Sunday, August 28, 2011

Friday's walk to the train...

I'm reading a book called "In the Likeness of Christ written by Fr. Edward Leen. Fr. Leen reminds the reader that life, destiny, the will of God requires so much more than being a passive observer and spontaneous participant to what is going on around you. It's a book that assists our discipline to see the world through the eyes of the soul and not the eyes in our head.

I can't get enough of these kinds of books. I need these books. We get ourselves into a state of grace, try to remain there. We go on our merry way thinking Our Lord is in the driver's seat. But if we are not keenly aware and we instead live life on the surface through our emotions, we get ourselves into all kinds of trouble. I'm not dissing emotions. I love emotions. I just don't want to base my actions on them unless they are, at the bare minimum, not offending God.

The book's focus (at least so far) has been on the angelic.

So there I was on the way to the commuter rail making my way home at the end of my work week. Thinking about this past week and praying. Earthquakes. Hurricaines. Posts I have not yet dealt with - Mark Shea's last Voriscreed and the release of names from the Archdiocese of innocent men lumped in with pedophiles.

Walking down Surface Road to South Station, there' a long line of benches where the homeless congregate. Their faces are a roadmap to their long life of drinking, drugs, poor nutrition, mental illness. You see people there for years and then they disappear. A new woman showed up a few weeks ago with what must be ten suitcases full of stuff. It will eventually all get stolen from her but she is guarding it with her life. Afraid to move or sleep, she's there 24/7.

She had her back to me but just as I was walking by, she began shrieking 'hey you' and insults about Christ and talking about Satan's power to overcome. A power this poor woman must know all too well. I wondered how she got into this condition as I made the sign of the Cross, denounced Satan, praised God and prayed for her. I thought about the impotence of priests. Too weak or egotistical to confront the demons sweetly seducing their flocks right in front of their eyes.


Have you ever read the writings of Anne Catherine Emmerich?

Good reading, especially in front of the Eucharist in Adoration.

She was mystically taken to Our Lord's Passion and Crucifixion with the ability to see what he saw.

From Chapter 38 during the nailing of Christ to the Cross...

This scene was rendered the more frightful to me by the sight of demons, who were invisible to others, and I saw large bodies of evil spirits under the forms of toads, serpents, sharp-clawed dragons, and venomous insects, urging these wicked men to still greater cruelty, and perfectly darkening the air. They crept into the mouths and into the hearts of the assistants, sat upon their shoulders, filled their minds with wicked images, and incited them to revile and insult our Lord with still greater brutality. Weeping angels, however, stood around Jesus, and the sight of their tears consoled me not a little, and they were accompanied by little angels of glory, whose heads alone I saw. There were likewise angels of pity and angels of consolation among them; the latter frequently approached the Blessed Virgin and the rest of the pious persons who were assembled there, and whispered words of comfort which enabled them to bear up with firmness.


Good times ahead as we follow Christ along His path.

Let's be on our toes.

I pray you are all riding out this storm ok. No electricity here (I'm on an aircard.)so I have no idea what's happening. I thought the worst of the storm had passed but it seems the wind is picking up speed.

Be safe.




7 comments:

kd said...

Carol - I hope all is well down there in your part of the woods. I just got & started "Happy Catholic" by Julie Davis,a Blog friend! Her book is exactly like what your reading, see God around you, take notice. I love it, try to get a copy, great reading especially when you can't read but 2 pages on the train! Stay safe, I'm sure Our Lord will keep you!

Maria said...

I too was struck by the presence of homeless person on Saturday. I often feel concicted in their presence. Our Lord seems most present in the homeless, though, as your story relays, the enemy can prevail...

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ was one of the first things I read after my "conversion" (I am a cradle Catholic). The life of our Lord and His Passion is made so real...

I made a note concerning on the passages:

"Finally I saw all who werer separated from the Church plunged into the depths of infidelity, superstition, heresy, and false worldly philosophy; and they gave vent to their fierce rage by joining together in larger in large bodies to attack the Church, being urged on by the serpent which was disporting itsef in the midst of them. Alas, it was as though Jesus Himself had been torn in a thousand pieces".

My note? America Magazine...

Maria said...

"Finally I saw all who were separated from the Church plunged into the depths of infidelity, superstition, heresy, and false worldly philosophy; and they gave vent to their fierce rage by joining together in large bodies to attack the Church, being urged on by the serpent which was disporting itsef in the midst of them. Alas, it was as though Jesus Himself had been torn in a thousand pieces".

Left-footer said...

Powerful post! Tweeting now.

Thank you and God bless.

susan said...

AWESOME post!

Joseph D'Hippolito said...

Good for your for denouncing Satan! I hope you did so verbally in her presence. Too many Christians would just ignore what she said and move on.

I will pray for your safety.

Anonymous said...

"Posts I have not yet dealt with - Mark Shea's last Voriscreed"

Mark 'olbermann' Shea, professional smear merchant.