From The Wanderer – Part 2

Raymond de Souza

On the Inquisition

Part 2 By Raymond de Souza, KM

Answering Objections

1st objection: The Inquisition was intolerant!

Reply: Before we dissect the Inquisition, we have to, first of all, define the terms we use, to ensure that we share the same meaning. What is ‘tolerance’? In today’s liberal parlance, it means something like accepting other opinions, views and preferences, so that we are not seen to ‘impose’ our views on anyone. To keep our views to ourselves and to share them only if we do not intend to change other people’s views, and, conversely, expect them to reciprocate. To oppose other people’s views might be seen as judgmental, therefore ‘intolerant’.

But true tolerance is something quite different: when you know that something is evil, but you are unable to suppress it, you have no choice but to put up with it, it is tolerance. But you never give up the intention to abolish it. For instance, narco-traffic, prostitution, homosexuality, abortion, terrorism. I disagree with all of these evils, and profoundly so, but I am unable to suppress them from the face of the earth. Although I continue to do my best – however small my best may be – to eradicate them, I have to put up with the reality of their evil existence for the time being, until their total extinction – I tolerate them. I disagree with them, abhor them, fight them, want to see them extinct, but am unable to change the status quo at this point in time. Therefore, I am said to tolerate them.

This is radically different from accepting the opinions, views and preferences of the drug dealers, prostitution ringleaders, homosexual activists, abortionists, or terrorists, so that we are not seen to ‘impose’ our views on anyone. To do this I to condone the evil, not to tolerate it.

* * *

OK, once we have defined the word, let us apply it to the historical context of the Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition.

The objection of ‘intolerance’ in today’s acceptation of the term ignores completely the religious, social, economic and political context of Europe. Apart from a small contingent of Jews, whose religious independence was respected, Europe was Catholic from A to Z. It was a time when ‘the philosophy of the Gospels governed the States’, as Pope Leo XIII said in the encyclical letter Immortale Dei. And he explained it further: “Then it was that the power and divine virtue of Christian wisdom had diffused itself throughout the laws, institutions, and morals of the people, permeating all ranks and relations of civil society. Then, too, the religion instituted by Jesus Christ, established firmly in befitting dignity, flourished everywhere, by the favor of princes and the legitimate protection of magistrates; and Church and State were happily united in concord and friendly interchange of good offices. The State, constituted in this wise, bore fruits important beyond all expectation, whose remembrance is still, and always will be, in renown, witnessed to as they are by countless proofs which can never be blotted out or ever obscured by any craft of any enemies. Christian Europe has subdued barbarous nations, and changed them from a savage to a civilized condition, from superstition to true worship. It victoriously rolled back the tide of Mohammedan conquest; retained the headship of civilization; stood forth in the front rank as the leader and teacher of all, in every branch of national culture; bestowed on the world the gift of true and many-sided liberty; and most wisely founded very numerous institutions for the solace of human suffering. And if we inquire how it was able to bring about so altered a condition of things, the answer is-beyond all question, in large measure, through religion, under whose auspices so many great undertakings were set on foot, through whose aid they were brought to completion” (Immortale Dei, par. 21).

In that historical context, where there was only ‘One Lord, one faith, one baptism’ (Eph. 4:5) in the one Church of God, the pillar and main stay of the Truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), a heresy was not only a different opinion: it was a crime against both Church and State, as it happened in the medieval inquisition regarding the Cathari and Albigentians, the ISIS of the time.

Yes, a crime. Because when Christianity became the religion of the empire, and still more when the peoples of Northern Europe became Christian nations, the close alliance of Church and State made unity of faith essential not only to the ecclesiastical organization, but also to the good order of civil society. The insanity of relativism had not yet been concocted by sick minds.

Heresy, in consequence, was a crime which secular rulers were bound in duty to punish. It was regarded as worse than any other crime, even that of high treason. For society in those times, it was the equivalent of anarchy. Wrong ideas bring about wrong actions, and the peace and order of Christian nations would be endangered.

Therefore, since the Church and State were perfectly able to suppress the evil, the crime, the heresy, they did not have to put up with it – they did not tolerate it. In very simple terms, if the State today, secular as it is, know that there are ways to suppress the network of drug dealers, why should it tolerate its existence? If it were a Christian state, concerned with the Common good, able and willing to abolish pornography, prostitution, abortion, homosexual propaganda, why tolerate it?

Today many States – ours including – do not only tolerate evils that are harmful to the Common Good, but they promote them, finance them, and discriminate against those who disagree with the corruption of society. What a difference from medieval times…!

Second objection: The methods of the Inquisition were unjust, illegal, and cruel!

This objection parrots a historical lie, concocted by anti-Catholic agents, purely and simply. The Inquisition was much milder in its methods than the secular courts. The rights of the accused were much better guaranteed in the Inquisitions than in the ordinary civil trials of the major European countries.

First of all, suspects were not arrested until careful investigation. The Inquisition gave the heretic ample time to recant. Its officers were bound under most severe penalties to move by slow delays, so as to give the accused every opportunity of retraction. The accused was guaranteed a defense lawyer, paid for by the Inquisition if unable to afford it himself. But when the civil authority acted, as it often did, without any reference to the Church, they gave no time for repentance.

Here is the historical reality: The Inquisition marked a great improvement on the treatment meted out to heretics. Before its institution, summary executions by the State or by the enraged populace were the order of the day. Remember, those nations had been recently converted from a barbarian culture, comparatively speaking. Further, the Inquisition punished false accusers.

But weren’t there abuses sometimes? Yes, as in each and every human undertaking. Nothing is perfect in this valley of tears. Whatever its defects, the Inquisition provided that cases of heresy would be judged by competent and impartial judges.

Raymond de Souza KM is available to speak at Catholic events anywhere in the free world in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Please email SacredHeartMedia@Outlook.com or visit www.RaymonddeSouza.com or phone 507-450-4196 in the United States

Forgotten War – Part 4

forgotten war pic

Forgotten War – Part 4 – It makes no sense.

Strange things are happening today, hard to understand, many times they make no sense at all. A logically thinking person, will say, it is stupid to:

Promote equal rights by giving preferences to one group of people over another,
Kill unborn babies, at a time when American families are getting smaller,
Equalize same-sex relationships with the sacrament of Holy Matrimony,
Reduce gun violence by disarming law abiding citizens,
Gender neutral bathrooms,
Black lives matter movement,

God created us in His image, for this reason a majority of the population is naturally opposing evil, causing the devil to perfume or camouflage himself to sneak into our hearts and manipulate them. As an effect of the Goodness planted in our hearts by Creator, a majority of us seek equal rights for all people, we like the idea of being judged not by the color of skin but by the content of character. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Satan know how to manipulate us by praying on peoples’ good hearts. Instead of creating equal, Satan, through his servants, imposed unequal rights. They forced preferential treatment of minorities, in public schools, universities, in access to social programs, hiring practices in the public sector and on many occasions in the private one too.

The result of this constant brainwashing and pressure is the “white person’s guilt” mentality evolved among the “oppressive” majority, and entitlement attitude in “oppressed” minority.

Guilty syndrome built on the foundation of slavery and oppressions from the past, is used to force us to accept and tolerate today’s sins and atrocities committed by minorities, and to break the golden rule “love sinner, hate sin”. In effect sin is not sin any more, it is just pay back. At the same time in those who work and pay through taxes for this form of reparations, their love of sinner is slowly murdered. The division is getting bigger and bigger.

After 50 years of struggle against racism, at the time when we have the first black president, the problem is not solved, it is far from being solved and it is getting worse. We see more and more “reversed” racism, racism against white people.

Legalizing, sponsoring and promoting abortion, also known as the slaughter of unborn babies, in the country where the birth rate is declining makes no sense. The government need taxpayers, a growing government needs population to grow, so why do many politicians favor abortion at the taxpayers’ expense?

The correct answer to this question is – a majority of them have no idea, but they are still supporting it, and will use any excuses to defend their positions (they’re stuck on stupid).

There is no logical explanation, or logical answer in this matter, unless we recognize it as a part of spiritual war, another sneaky attack in our spiritual struggle.

Unfortunately, without even realizing it, proponents of abortion on demand have sold their souls to the devil in pursuit of temporary materialistic benefits. Now they are slaves and servants of Satan. By legalizing, promoting, sponsoring, abortion they are trying to corrupt our morality, kill consciences, and entangle as many of us as possible in this sinful practice. We have to remember that this influences all of us. Those who are against abortion, if they do nothing to stop it, according to the Ezekiel, 33:8, will be held responsible for the blood of sinners. It is truly evil thing.

Equalizing same-sex relationship with the sacrament of Holy Matrimony is pushed on us by many politicians, activist judges, media, Hollywood stars, etc. In society, homosexuals and lesbians are a tiny minority, less than 2% of the population. In reality this group of deeply disturbed people is too small to seriously influence elections or to have a big impact on crucial national affairs, they don’t even have enough money to influence anything, but they are part of Evil United – Coalition of Servants of Devil.

According to the teachings of the Church our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. As a result of the sins against 6^th and 9^th commandment the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were wiped off the surface of the earth. Equalizing same-sex relationships with sacrament of Holy Matrimony is simply a push directed especially against easily influenced and manipulated young people to change their understanding of right and wrong, changing the meaning of words, equating perverted sexual acts with love, and sinful, fruitless relationships with the holy, life giving, sacrament. Another way to drag us to hell.

Reducing gun violence by disarming law abiding citizens. Logically thinking it makes no sense, law abiding citizens are not committing acts of violence. Terrorists and criminals do, and they do not obey the law, but if we will think like a chess player, a couple moves ahead, and look at the consequences we will realize that it will limit our ability to stand up for what is right and take action against evil. Imagine how you’re going to stand up against a group of young people raping a 12 year old girl in a park without some kind of weapon giving you a chance to succeed in an attempt to help. Without a weapon, most people would walk away feeling powerless, allowing evil to flourish. We may easily becoming passive like those Germans who decided not to see what the Nazis were doing during WWII, and in effect after a short time many of them cooperated with the regime in the holocaust. Remember, Hitler’s first action when he became chancellor of Germany was confiscating firearms.

If we will analyze, and understand the issues listed above as a part of the spiritual war for our souls everything becomes clear and understandable.

Summary

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. (1 Peter 5, 8:9)

The goal of the “Forgotten War” articles is to remind us this truth from first letter of St. Peter, that in our voyage in this valley of tears we have to face an enemy, an evil, powerful enemy, a deadly enemy, an enemy without mercy, Satan.

In today’s world the devil and his powers are underestimated. For many he is just a figure from horror movies or Halloween. In reality we experience his existence as individuals and as a society. He is everywhere.

St. Padre Pio ones said, “If all the devils that are here were to take bodily form, they would blot out the light of the sun!”, and he knew what he was talking about. Satan is an intelligent creature and for this reason his main targets are people of influence; priests, politicians, media and pop culture figures, teachers etc., knowing that with their help he can impact more people, be more successful in his evil plan. He is working 24 hour a day, seven days a week, trying to catch us in his traps.

We have to choose a side in this battle, “No one can serve two masters.” Serving God means fighting the devil, there is no neutrality in this war. We have to resist and fight temptations planted in our hearts, minds, in our body, influences coming from inside and outside. In our spiritual struggle it is important to recognize who the real adversary is. It makes it easier to forgive trespasses, to pray for enemies, to love and have compassion for them, and fight them with pure hearts, because we know that they are just poor puppets of devil.

In this war weapons are: prayer, pious practices, sacraments, especially the sacrament of penance, fighting bad habits, giving a good example to others, fulfilling our duty as a parent, neighbor, and citizen by standing up for what is right.

“Live and let live” is not the option. We have to be “the salt of the earth” to serve God and by this service be made worthy of the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have to fight Satan and oppose him by following the example of saints, and by standing strong prove that in the Catholic Church is the Truth.

From the Wanderer

On the Inquisition

Part 1 By Raymond de Souza, KM

In order to properly understand the historical event called ‘Inquisition’, a basic, primary distinction must be made: there were three distinct inquisition tribunals in History: the medieval Inquisition, the Roman Inquisition and the Spanish Inquisition. Let us consider them, one by one, as their circumstances and historical contexts were very different.

The Medieval Inquisition: If you think that the ISIS so-called ‘caliphate’ terrorist upsurge in the Middle East is a novelty in History, whereby a large sectarian movement takes hold of land and cities and attempts to set up a state within a State, you would be mistaken. It has already happened before, in the 12th and 13th Centuries. In areas of Southern Europe, especially France, the Cathari and the Albigensians made their appearance. They were nearly as radical as today’s Muslim terrorists of ISIS: they attacked the Catholic clergy (remember, in those happier days there was just one Church, one Lord, one Faith – the one Roman Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ. Protestantism and other “isms” were invented centuries later – but I digress).

Yes, they attacked the Clergy, destroyed churches and monasteries, caused many to die for the faith – martyrs – and the like. They introduced contraception in a weird way by opposing child-bearing as a curse, introduced immoral practices such as concubinage, euthanasia and a so-called ‘religious’ suicide by starvation. As they wanted to form a state within the State, they encouraged revolt against the civil government. They regarded themselves as exempt from taxes and were not bound by allegiance to anyone except their own members.
The result: the whole fabric of society, then a Catholic society, was threatened with serious disruption, both within Church and State.

I ask the Reader: if you lived in those days, what would you suggest the Church and the State to do? Let the medieval ISIS do as they pleased? Try to hold a “positive dialogue” with them? Or defend both the country and the Church from that destructive murderous threat?

There was not much soul-searching needed: The Church, then united with the State for the promotion of the Common Good, established the tribunal of the Inquisition – to make inquiries, that what it was called for – to investigate the charges of heresy. Remember: a heresy in those days had profound socio-economic-political consequences: it was not like the foundation of just another little Baptist church in the neighborhood, it was a threat to the stability and well-being of the nation as such. We must understand the historical context of the time.

It was around the year of Our Lord 1232. The Preaching Order of the Dominicans – Saint Dominic of Guzman, who received the Rosary from Our Lady, was himself an Inquisitor – and the Franciscans – founded by the great Saint Francis of Assisi, who were given the task to investigate the new heresy of the Cathari and Albigensians – the medieval version of ISIS.

Our response to ISIS today is a lot more severe – and rightly so – than the Medieval Inquisition. Its purpose was more often than not corrective. If the heretic recanted his error and became reconciled with the true Church and gave up his plan to form a state within the State, he would be given a penance, often a light one, like a fast, a pilgrimage, etc. If the heretic remained obdurate and insisted in continued his attempt to disrupt Church and State, he would be pronounced guilty by the Church and handed over to the State for punishment. Now it meant real trouble, to fall into the hands of the State, as kings did not see it too kindly a heresy that wanted to make a state within their State.

The State would pass sentence and the punishment would be a good deal of flogging, imprisonment, temporary or perpetual, confiscation of property and sometimes death.

Fact is that, officially the Church never condemned anyone to death – the State did. But it is true and good that the Church accepted the repression of the heresy by the State, since it posed not only a serious danger to society but especially a danger for the salvation of souls, which is the first and foremost mission of the Church. The Medieval Inquisition continued intermittently until the 16th Century.

The Roman Inquisition: In the year of Our Lord of 1542, Pope Paul III established a tribunal in Rome to organize and coordinate the work of the several small tribunals in the Italian states. Again, let us bear in mind the historical context: Italy was not a unified country as it is today. The unification of the Italian peninsula took place in the second half of the 19th century. When the Roman Inquisition was established, there were many small states in the peninsula, such as the Papal States, two independent republics, two independent Kingdoms, two kingdoms dependent on the Austrian Empire, One Grand Duchy, four Duchies and one principality. Now imagine the risk of confusion with having so many mini-tribunals run by a variety of Italians… (the last idea is a joke, of course…) So it became necessary to set up a central tribunal in Rome to coordinate the operations and also to establish a court of appeal for cases of heresy – that would also help prevent abuses.

In time it changed its name to the Tribunal of the Holy Office, and more recently to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, of which Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who was elected Pope with the name of Benedict XVI, was the Prefect for many years prior to his election to the Papacy.

This tribunal, Office, Congregation whichever name is chosen to give it, is a most necessary institution, especially in our days, where there are all sorts of heresies and sects that threaten the purity of the Faith in the Church – even heresies inside the Church are at work. It is a duty of the Church is to defend her children from error. The Roman Inquisition did its job at its time in the cultural atmosphere of the time. Like in every single human institution, there were abuses, although immensely less frequent than the Courts of Law of today – especially Supreme Courts who dare to legislate against human nature!

Saint John Vianney

Feast day August 9

Curé of Ars, Confessor (1786-1859)

Saint Vianney was born on 8 May 1786, three years before the French Revolution, in the town of Dardilly, France (near Lyon), and was baptized the same day. His parents, Matthieu Vianney and his wife Marie (Beluze), had six children, of whom John was the fourth. The Vianneys were devout Catholics, who helped the poor and gave hospitality to St. Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of tramps, who passed through Dardilly on his pilgrimage to Rome.

By 1790, the anticlerical Terror phase of the French Revolution forced many loyal priests to hide from the regime in order to carry out the sacraments in their parish. Even though to do so had been declared illegal, the Vianneys travelled to distant farms to attend Masses celebrated by priests on the run. Realizing that such priests risked their lives day by day, Vianney began to look upon them as heroes. He received his First Communion catechism instructions in a private home by two nuns whose communities had been dissolved during the Revolution. He made his first communion at the age of 13.

From his earliest years he was noted for his candor, piety, love for the Blessed Virgin, and charity for the poor.

The Catholic Church was re-established in France in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, resulting in religious peace throughout the country, culminating in a Concordat. By this time, Vianney was concerned about his future vocation and longed for an education. He was 20 when his father allowed him to leave the farm to be taught at a “presbytery-school” in the neighbouring village of Écully, conducted by the Abbé Balley. The school taught arithmetic, history, geography and Latin. Vianney struggled with school, especially with Latin, since his past education had been interrupted by the French Revolution. Only because of Vianney’s deepest desire to be a priest—and Balley’s patience—did he persevere.

Vianney’s studies were interrupted in 1809 when he was drafted into Napoleon’s armies. He would have been exempt, as an ecclesiastical student, but Napoleon had withdrawn the exemption in certain dioceses because of his need for soldiers in his fight against Spain. Two days after he had to report at Lyons, he became ill and was hospitalized, during which time his draft left without him. Once released from the hospital, on 5 January, he was sent to Roanne for another draft. He went into a church to pray, and fell behind the group. An imperial decree proclaimed in March 1810 granted amnesty to all deserters, which enabled Vianney to go back legally to Ecully, where he resumed his studies. He was tonsured in 1811, and in 1812 he went to the minor seminary at Verrières-en-Forez. In autumn of 1813, he was sent to major seminary at Lyons. Considered too slow, he was returned to Abbe Balley. However, Balley persuaded the Vicar general that Vianney’s piety was great enough to compensate for his ignorance, and the seminarian received minor orders and the subdiaconate on 2 July 1814, was ordained a deacon in June 1815. St Vianney desired to become a priest and reached the altar through his piety rather than through his talents. The bishop asked, however, whether he was pious; and when he heard that Vianney said his Rosary like an Angel, ordained him on 12 August 1815 in the Couvent des Minimes de Grenoble. Vianney said his first Mass the next day, and was appointed assistant to Balley in Écully. After a few years of parish work as an Assistant Pastor, in 1817 he was placed in charge of the parish of Ars, a small village considered backward and scarcely half-Christian. On his way there, solitary and in poverty, when he saw in the distance the steeple of the church, he knelt and prayed God to bless his ministry.

Situations calling for “impossible” deeds followed him everywhere. As pastor of the parish at Ars, John encountered people who were indifferent and quite comfortable with their style of living. His vision led him through severe fasts and short nights of sleep. (Some devils can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.)

His first concern was to visit his parishioners, and he soon won them over by his far-from-ordinary virtue. To their indifference to religion, then, a profoundly Christian spirit succeeded, and one saw the Lord’s day observed to perfection; under the influence of a Saint, the parish of Ars became like a religious community.

With Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he established La Providence, a home for girls. Only a man of vision could have such trust that God would provide for the spiritual and material needs of all those who came to make La Providence their home.

Word of this transformation passed from one person to another and soon, from many surrounding regions people came to hear him, enter humbly into the confessional, and obtain miracles. These he attributed to Saint Philomena, whose tomb had recently been discovered, and whom he called his dear little Saint. He was very attentive to the beauty of the sanctuary, to the preparation of his sermons, and to the orphanage which he founded; no application was excessive where these were concerned. For himself he was unsparing, sleeping in a damp basement and persecuted there incessantly by the devil.

His work as a confessor is John Vianney’s most remarkable accomplishment. In the winter months he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the summer months this time was increased to 16 hours. Unless a man was dedicated to his vision of a priestly vocation, he could not have endured this giving of self-day after day. As his fame spread, more hours were consumed in serving God’s people. Even the few hours he would allow himself for sleep were disturbed frequently by the devil.

It has been said of more than one person, of more than one Saint, that they were the prodigies of their century. This is perhaps true of no one more than of the Curé of Ars. This man, who was so remarkably humble, for about thirty years saw the whole world, as it were, attentive to his virtues, the entire Christian world at his feet. He is certainly a marvel of the pastoral apostolate and sanctity.

Many people look forward to retirement and taking it easy, doing the things they always wanted to do but never had the time. But John Vianney had no thoughts of retirement.

The reputation of this humble country priest had spread over Europe, and from everywhere there came impious scoffers, unbelievers, and libertines, as well as fervent Christians and those in sorrow; the former were converted by the thousands, the latter consoled and strengthened for their combats. He spent ordinarily from sixteen to eighteen hours daily in the confessional, in winter with his feet on an unheated stone floor; and the rest of his time in preaching, prayer, and teaching catechism in the church. He died at the advanced age of 73, despite his unrelenting penance and long-standing rheumatism, and loved by the whole world.

In 1929, Pope Pius XI named him the patron of parish priests worldwide.

References and Excerpts

[1] Wikipedia, “John Vianney,” [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney. [Accessed 2 August 2016].
[2] “Saint John-Marie Vianney – Lives of the Saints,” Magnificat, 24 February 2016. [Online]. Available: http://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_john_vianney.html. [Accessed 2 August 2016].
[3] “Saint John Vianney – Saint of the Day,” American Catholic, [Online]. Available: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1097. [Accessed 2 August 2016].
[4] M. F. Trochu, in Life of the Curé of Ars, Tours, 1950.

Introduction to the Devout Life

St. Francis de Sales

The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;–love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;–and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations.

The Nature and Excellence of Devotion

Those who sought to discourage the Israelites from going up to the Promised Land, told them that it was “a land which eateth up the inhabitants thereof; “that is, that the climate was so unhealthy that the inhabitants could not live long, and that the people thereof were “men of a great stature,” who looked upon the new-comers as mere locusts to be devoured. It is just so, my child, that the world runs down true devotion, painting devout people with gloomy, melancholy aspect, and affirming that religion makes them dismal and unpleasant. But even as Joshua and Caleb protested that not only was the Promised Land a fair and pleasant country, but that the Israelites would take an easy and peaceful possession thereof, so the Holy Spirit tells us through His Saints, and our Lord has told us with His Own Lips, that a devout life is very sweet, very happy and very loveable.

The world, looking on, sees that devout persons fast, watch and pray, endure injury patiently, minister to the sick and poor, restrain their temper, check and subdue their passions, deny themselves in all sensual indulgence, and do many other things which in themselves are hard and difficult. But the world sees nothing of that inward, heartfelt devotion which makes all these actions pleasant and easy. Watch a bee hovering over the mountain thyme;–the juices it gathers are bitter, but the bee turns them all to honey,–and so tells the worldling, that though the devout soul finds bitter herbs along its path of devotion, they are all turned to sweetness and pleasantness as it treads;–and the martyrs have counted fire, sword, and rack but as perfumed flowers by reason of their devotion. And if devotion can sweeten such cruel torments, and even death itself, how much more will it give a charm to ordinary good deeds? We sweeten unripe fruit with sugar, and it is useful in correcting the crudity even of that which is good. So devotion is the real spiritual sweetness which takes away all bitterness from mortifications; and prevents consolations from disagreeing with the soul: it cures the poor of sadness, and the rich of presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate, and the prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely, and dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer want; how to profit alike by honour and contempt; it accepts gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills men’s hearts with a wondrous sweetness.

Ponder Jacob’s ladder:–it is a true picture of the devout life; the two poles which support the steps are types of prayer which seeks the love of God, and the Sacraments which confer that love; while the steps themselves are simply the degrees of love by which we go on from virtue to virtue, either descending by good deeds on behalf of our neighbor or ascending by contemplation to a loving union with God. Consider, too, who they are who trod this ladder; men with angels’ hearts, or angels with human forms. They are not youthful, but they seem to be so by reason of their vigor and spiritual activity. They have wings wherewith to fly, and attain to God in holy prayer, but they have likewise feet wherewith to tread in human paths by a holy gracious intercourse with men; their faces are bright and beautiful, inasmuch as they accept all things gently and sweetly; their heads and limbs are uncovered, because their thoughts, affections and actions have no motive or object save that of pleasing God; the rest of their bodies is covered with a light shining garment, because while they use the world and the things of this life, they use all such purely and honestly, and no further than is needful for their condition –such are the truly devout. Believe me, dear child, devotion is the sweetest of sweets, the queen of virtues, the perfection of love. If love is the milk of life, devotion is the cream thereof; if it is a fruitful plant, devotion is the blossom; if it is a precious stone, devotion is its brightness; if it is a precious balm, devotion is its perfume, even that sweet odor which delights men and causes the angels to rejoice.

Saint John Gualbert

Feast -July 12

Founder of the Vallombrosa Order (999-1073)

Saint John Gualbert was born in Florence in the year 999. He was raised with care in piety and the study of the humanities, but no sooner had he entered adult life than he acquired a taste for pleasures. God, desiring to save and sanctify him, found a means to open his eyes. He was following the profession of arms at that troubled period, when on Good Friday, as he was riding into Florence accompanied by armed men, he encountered his brother’s murderer in a place where neither could avoid the other. John would have slain him, according to the customary vengeance of those times; but his adversary, who was totally unprepared to fight, fell upon his knees with his arms outstretched in the form of a cross, and implored him, for the sake of Our Lord’s holy Passion, to spare his life. Saint John said to his enemy, I cannot refuse what you ask in Christ’s name. I grant you not only your life, but my friendship. Pray that God may forgive me my sin! They embraced and parted; grace had triumphed.

A humble and changed man, he went to a nearby abbatial church, and while he prayed with fervor for forgiveness, the figure of our crucified Lord, before which he was kneeling, bowed its head toward him, as if to confirm His pardon and manifest His gratitude for the generous pardon John himself had granted. Abandoning the world then, Saint John devoted himself to prayer and penance and became a Benedictine monk at San Miniato. His virtue and austerity were so great that when his abbot died, he was unanimously chosen to replace him; but he could not be prevailed upon to accept that honor.

He fought actively against simony, (of which both his abbot, Oberto, and the Bishop of Florence, Pietro Mezzabarba, were accused). Unwilling to compromise he left the monastery to lead a more perfect life. His attraction was for the cenobitic, and not eremitic life, so after staying for some time with the monks at Camaldoli, he finally settled at Valle Ombrosa in Tuscany. Together with two hermits whom he found there, he and his companions built a small monastery, observing the primitive rule of St. Benedict. Thus was laid the foundation of the Order of Vallombrosa. The area surrounding his monastery at Vallombrosa was wild and deserted when he first arrived. John thought that it would be more conducive to contemplation and discipline if the grounds were better kept. But instead of a traditional garden, he opted to have his monks plant trees (firs and pines mostly), creating a park and nature preserve to enhance the prayerful environment.

The humility of the saint was such that he would never be promoted, even to Minor Orders. His charity for the poor caused him to make a rule that no indigent person should be sent away without an alms.

Once during a time of famine, he went to the nearly empty storeroom, and at his prayer the provisions multiplied to the point that he could distribute grain to all his houses and to all the poor who presented themselves. On an occasion when he found one of the monasteries too rich, he prayed a stream flowing past it to take on the violence of a torrent and overturn the building. This was done without delay. Another time, the enemies of the Saint came to his convent of Saint Salvi, plundered it and set fire to it and, after treating the monks with ignominy, beat them and injured them. Saint John rejoiced. Now, he said, you are true monks. Oh, how I envy your lot!

After a life of great austerity, he died while Angels were singing near his bed, on July 12, 1073.

References and Excerpts

[1] J. G. Shea, Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints and other sources, New York: Benziger Brothers, 1894.
[2] C. Online, “St. John Gaulbert, Abbot,” [Online]. Available: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=358. [Accessed 2 July 2016].
[3] Wikipedia, “John Gaulbert,” [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gualbert. [Accessed 2 July 2016].
[4] Magnificat, “Lives of the Saints, Saint John Gualbert,” 24 February 2016. [Online]. Available: http://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_john_gualbert.html. [Accessed 2 July 2016].

Blessed Are The Pure In Heart

Saint Athanasius

Evil no part of the essential nature of things. The original creation and constitution of man in grace and in the knowledge of God.

In the beginning wickedness did not exist. Nor indeed does it exist even now in those who are holy, nor does it in any way belong to their nature. But men later on began to contrive it and to elaborate it to their own hurt. Whence also they devised the invention of idols, treating what was not as though it were. For God Maker of all and King of all, that has His Being beyond all substance and human discovery, inasmuch as He is good and exceeding noble, made, through His own Word our Saviour Jesus Christ, the human race after His own image, and constituted man able to see and know realities by means of this assimilation to Himself, giving him also a conception and knowledge even of His own eternity, in order that, preserving his nature intact, he might not ever either depart from his idea of God, nor recoil from the communion of the holy ones; but having the grace of Him that gave it, having also God’s own power from the Word of the Father, he might rejoice and have fellowship with the Deity, living the life of immortality unharmed and truly blessed. For having nothing to hinder his knowledge of the Deity, he ever beholds, by his purity, the Image of the Father, God the Word, after whose image he himself is made. He is awe-struck as he contemplates that Providence which through the Word extends to the universe, being raised above the things of sense and every bodily appearance, but cleaving to the divine and thought-perceived things in the heavens by the power of his mind. For when the mind of men does not hold converse with bodies, nor has mingled with it from without aught of their lust, but is wholly above them, dwelling with itself as it was made to begin with, then, transcending the things of sense and all things human, it is raised up on high; and seeing the Word, it sees in Him also the Father of the Word, taking pleasure in contemplating Him, and gaining renewal by its desire toward Him; exactly as the first of men created, the one who was named Adam in Hebrew, is described in the Holy Scriptures as having at the beginning had his mind to God-ward in a freedom unembarrassed by shame, and as associating with the holy ones in that contemplation of things perceived by the mind which he enjoyed in the place where he was—the place which the holy Moses called in figure a Garden. So purity of soul is sufficient of itself to reflect God, as the Lord also says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Saint Basil the Great

June Saint

Saint Basil the Great

Feast June 14th

Bishop, Doctor of the Church (329-379)

Basil was born into the wealthy family of Basil the Elder, a famous rhetor, and Emmelia of Caesarea, in Pontus, around 330. His parents were renowned for their piety. His maternal grandfather was a Christian martyr, executed in the years prior to Constantine I’s conversion. His pious widow, Macrina, herself a follower of Gregory Thaumaturgus (who had founded the nearby church of Neocaesarea), raised Basil and his four siblings Macrina the Younger, Naucratius, Peter of Sebaste and Gregory of Nyssa. Peter and Gregory became bishops, and with his mother and his sister, are honored as Saints.

Basil received more formal education in Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia (modern-day Kayseri, Turkey) around 350-51.

He studied with great success in Athens, where he formed a tender and perpetual friendship with Saint Gregory Nazianzen. At the time he taught oratory. The study of philosophy had already raised him above all worldly ambition, causing him to dread the honors of the world. At the end of his sojourn at Athens, Basil was well equipped to be a teacher. He refused the splendid offers of the citizens of Neo-Caesarea, who wished him to undertake the education of the youth of their city. Basil’s life changed radically after he encountered Eustathius of Sebaste, a charismatic bishop and ascetic. Abandoning his legal and teaching career, Basil devoted his life to God. A letter described his spiritual awakening: “I had wasted much time on follies and spent nearly all of my youth in vain labors, and devotion to the teachings of a wisdom that God had made foolish. Suddenly, I awoke as out of a deep sleep. I beheld the wonderful light of the Gospel truth, and I recognized the nothingness of the wisdom of the princes of this world.”

He gave up all things to become the father of monastic life in the East. His older sister, Saint Macrina, encouraged him when he abandoned the greater part of his inheritance.

He retired into Pontus, where his sister was the Superior of a convent, into which his mother also had entered; there he founded a monastery on the opposite side of the river from the convent, and governed it from 358 to 362. He founded several other religious houses in the same region, both for men and for women. It was for them that he composed his ascetic works, including his famous “Rule,” still followed by the monks of the Orient.

He then resigned, leaving his office to his brother, Saint Peter of Sebastus, to retire in prayer. Saint Gregory came to join his friend for a time, in response to his invitation. Ever afterwards, Basil would recall with regret the peace and happiness they had enjoyed, singing Psalms, studying Scripture, keeping vigil in prayer, and disciplining their flesh by manual work. It was only in 363 that this holy hermit was ordained a priest by Eusebius of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

The Arian heretics, supported by the court, were then persecuting the Church, and Basil was summoned from his retirement by his bishop to give aid against them. His energy and zeal soon mitigated the disorders of the Church, and his solid and eloquent words silenced the heretics.

In 370, Eusebius died, and Basil was chosen to succeed him, and was consecrated bishop on June 14, 370. His new post as bishop of Caesarea also gave him the powers of exarch of Pontus and metropolitan of five suffragan bishops, many of whom had opposed him in the election for Eusebius’s successor. It was then that his great powers were called into action. Hot-blooded and somewhat imperious, Basil was also generous and sympathetic. He personally organized a soup kitchen and distributed food to the poor during a famine following a drought. He gave away his personal family inheritance to benefit the poor of his diocese.

His letters show that he actively worked to reform thieves and prostitutes. They also show him encouraging his clergy not to be tempted by wealth or the comparatively easy life of a priest, and that he personally took care in selecting worthy candidates for holy orders. He also had the courage to criticize public officials who failed in their duty of administering justice. At the same time, he preached every morning and evening in his own church to large congregations. In addition to all the above, he built a large complex just outside Caesarea, called the Basiliad, which included a poorhouse, hospice, and hospital, and was compared by Gregory of Nazianzus to the wonders of the world

When Saint Basil was summoned by the emperor Valentius to admit the Arians to Communion, the prefect in charge, finding that soft words had no effect, said to him, “Are you mad, that you resist the will before which the whole world bows? Do you not dread the wrath of the emperor, nor exile, nor death?” “No,” said Basil calmly; “he who has nothing to lose need not dread loss of goods; you cannot exile me, for the whole earth is my home; as for death, it would be the greatest kindness you could bestow upon me; torments cannot harm me; one blow would end both my frail life and my sufferings.” The prefect answered, “Never has anyone dared to address me thus.” “Perhaps,” suggested Basil, “you never before measured your strength with a Christian bishop.” The emperor desisted from his commands.

Saint Basil’s entire life was one of suffering, both physical and moral; he lived amidst jealousies, misunderstandings and seeming disappointments. However, he sowed the seed which bore good fruit in future generations. He was God’s instrument to resist the Arians and other heretics in the East, and to restore the spirit of discipline and fervor in the Church. He died peacefully in 379 at the age of fifty-one, and is venerated as a Doctor of the Church.

References and Excerpts

[1] “St. Basil the Great,” New Advent, 2012. [Online]. Available: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02330b.htm. [Accessed 1 June 2016].

[2] “Basil of Caesarea,” Wikipedia, [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea. [Accessed 1 June 2016].

[3] “Saint Basil the Great,” Magnificat, 24 February 2016. [Online]. Available: http://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_basil_the_great.html. [Accessed 1 June 2016].

Calloused Hands

CallousedHands

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
/Matthew, 6:25/

A long time ago before the Berlin wall collapsed, people, to show the absurdity of the communist system, would ask, “How many workers does it take to plant a tree?” The answer was “five, one to dig a hole, one to put the tree in, a “highly educated” supervisor to say ‘roots down, branches up,’ a fourth to fill the hole, and the fifth to pour some water, to keep the tree alive.” There is a problem in this joke, according to Darwin’s theory of evolution, we don’t need a highly educated supervisor. It doesn’t matter whether the roots are down or up, the tree will adapt!

How is it that the all-knowing, all-powerful government couldn’t bend or change the power of Mother Nature? There is a bigger question, is it really Mother Nature?

You, my God, have made everything; You decided that roots will go into the dirt to collect water, while the branches reach up into the air. You made it possible that the water, which normally travels downwards instead travels up the tree to the highest leaves. God, You magnificent designer, who made trees and other plants to suck the carbon dioxide from the air, then use it to build branches and leaves, and spit out oxygen that we need to live. (How evil it is to consider carbon dioxide as a pollutant)

At the end of my workday, when I am washing my hands, I can see callouses. Some may say they are from work, I say they are from You, heavenly Father. You designed them, made them to protect my hands while I work. Oh God, how much You must love me, that You protect even my hands. How much You must love me, that You sacrificed Your beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh merciful God, fill my heart with love and passion that I may serve You with my whole heart and soul, because “Thou art all good and worthy of all love.” Amen.

You Stop the Rain

Guardian-Angel

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” /Luke 18: 1-8/

Today I saw an ant wandering on the bathroom floor, spring is coming. What a small creature God has created, so small that if I stepped on it I wouldn’t even notice. How little we must be in comparison with our creator, maker of all the planets, stars and galaxies. We are so small that if we were to give every living man and woman on earth 1/3 of an acre of land it would only cover the state of Texas. How minuscule we are, and yet how much our Heavenly Father cares for us. Lord, so often have You stopped the rain so I could finish my outdoor work. When we had a guest coming after church You gave us beautiful weather, allowing us to sit outside and enjoy the company; or when we asked for nice weather for last year’s garden party at our church You gave us a beautiful day, then in the end when we finished cleaning you washed everything with rain.

Only You, Almighty God, know how many times You saved me from trouble. I still remember seeing the fear in the eyes of other drivers when I lost control going 60 mph in the middle of a snow storm. Miraculously, nothing happened, and I was able to get back on the freeway and continue my trip. You picked the perfect place to warn me about slippery conditions, and when I lost control on a curve and my heart was crying out “no, no, please no” suddenly the wheels regained grip and I safely reached my destination. Many times and in many situations, the words of psalm 91:11-12: “For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone,” came to my mind. How much love You have towards me and I am less than an meager ant. O my God you listen to us, to our hearts all the time ready to come and help, to take care of us. Now I start to understand how offensive a cold, mindless, heartless prayer must be to You, why the second commandment was given to us.

“O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.” Amen.