the triune God, in Jesus Chris, the Son of God made man, in the presence of the Spirit until the end of the world…

"The Church will be a more spiritual Church, not presuming upon a political mandate, flirting as little with the Left as with the Right. It will be hard going for the Church, for the process of crystallization and clarification will cost her much valuable energy. It will make her poor and cause her to be the Church of the meek. The process will be all the more arduous, for sectarian narrow-mindedness and well as pompous self-will will have to be shed…But when the trial of this sifting is past, a great power will flow from a more spiritualized and simplified Church. Men in a totally planned world will find themselves unspeakably lonely. If they have completely lost sight of God, they will feel the whole horror of their poverty. Then they will discover the little flock of believers as something wholly new. They will discover it as a hope that is meant for them, an answer for which they have always been searching in secret."

Pope  Benedict’s view of the future Church is probably close to what we can expect in the years to come. Prepare your children and your grandchildren because they will have to live through it.