Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Pope Francis is Sponsoring a Debate on Friends with Benefits and Contraception



I didn't think Steve Skojec could be outdone but this caricature of Pope Francis's shtick written by Amanda Marcotte takes First Place Blue Ribbon.

I once participated in some kind of a pre-election conference call where Amanda and her husband or sex buddy partner had a public conversation about - and this is disgusting - letting her dogs clean up after having sex.

She once said - and again, disgusting -
Q: What if Mary had taken Plan B after the Lord filled her with his hot, white, sticky Holy Spirit? A: You’d have to justify your misogyny with another ancient mythology.


Vulgar doesn't do justice to her presentation.

Naturally, she has an ax to grind against the Sacred Institution that is the Custodian of the tools for salvation.

The definitions of virtue and truth in the Deposit of Faith are oppressing her.

With Pope Francis, there's a glimmer of hope:

Contraception, cohabitation, divorce, remarriage and same-sex unions: They're issues that pain and puzzle Roman Catholics who want to be true to both their church and themselves.

Now those issues are about to be put up for debate by their leader, a man who appears determined to push boundaries and effect change.

However, there is an expectation that, while the church will continue to officially deny Communion to people who divorce and remarry, Pope Francis "could offer local priests a work-around" of sorts.

I hate to be cynical, but it seems like this meeting will help Pope Francis shore up his image as a compassionate, empathetic pope by appearing to listen to people's concerns, all while not budging an inch on the long-standing traditions that harm women and gay people by denying them full human rights.

When other people have a code of ethics and morals, this denies her full human rights.

In Amanda's perfect world, everyone has to be a putana so she feels fully human.

She can't get comfortable in her own skin if the universe reserves human sexuality for uses proscribed by God.

Pope Francis is going to find a 'work around' for 'local priests' want to be 'true to themselves' instead of God.

Constructive permission to commit adultery against God would be a novel idea for a Pope indeed but she is not holding her breath.

Neither am I.




Sunday, April 27, 2014

Pray More Novenas



This is a great site for getting Novenas delivered right to your iphone or pda.

It makes it very convenient to just have with you and grab the ten minutes to pray the Novena rather than checking out facebook or email.

Join the fun!

Pope Francis Homily at Canonization Mass



Fr. Z has some thoughts on Pope Francis homily that, with one exception, are dead center of the bullseye of my own thoughts.

The translation of the homily is a bit off here:

In convening the Council, John XXIII showed an exquisite openness to the Holy Spirit.

The word used by Pope Francis was not openness, but docility.

When we are docile to the Holy Spirit, we are willing to be guided by His Word and teachings. We are guidable,malleable, yielding to God. It is surrender.

A few other things I want to point out with Pope Francis homily before I give my thoughts.

Take a moment and ponder these in your heart:

Whereupon that man, so straightforward and accustomed to testing everything personally, knelt before Jesus with the words: “My Lord and my God!”

John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit in renewing and updating the Church in keeping with her pristine features, those features which the saints have given her throughout the centuries.

The wounds of Christ are a scandal, a stumbling block for faith, yet they are also the test of faith.

The hope and joy of Easter, forged in the crucible of self-denial, self-emptying, utter identification with sinners, even to the point of disgust at the bitterness of that chalice.

John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit in renewing and updating the Church in keeping with her pristine features,

Unity and reconciliation is very much on Pope Francis mind.

I was too young to remember Saint John XXIII but with the combination of urban legends about the meaning of his council and the kooks affiliated with the theological and liturgical madness that came from it, until this morning, I did not understand why he canonized these two saints on the same day.

The spiritual daughters and sons of Saint John Paul II and those who hijacked and trampled the deposit of faith in the name of Saint John XXIII are oil and water.

Poor Saint John XXIII is saddled with some baggage that doesn't even belong to him. (Some good reading here) Perhaps canonizing them together is genius. Time will tell.

The spiritual sons and daughters of Saint John Paul II commit themselves to the discipline of keeping their soul in a state of grace, drawing the Divine Properties in the Eucharist in a state of purity. Drawing from Christ in a state of purity is mutually beneficial to Christ and the soul.

Like a heart clogged with cholesterol, a soul in a state of moral sin can't circulate Divinity properly. The interaction between the intellect, soul and Properties in the Eucharist -- which is essentially communication and direction with and from God -- gets tossed and twisted with sin. The intellect loses the ability to process thoughts with right judgment. The person suffering from this malady gets more deeply immersed into their addictions and sins.

The theological name for it is diabolical disorientation.

It is a sickness of the soul that affects the mind and the only cure for it is acknowledging the sin or sins, seeking the Sacrament of Confession to admit your acknowledgement of the offense, express remorse, make an oath before God to refrain from doing it again and ask for God's forgiveness through the absolution of the Sacrament of the Catholic Church.

Consequently, when the sons and daughters of Saint John Paul II hear the kooks tell us they are being merciful when they give us Communion in a state of mortal sin, we remind them of their part in the spiritual suicide of that soul.

It is a death. The priests and bishops responsible for the many nations full of them have tied a millstone around the necks of their victims.

After four decades of it, the diabolical disorientation is so deeply-rooted most are incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Sadly, most of us affiliate this state of affairs with the stupid ideas that were executed from the council engineered by Saint John XXIII. Compounded with the fact there are no miracles associated with Saint John XXIII, on its face, it is perplexing.

There will never be reconciliation between a priest, bishop or even pope who tells Catholics who know the substance of the mystical that he is delivering the mercy of Christ when he compounds the state of a moral soul by adding sacrilegious Communion to the mania of mortal sin.

It will never happen, for reasons I do not have to explain to this audience. I do not believe he is going to run that flag up the flagpole and ask us to salute. He knows we will not. We are incapable of it. As Fr. Z implies, if that kind of scandal happens, it's going to get very ugly.

A lot of people focus on the fact that the Pope cannot change the substance of marriage. This is true. But to me, it's actually even more serious.

A pope cannot change the physics and chemistry of unrepentant sin upon the soul.

Asking us to accept the poppycock that he is not sentencing souls to spiritual suicide under the caricature of 'mercy' is a disaster (to unity) of historical proportions. He doesn't look that stupid to me.

There is lots of speculation out there on where he's going with it.

I continue to urge you to be most careful who and what you read and to stay away from the histrionics.

It is no coincidence that he preceded this event with this homily on the indissolubility of the Sacrament of Marriage. He is shooting flares across our bows. Pay attention to them. He said we need clear doctrine to emphasize that marriage is for life.

Also, please duly note Pope Francis' reference to Saint John Paul II as the pope of the family. As in Familiaris Consortio.

The dual canonization and homily conveys to me that he is acutely aware of the internal schism and his desires are to gently dispel the hostility to truth and the teachings of the Church and to harvest every conceivable field.

I am not a sorcerer but he has given us a few clues as to where he is going. I believe he will, with his authority to bind, add a few more reasons to grant annulments that affect formation, maturity, understanding necessary. I think these will be limited but he will foster other circumstances where he casts the net into the deep and grabs the children, perhaps helping the parents to perhaps live celibate to receive the Eucharist.

The reminder of these teachings in the public square is going to need our support. The people who take advantage of it will need a welcome embrace.

Keep a tight rein on your horses.
Chill out.
Don't twist your pajamas into a knot.
Take it down a couple of notches.
Be Not Afraid!

What a glorious day. The canonization of my spiritual father and an indulgence!


Saturday, April 26, 2014

Marriage is a life-long covenant betwixted one man and one woman, sayeth Pope Francis



More coverage here.

He's heard the cry of the poor and responded.

Is it me or is the National Catholic Distortor ignoring it?

John Allen at the Boston Globe said...bupkis.

Steve Skojec said worse than nothing.

First, he said nothing about the clarity coming directly from the Pope but he is all over the lunatic fringe story that Pope Francis told a person who told another person who called their uncle fester to say the Pope said there's nothing wrong with going to Communion in a state of sin. He then goes on to say how offended he is when people point out hearsay about a phone call cannot be relied upon and it's as clear as the rubber ball on the end of his nose what's going down with the Pope.

If you're in the mood for entertainment, take a quick look at the all the crack pipes his piece lit up in the comments section.

Good grief.



If you wouldn't say it about a boob job...don't say it about adoptive families.



Very funny sensitivity-training video!





Fr. Paul Nicholson Corrects Fr. Barron's Error that Genesis is a "Myth"




A magnificent job.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Christ did not keep the fate of Judas Iscariot a secret.


An old neighbor and friend asked me a question on Facebook that led to an interesting discussion about Judas.

He's a lover of Christ whose family practiced in the Protestant Church. As often happens in life, he strayed from Christ and I sense is trying to find his way back. He's been intrigued by some of my posts on Facebook and will occasionally ask a question about Catholic theology or the Sacraments.

I posted a picture yesterday of Judas giving Christ a kiss with the caption "Judas Iscariot, patron saint of social justice". (Was that Blessed Fulton Sheen?) My friend asked "Is it true Christ forgave Judas?".

My response was he never asked for forgiveness. No askie, no receive'.

To my surprise, another Catholic friend chimed in that we do not know the fate of Judas and we mustn't forget the virtue of hope.

Since this does not comport with what we know, I thought it worth some discussion.

Christ did not keep Judas' fate a secret.

He publicly revealed His Knowledge that Judas is condemned.

He called Judas a devil. (One of you is a devil)

He said it would have been better for Judas had he not been born.

There are two kinds of sorrow and repentance. Judas displayed one, Peter the other.

Judas was sorrful unto himself.

Peter was sorrowful unto Christ.

The distinction between being sorrowful unto oneself and being sorry unto Christ manifests itself throughout the Gospel.

Remorse isn't the same thing as repentance.

Betraying Christ with sin brings unpleasant consequences, pain.

Consequences stink. We can be sorry about how consequences affect us. We can experience regret.

These sentiments should not to be confused with the kind of sorrow that admits sin and seeks forgiveness and absolution.

A man can kill and regret that he has to spend the rest of his life in jail. He can feel terrible pain that he is separated from his family, his freedom is taken away and he is stuck in the hell hole of prison.

That is sorrow unto oneself.

Unless that is accompanied with sorrow about the actions he took to take the life of another, the remorse and regret for the pain he has caused others - including and most especially Christ - the sorrow doesn't have the right properties going on to obtain forgiveness.
Let me use a more concrete example.

Take for example a person who is sexually active with a person to whom they are not married and they know that situation puts them outside of the Body of Christ.

They can feel great pain over the separation from Christ but when it comes to the choice between having what they want and desire and admitting what they are doing is sin and stopping the conduct so they can reconcile with Christ, they choose the former.

Feeling sorrow doesn't cut it.

Peter betrays Christ, but his remorse is about Christ. He seeks forgiveness with the firm purpose of amendment. He obtains it.

Christ put Himself between two thieves. There is very subtle theology about forgiveness and redemption in the conversation between the three of them.

Note that one thief's sorrow mocks Christ while still asking to be saved. Christ never speaks to him. (This is something He does throughout his entire 3 years of ministry, most notably with Herod. Theology explains that Christ's silence indicates the state of the soul condemned)

The other thief admits sin, expresses remorse, asks for forgiveness. His Baptism of desire in his final moments wins him salvation.

It is true that we are not privy to where the mercy of God will apply itself.

In the case of Judas, He didn't keep it a secret.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Pedicure Thursday


I've never understood the desire to give or receive cheap grace.

Why would a priest want to cheapen the understanding of our sacred ritual memorializing the institution of the priesthood?

Those of us who mystically pray literally take flight to the time and place of Christ. On Holy Thursday, to the moment Christ ordained His first priests.

What a moment and a gift it is to be taken there.

They have cheapened it to a moment where we are watching them be nice.

Instead of transcendence and mystical prayer, the objective now is to have people in the pews think about how nice they are to give twelve people a pedicure. Another time and moment when we're robbed of intimacy with Christ.

It's like showing up for Mass and having the priest load me on a bus and sing Old McDonald Had a Farm on the way to Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I don't get it.

I don't want to get it.

Look where this unfortunate soul went with it.

(Is she Episcopalian now?)

I used to grit my teeth through the larceny on this Holy night and watch their show.

I can't do it anymore.

To find peace, I check out. I've always brought reading material to try take flight myself to this sacred moment. This year, a friend gave me a Maryknoll Missal. I cherish it. It's like an express ticket to intimacy with Christ and the Communion of Saints.

This girl is never going for the pedicure Thursday ride again.

My Triduum is off to a magnificent start. I sat with the True Relic for an hour today, 1/4 inch from Christ's Cross. What a gift. (n.b. Don't forget about the Divine Mercy Novena which began today - many graces always come from it)

Blessed Triduum to each of you. Pray for me. I am praying for you and yours.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Blessed Triduum!


Please forgive the Lenten hiatus, but I wanted to wish you all a very blessed Triduum!

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Fall River Diocese Retaliatory Attack Against Catholic Action League


Before I get into the astounding admission by Fr. Wilson that he used the diocesan newspaper to retaliate against CJ Doyle, here's the background:

You remember back when Marty Walsh got elected and took it upon himself to force Catholic veterans organizing St. Patrick's Day Parade to incorporate honoring taking pride in active homosexual sex?

Remember it turned out there were actually no homosexual servicemen? It was just a militant homofascist group?

Really, where is Marty Walsh's respect for those who practice the Catholic religion and have the constitutional right to reject the insidious demoralization of American citizens.

Do you think he would dare suggest the muslims on ramadan that they include a theme taking pride in homosexual sex?

Marty Walsh needed a reality check.

As a Catholic parade named after a Catholic Saint, the St. Patrick's Day Parade is a family event honoring a Catholic Saint and our Irish Catholic heritage culture - which reflects our values. Irish Catholics bring their families and children to an event that honors the service of Irish Catholics in the military, police, fire departments and other avocations. We stand on the sidewalks as they march by and we express and demonstrate our gratitude with clapping, saluting, etc.

Marty Walsh needed to be sat down in a chair in the Chancery and told directly by the Cardinal that as an Irish Catholic event, we do not wish nor can we even if we wanted to, be forced to yell whoot-whoot at people who want to wear shirts telling us they're having same sex sexual relations.

Marty needed to be told by the Cardinal that even if he could not bring himself to respect our religion, we have constitutional freedoms which prohibit him from forcing immorality down our throats and he ought to stop using his political power to violate our constitutional rights. He could have been told there is already a parade that takes pride in and even simulates same sex in the streets of Boston and they are welcome to express their values there. Knock themselves out. This is a parade where Catholic families are gathered. Homosexuals are welcome, have always been welcome right along with the rest of us who struggle with this or that sin, but nobody is welcome to ask us to endorse immoral conduct.

As our Catholic veterans were being bullied by Mayor Walsh, Cardinal O'Malley hid under his bed, as did his craven administration.

These are the facts.

Only one Catholic apostolate, and one principal of a Catholic school stepped forward to defend our families and our veterans - CJ Doyle of the Catholic Action League and Brother Thomas Dalton of Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

I know what you're wondering, did any priests speak up?

Why yes, yes one did.

Fr. Wilson, editor of the Fall River diocesan newspaper, wrote an editorial saying somebody around this place is distracting us from holiness - and he wasn't talking about Marty Walsh and the people who wanted Catholics to congratulate them for having same sex attractions.

Those people were not distractions, heavens no.

To Fr. Wilson, CJ Doyle and Brother Dalton were the distractions.

The Cardinal could not say anything because he might be criticized!

They collapse when faced with criticism.

Curiously, while Fr. Wilson sees criticism as something naughty, he takes it upon himself to...criticize!!

Duplicity, meet Fr Wilson!

Fr. Wilson said "the Archdiocese" had "nothing to gain" by speaking out.

Honestly,this priest really finally helped me to get it.

I finally get it.

When stuff is happening to us, they are looking at every situation trying to figure out how and what they can gain from it.

What we lose, what our children lose, what the culture loses is not even on their radar.

Even when it comes to our salvation and the salvation of our children.

What a rude awakening. Really and truly.

Talk about scandal.

Fr. Wilson also claimed that Cardinal O'Malley can't speak out in the public square on any issues because he lost his moral authority over the sexual abuse crisis.

Really?

Perhaps Cardinal O'Malley didn't read Fr. Wilson's editorial before he packed his bags to head to the Mexican border to pull a publicity stunt with Bishop Kicanas who is accused of covering up the sexual abuse of minors.

I'd like to see an editorial explaining the sudden discovery of moral authority with a bishop involved in a cover up scandal.

I am not feeling charitable enough to dispel any other nonsense in Fr. Wilson's editorial, including his assertion that Fr. Feeney was in error when he proclaimed that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church. I presume Fr. Wilson was taught in the seminary that this teaching does not preclude the mercy of Christ in particular situations, but the facts are the facts. Anyone who knew or should have known and reject the Catholic Church to seek salvation outside of Her is not in a position for eternal salvation. I don't know the particulars either. I just know Feeney was right about that one.

I don't think many other Catholics were feeling very charitable about Fr. Wilson's editorial either.

The feedback was quite negative.

Astoundingly, Fr. Wilson explains himself by disclosing that his editorial was retaliation against CJ for 'attacking' the Archdiocese.

When Catholic veterans are being persecuted and our families are being pressured by politicians, Fr. Wilson felt the urge to defend ...the archdiocese.


I was attempting to defend the archdiocese when it was attacked by the Catholic Action League

All that was said was, the Archdiocese is doing nothing.

Always defending the indefensible. What gets me is, they are willing to slander men who will not look the other way.

Unwilling to face their own cowardice, they use their newspapers to publish a screed based upon the foolish notion their silence is a public service to the sheep.

Fr. Wilson goes on to explain the custom of priests to withhold teaching moral theology to millions because of the handful of people who may be offended by it. He explains that when you withhold Church teaching while simultaneously sponsoring events that promote homosexual sex in the presence of millions of Catholics, this is how the handful of people are convinced they need to be chaste.

Get it?

The last 50 years of withholding Church teaching and sponsoring programs that support homosexual sex, they thought they were converting everyone into chastity.

They're going to roll it out more aggressively with Pope Francis.

This is what they think Jesus did, saved Himself from criticism through silence.

You don't want to know what I'm thinking today.

Suffice it to say that I do not take too kindly to the boys in the diocese looking out for what they get out of every situation for themselves using the Catholic newspaper to attack the handful of men watching over our families for what our families and our children are gaining and losing.

While our priests are all busy keeping an eye on the Catholics being ripped apart by the lions and trying to figure out how to avoid criticism, avoid teaching and get something out of it for themselves, they ought to have the decency not to slit the throats of the honorable men watching out for the rest of us.

Is that too much to ask?

Suck up the admiration and money and whatever else you are looking to "get out of" our slaughter.

Keep your criticisms of the martyrs to yourself.







Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Finally - Bishop Backs Sister Jane Dominic Laurel - Her Talk Consistent with Church Teaching


Kudos to Bishop Peter Jugis.

Stay tuned. TTC has a breaking story on Fall River Diocese newspaper "The Anchor" perverting righteousness and truth to defend the silence of the Boston Archdiocese as Catholic veterans were having their arm twisted by Mayor Walsh to enter a parade float themed with people obsessed with telling us they're hitting the sheets with so we can clap and yell woot-woot.

Does anyone know happened to the "Anchor" after Fr. Landry departed?

Seems like it's testosterone-light.

Monday, April 7, 2014

George Weigel Slams Cardinal O'Malley Publicity Stunt



I still can't get over that he's sunk low enough to use the Holy Sacrifice to usher in Obama's talking points on the destruction the sovereignty of our nation.

It's not clear to me how holding Mass in these circumstances can be anything other than politicized," Weigel said. A bit later, he added, "To turn the Mass into an act of essentially political theater is something I thought we had gotten over in the Church, no matter how noble the cause might be."

Don't miss the full interview in the Globe. Brace yourself.

Suddenly, he's Daniel Berrigan.

Something's going on. I can't put my finger on it but it has the stink of Obama.

BTW - I didn't know the scandalous Bishop Kicanas was his sidekick.

Longtime readers of TTC will remember BCI's succesful campaign to dethrone Bishop Kicanas for disturbing history regarding sexual antics at Fundelin Seminary. (More here)

He was recently accused of involvement in the sexual abuse cover up .

Why is the Pope's representative charged with fixing the problem of covering up the sexual abuse of minors inside of the Church pulling a publicity stunt with Bishop Kicanas?

I don't get it.

How serious does this make them look?

Is this part of the new program?

Take bishops accused of cover up to the borders to protest legal immigration and it will take the heat off of them?

Interesting the Boston Globe doesn't mention Kicanas sexual abuse cover up history, isn't it?

Where's SNAP and Bishop Accountability?

You know what the kicker is?

Cardinal O'Malley's balderdash that setting up this publicity stunt with the Blessed Sacrament to protest legal immigration is 'prolife'.

Did you ever see Cardinal O'Malley set up on the Boston Common to protest all the unjust legislation to kill unborn children?

Did he set up in front of the White House to protest the unjust HHS Mandate that Catholics pay for the abortifacients and abortions?

This is a man who tried to subcontract abortionists, promising the Commonwealth he'd give the unborn children a free ride in a taxi cab to the subcontracted facility.

With all the financial burdens and injustices foisted upon sick priests, the disappearance and other shenanigans with pension of priests and lay people from his own hands (HERE - HERE - HERE), caricaturing his Bennigan brothers act 'prolife' is tough to swallow.

Charlotte Nun Under the Bus



Excellent post by F. Z.

As I understand it, the school has removed any trace of Sister Jane from their website.

The sissies more reprehensible than the bullies



Some great comments:

George Orwell said,
“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, never loses its relevance.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Priests Battling Loneliness?


Many prayers for our priests battling their demons. They are really up their necks in spiritual warfare that I acknowledge none of us could even attempt to understand.

But I must confess that I am always surprised when the monkey of loneliness gets on their backs.

Is it really loneliness?

Most are quite busy, dividing their gifts to families in more than one parish. Much like Christ who felt the power leave Him when the woman touched his cloak to draw His healing and Grace, they are...drained. Some so drained, they are empty. There is no structure around helping them feed and replace that power. It is hard to believe it, but there no programs in place to direct them to the company of Christ, the angels and saints - where loneliness can never be experienced.

From what I can gather from priests over the years, one of the major contributors to their loneliness is, the collegiality among fellow priests is in the dumps. There is no glue.

As you can imagine, those who are Sacramental, prayerful, interested in doing the breviary, visiting hospitals, teaching, running a parish that is geared towards bringing people to their salvation -- they don't want to be with fellow priests who are programming the demoralization of the people in their pews. It's oil and water.

Their bishop is an absentee father without the interest to keep their priests from the slow fade into darkness.

Does anyone actually have idea what the six or seven auxiliary bishops in Boston actually do? It is a serious question. What is their role and how do they spend their days from 9 to 5? I've asked countless priests and Catholics and nobody seems to know.

As a single parent, I speak and know many single people (including priests) who also have to find ways to connect their intimacy.

Isn't that what we are really talking about?

Our animus can't operate without the exchange of intimacy of the soul.

Intimacy is different than companionship, duty, service to God and the people around us.

Intimacy is where we plug in on a deep level. It is a mutual exchange beyond the rules and limits of rightly-placed personal boundaries.

Single people have to have the right balance of family members and friends to provide and give in healthy ways, but if they don't find that deep exchange with Christ, they will experience feeling alone.

Life is filled with work, play, exercise, nature, chores, family, friends, chores that I really look forward to time alone to plug into Christ, my Beloved. Generally, I've found a particular saint's readings -- depending upon what I am looking to draw from Christ in that particular phase of my life.

Fulton Sheen is a magnificent source for those who are looking for overall intimacy - especially if you are a beginner on that practice of intimately connecting with Christ. That man really had it going on. There are many books that focus on several points of entry to Christ's intimacy to find what to draw to satisfy your particular thirst of your spirit.

With the practice, you will find you can't get enough time alone to connect intimately with Christ, to rest, to fuel up.

Loneliness is impossible to experience after intimately drawing and refueling with Christ.

I was thinking about this time in history and I keep coming back to the same solutions.

Watch out what you fill yourself with because it will consume you. Make good choices.

The lyrics of Casting Crowns "It's a slow fade" comes to my mind. Lyrics below, video follows.


Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see




Saturday, April 5, 2014

Cardinal Kasper's Nonsense on Divorce Hits Sister Jane Dominic Laurel Between the Eyes



As many of you no doubt already know, Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel has been so traumatized by the thuggery of Catholic parents who are 'hurt' by Church teaching, she's quit all teaching and is taking a sabbatical.

Here's a reality check:

With very little exception, there's not a dime's worth of difference between what was done to Sister Jane and what is done to every priest, teacher, parent in every parish and school in the United States when you attempt to teach moral theology.

Think about it. When was the last time a priest or teacher taught moral theology without a group of thugs calling the Chancery who then tells the priest to never do it again?

It's all been silenced.

This is what they do to us.

Worse than silenced really. Catholics who try to uphold moral theology are made an example in the public square. It's the welcome wagon of those 'hurt' by Church teaching.

"This is what we will do to you if you teach moral theology".

All the wimps are under their desks or have taken to blogosphere to pound us here.

Once they have satisfactorily undermined Church teaching, beaten the practicing Catholic to a pulp, they bring in the insidious agenda to finish off the uncatechized.

This is what divine mercy looks like to them. They're living the dream.

After a decade of it, there are very few in a state of grace, leaving them without the tools to recognize, receive and process right from wrong. The pews are empty.

With teachers in secular schools and the culture ramming immorality down our children's throats - even asking for our priests to help parents affirm their children's moral compass correctly is met with thuggery.

I must say though, I was first caught off guard by the thuggery over divorce.

Then it dawned on me: This is what we have to look forward to if Cardinal Kasper's dictates are implemented by Pope Francis.

Sister Jane was up against Pope Francis telling reporters on a plane that the institution of marriage is so cheap every family should be allowed to have a couple of divorces. Followed by recruiting Cardinal Kasper and asking his see to get behind his kooky theology.

God help the poor dear woman who has laid down her life to teach the faith. She's had a good dose of what's left of charity in the pews and courage in Chancery.

I hope she has the right people around her. She ought to head to Fr. Groeschel's in an ambulance so he can explain the bankruptcy and tell her it isn't her, it's them.

What are these parents thinking?

What do they want to hear?

Divorce doesn't have consequences to children. Why Heavens no. Divorce is good for children. The only thing better than divorce is compounding it with adultery and weekly sacrilegious communion.

That really help us all out, won't it?

Please, sirs, pour us some more diabolical disorientation.

Here's your daily navigation meditation (it's about all I can muster!):

Let us not forget the weakness of the Apostles as the enemy seized Christ.

They all ran and hid.

Christ's hand-picked Pope ran towards the crowd of vigilantes to hang out and warm his hands with them.

It's all been done before.

Simon Peter, do you love me?

Yes, I love you.

Simon Peter, do you love me?

Yes, Lord, I love You.

Simon, son of John, do you love me?

Yes, Lord, you know everything, you know that I love You.

Shepherd my sheep.

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.


Hang in there.

Nobody said it was going to be easy. It all works out.

We've all just got to rise to the occasion. Each one of us.

Worthy is the Lamb.


Thursday, April 3, 2014

Franciphobians Cry: What's Wrong With SSPX?



At the beginning of the Pope Francis hoo-ha last year, several very faithful Catholics began to talk the false prophet antichrist about fleeing to SSPX.

One family lived a few minute drive away from one of the best parishes in the country. Great priests, spectacular lay education apostolate that brigs in the creme de la creme speakers several times a month. A short drive to Front Royal.

This family was going to leave one of the wealthiest booties of our faith for the sedevacanists?

I couldn't believe it.

When I pointed to their treasure chest vs. the emptiness of worship with a group out of communion with Christ's Church, the ferocious liar rose out of nowhere.

Worshiping with SSPX is the same communion as an ordained man who married a woman and is saying Mass as the Marriott with the puppets and 'women priests'.

The Eucharist is valid and the Romans haven't cut y'all loose but your scraping the bottom of the barrel in the spiritual world. You're not in some underground group preserving our religion. You're in a group with people who've invented their own magisterium.

The people who stayed behind.

The Jews never left the synogogue.
Luther and all his splinter groups.
Sedevacanists after the Second Vatican Council.
Now, we've got the Franciphobians joining the ranks of the sifted.

All stuck in the moment and can't get out of it.

Here's a post I wrote last year on SSPX.

Materials are directly from SSPX.

Fellay later told the Pope he severed any attempt at communion when they asked him to confirm the authority of the Pope to bind Church teaching.

Here's a great post from Fr. Z on the invalid absolution in the Sacrament of Confession.

Absolution of sins is both a sacramental and a juridical act.

The sacramental and juridical aspects cannot be separated. They are intertwined.

A priest’s sacramental authority, or power, to forgive sins comes from his ordination, the ontological change to his soul from Holy Orders. A priest’s juridical authority to forgive sins comes from the bishop, the chief judge of the diocese (… or his religious superior).

The Church says that a priest must have both to be able to absolve validly.

You've got to get up pretty early in the morning to hoodwink me, but going to a group lacking the power to absolve sins is a no brainer.

No absolution = sacrilegious communion = diabolical disorientation and loss of salvation.

If it's salvation you're going to Church for (and not the smells and bells), bringing your family to priests simulating the Sacrament of Confession is about as lucid as using Dr. Kevorkian as a pediatrician.

There is no such thing as the other Catechism.

The Catechism is bound by the Pope's authority.

It's pablum but no substance changed.

Here's another statement from SSPX:

And now we must open our eyes to another danger, that is not hypothetical, but very real: that of no longer wishing to return to our legitimate place among the societies recognized by Rome, of losing the desire for the Church and for Rome. No longer desiring a normal relation with Rome and the Church is a shadow of the schismatic spirit. We have been living in independence from the Pope and the Bishops for a very long time, as if that were normal. We pretend to defend the doctrine, but we all run the risk of establishing a chosen doctrine, abandoning certain dogmas, those that bother us, especially those concerning the primacy of Peter.

SSPX is half past 'running the risk', the moment they rejected Church teaching and authority, they assumed the schismatic spirit.

There's a generation of solid priests a short drive or walk away.

Keep reminding yourself that when we go into the cavern, our refuge is inside of Christ's Mystical Body. SSPX is outside.






Bishops Publicity Stunt at Mexican Border



Quite the shameless publicity stunt this was, eh?

First and foremost, the Catholic Church exists and in fact thrives in Mexico. There is no need to pull a stunt that gives the appearance the Mexicans are without the Eucharist and these brave men stood at the border to feed the deprived.

Secondly, if they wanted to hold a Mass to honor those who died trying to commit the crime of illegal entry into another country - I have no beef with that - but they could have entered the country like they enter every other country and held a big beautiful Mass at the Shrine of Guadalupe.

More importantly, what a slap in the face to our policemen, homeland security and other men with the spinal fortitude to protect their country from crimes and anarchy.

You don't see the Bishops holding a Mass for the men who lost their lives serving their country at the border, do you.

I really do not take kindly the acts of men who put on Liturgical robes of the Catholic Church, set up a political stunt and call the media to record it.

Cardinal O'Malley seems to have a full time job now pulling publicity stunts.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

I Give My Life to Follow, Everything I Believe In, I Surrender


Netmilsmom (and others) brilliantly summarized why I've been vocalizing my concerns and experiences with the Pope Francis show:

Some people need hard evaluation to sort it out. Any Pope is a man who has his own ideas and while he can't go against dogma, he can cause scandal, even if it's something stupid. If people see this and have no one to say yeah, that's strange but doesn't really affect The Church, they will head over to the well known nearly schismatic sites for their information. This is a problem.

Others said the Pope needs to hear the serious nature of the discord and division, the fears of schism and talk of defection to sedevacanists and the silence contributes to the despair of the scandalized.

My gut instincts are, you're all right, and I need to find a way to keep the dialogue open, public, while still making some changes I think are necessary in light of the serious condition of the faith of Catholics who practice their religion. I hope you'll bear with me as I try to strike the right chord. I look forward (as always!) to your feedback and thoughts - which are so critical to my own learning and sharing with readers at TTC.

I know the 40 years of presbyteral and episcopal spiritual misfeasance and malfeasance have left us with zero tolerance. Just when you think it couldn't get worse, it did. Most of us have contemplated (at least once) buying into Bishop Fellay's talking points. Compared to the bozo show in the American presbyterate, on face value, Fellay's talking points sound sane. (SSPX is a whole other post cooking. I can't do it justice this evening but will get to it.)

I very briefly went through it myself in the late 90s - when it was really, really nutty. Maybe that's why I'm so sensitive to it and try to unhinge Christ's elect from Fellay's wagon.

The number of faithfully-practicing Catholics who are sitting on the fence is not insignificant. A good number of those seem to be spiritually unstable.

One of the things that struck me in Steve's comments was his assertion that we are faced with the choice of following the faith as we know it or follow the guidance and leadership of the Pope.

It's a little more complicated. If our Pope uses valid authority to bind something - we don't follow the faith 'as we know it'. Our fiat is to surrender and assume what is bound. Without reservation.

If it's the deposit of faith, I don't give a flying fig what I personally believed. Where the Church goes, I will go.

I've served in a variety of roles for Christ's Church (in addition to this blog). I started out when my oldest was 5, teaching CCD. At the time, I was not really sold on the Church's teachings on contraception but even then, I surrendered to God what is His and made a vow to teach what He believes.

The challenge in doing that was that I had really learn the reasons behind the teaching myself so I could convince teenagers! At first, it was painful to swallow. Eventually, saw the beauty. Many positive things are happening. Maybe if we examine them, we'll eventually have better context.

For instance, today, Pope Francis called traditional marriage an icon of God's love.

The Washington Post did not get out their daggers.

Here's the coverage of the story on HuffPo.

The emphasis on traditional marriage comes after Francis’ much-discussed comments on gays soon after his election a year ago.

Last year, he surprised many conservatives with his “Who am I to judge” comment about gays. Then, in an interview published in the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera in March, he said the church might explore the possibility of recognizing civil unions for gays and lesbians.

He's a smooth operator that one. When Indiana Jones finishes his expedition, I think we all know what the findings will be. The best outcome would be greater understanding of our teachings and fiat in ways that attract as many as possible in love.

I think Pope Francis has heard us, though I agree it is important to keep the poor and starving on his radar.

Martina brought this recent homily to our attention.

He's asking us to go into the deep and touch people's hearts. He's asking us to look around us where we are and proactively care for those around us.

This speaks of the people most in need, of those who need us to give them a hand, who need us to look them with love, to share their pain or their anxieties, their problems. What's important is that we don't just look at them from afar or help from afar. No, no! We must reach out to them. This is being Christian! This is what Jesus taught us: to reach out to the needy. Like Jesus who always reached out to the people. He went to meet them. Reaching out to those most in need....

Sometimes, I ask people, "Do you give alms." They say, "Yes, father." "And when you give alms, do you look into the eyes of people you are giving alms to?" "Ah, I do not know, I don't really think about it". "Then you have not reached out to those people. You just tossed them some charity and went away. When you give alms, do you touch their hands or just toss them the coins?". "

He is awakening.

And don't forget, this is the same man who called people to the Sacrament of Confession and knelt in the public square as a witness. He can't be read disjointed.

One more - and this one is a tougher one: the listless bumps on the log.

The folks who do not evangelize. Every man for himself types.

Then he went for the jugular!

The Pope went on to say that there is also another sin, the sin of formalism, demonstrated when Jesus is criticised for healing the sick on the Sabbath. “Christians,” he said, “who do not leave space for the grace of God – and the Christian life, the life of these people, consists in having all the paperwork, all the certificates, in order.”

He added: “Christian hypocrites, like these, only interested in their formalities. It was a Sabbath? No, you cannot do miracles on the Sabbath, the grace of God cannot work on Sabbath days. They close the door to the grace of God. We have so many in the Church, we have many! It is another sin.

Here's an interesting story to think about.

Today, Boston laid to rest our firefighters who lost their lives battling a fire in the Back Bay. The sister of Ed Walsh went up the podium and said something startling. Something that obviously hurt her family.

She said she this was only the second time she was in St. Patrick's Church. The first time, she was with her deceased brother at their father's funeral and they were told they could not speak about their Dad because of the rules. She turned to look at Cardinal O'Malley sitting in the Sanctuary and duly noted that today, on this occasion when numerous politicians and dignitaries and muckety mucks took the podium, it did not go unnoticed that the rules were not applicable. She again gave Cardinal O'Malley the stinkeye.

I'll bet after her own father's funeral, she turned on the television to see a handful of Kennedys and another handful of politicians enter the Sanctuary at Ted's funeral.

I'm not one for interrupting the Crucifixion and Resurrection in our Sacred Liturty for any reason - but if the Chancery is going to enforce rules upon the peasants and then break them on national television for the wealthy and powerful - one might wish to arrange a time after the Liturgy to let a few people speak if it means that much to them.

The denial left a scar. Funerals are a magnificent time to cast the net.

Food for thought.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Why Michael Voris Could Be Right...



I couldn't begin to describe the brute force of unhinged comments coming from the sedevacanist/SSPX crowd relative to my post expressing reservations about Steve's post.

Something wicked all right.

I have been honest over the course of the past few weeks out of concerns for those with fragile faith who are being sucked into the sedevacanist chatter. My original thoughts were, if I could speak honestly about the confusion within my family and network of friends, our experiences with the battleaxes and apostates rising up to seize and imprison what is left of catechesis all around us - while being a public witness to my inability to be led from Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and Sacraments, I could do some good. Save some poor slob from being sucked into the vortex.

My experiences over the last 24 hours with the encampment of papal malcontents really has me reconsidering. Hey, I don't shy away from being called names - or even accused of being the devil (I'm in good company with Pope Francis!) - but the behavior is so over the top there is something extraordinary in the supernatural world attacking this Pope.

Frankly, the high-pitched hysteria and despair coming from the people in the encampment is so deafening, I:

a) don't think there is any efficacy in the attempt to be a jackass whisperer.

b) am really starting to think this Pope is facing such hurricane force winds, I would be doing much better service to Christ by doubling up on my prayers for His Vicar.

I came to this conclusion, not just because of the diabolical stuff around my attempts to dissuade people from going the sedevacanist route, but in reading the comments on Steve's post.

For example:


Deacon>>>>>30 March, 2014 at 7:55 am
Thanks for stopping short of concluding that Pope Francis is the antichrist.

I think this comment was said in sincerity, but this comment says Steve's post skidded right up to that conclusion but did not express it.

Thanks never entered my mind.


>>>>>> 29 March, 2014 at 5:01 pm
Steve, thank you so much for your excellent piece, full of invaluable information and discernment. I’ve also had many apocalyptic dreams and feel every single day the same thing you felt when the new pope was elected, since I felt it myself as well. There is no doubt in my mind and heart that this man is the False Prophet.

Thanks for the excellent piece leaving no doubt in my mind the pope is the false prophet. What a service to my soul.

>>>>> 30 March, 2014 at 2:54 am
calling Kasper’s theology of giving remarried people communion ‘serene theology’ and praising it…yeah that’s a false prophet. That’s only one out of a millions horrible things this Pope has said.

There is much talk about a schism in Steve's post.

Congratulations on a balanced and calm piece on an emotional and fearsome topic. The Church–as you say, the solid Catholics–are definitely falling into two camps, and Francis is the continental divide.

Where most of these people are going to land is not the place I'm going or the place I wish any readers here to end up.

Please investigate the SSPX whose priests are recognized as valid priests by Rome but this order is split from Rome........Pope Benedict in February before he resigned, tried to get them back into Rome and no, .......I am still investigating. Only problem is I live in NYS and the nearest chapel is in Richfield, Connecticut.... not in full communion with Rome.



and this doozie:


>>>>>>31 March, 2014 at 12:13 am
he is not the Antichrist, but he is paving the way for him; he is the False Prophet.

Here's some poor sucker who is scandalized, reading and has come to just the right place to find words of wisdom to rip themselves away from communion with Christ's Church:

>>>>>>>29 March, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Just want to add that anyone that has any words of wisdom for me will be genuinely appreciated as I am on the verge of attending Mass at a sedevacantist chapel tomorrow morning just so I can have some peace and the Faith and a Mass that will lift me up and out of myself instead of dragging me through the mire......There are two churches in reality, which is an impossibility. But one is True and the other an Imposter. Our souls are at stake. Those who remain in the new church of Novus Order will lose their faith.

Great balls of fire.

Here's the last one I'll cite, but there is plenty more where these came from:

>>>>>29 March, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Unfortunately, _______you don’t have your morality and principles straight. The fact is, a pope can become a heretic and automatically cease being pope. The Church said so. St. Bernard believed the final Antichrist would be a false pope whom the majority of the Catholics in the world would think was a true pope.

Oh yea, I think I read about that in fisheaters. They said he also flew to the moon on his pogo stick.


Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.


I do not wish to be any part of the machine that spits out this product!

Seriously.


Please, remember that Christ's Mystical Body is literally His Body. The devil cannot replace His Head. The gates of hell do not prevail against Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

There is a lot of stuff being taken out of context by people who do not know the context of saints writings and the theology behind it.

There is no such thing as 'making choices between the faith you know' and Christ's Deposit of Faith as it is bound. What is bound is your faith. Remember that the approved apparition of Fatima has us following our Pope.

Don't try to figure it all out or worry about it. It is not for us to know the when, where and how. It ends ugly in this life. We are martyred. This generation, the next or a hundred from now. Tomorrow. It doesn't matter. Live your life every day taking care of the people around you. Increase the Sacraments, Adoration, Prayers, Fasting. Do what you can to teach the truth in your world. Love the people around you.

When the end comes, there are people on the outside and people on the inside. Pope Francis is trying to increase the people on the inside. If they show up, embrace and love them.

Don't don't take any chance or follow any leads of anyone heading outside. Don't walk, run.

Good night!


He that hurteth, let him hurt still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is just, let him be justified still: and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still. [12] Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. [13] I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. [14] Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. [15] Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and unchaste, and murderers, and servers of idols, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

Reflection on Friendship, from a friend!

Friendship is one of life’s most precious gifts. It is a sacred trust, ordained by God, to be a living sign of His love. During the 4th week of LENT, we can be grateful for the blessing of close relationships. But it’s also a time to embrace and appreciate THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHRIST -- and the tremendous LOVE He offers to each one of us.

“The Gift of Friendship”

A friend is someone who truly cares, someone who knows your needs and responds to you in full. A friend accepts you for who you are. You dare to reveal your secret fears, failures, and hopes to your friend, knowing that your emotions will be treated gently with the utmost respect and care.

With your friend you can remove your masks, your plastic smile. You can be YOU and it’s OK. There are no phony airs necessary in friendship.

A friend listens carefully, then gives a response. The answer isn’t always what you want to hear, but a friend risks saying what can be best for you. When you have been given a rich blessing, it is a friend who truly shares your joy, who at the deepest level rejoices with you.

You can call on a friend even when it is inconvenient and know that it’s all right. Friendship suspends rules of etiquette. A friend willingly sacrifices time, energy, and even worldly goods. A friend is always present
-- perhaps not always physically -- but very much alive in your heart and in your mind.

Miles are not measured by a friend. A friend will take your hand and walk with you for however long you need a companion. Whether you go to the summit of joy or the depths of the valley of desolation, your friend goes with you. When your burden is too heavy and you cannot go on, it is a friend who says, “You rest. I’ll carry the load.”

A change in your mood can be perceived by a friend without a word ever having been spoken. Sometimes that caring alone can heal a deep pain. Feelings of unworthiness are removed by a friend who invites you to see yourself reflected in the mirror of God’s acceptance.

A friend can be a spouse, a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker — anyone whom you love in this very special way. Friendships may start with “Hello,” then expand, reaching to greater depths and heights. Friendship requires GIVING, but must also include RECEIVING to be complete.

Life can be very challenging at times. God in His infinite love and mercy knew this and so He created friendships for the journey. He knew that His love might seem intangible to our humanity. To be more real to us, to concretely manifest His love, He said,

“LET THERE BE FRIENDSHIP,” and there was -- and He saw that it was very, very good.

God gave us a model of the ultimate height of friendship. It is portrayed in the life of Jesus Christ, the greatest friend who ever lived. He taught us through His life -- and death -- just what it means to be a friend.

Jesus said, “My commandment is this: love one another, just as I have loved you. The greatest love a person can have for His friends is to lay down His life for them. And you are My friends if you do what I command you. . . . I call you friends because I have told you everything I heard from My Father.” (John 15:12-15)


Meditation: “Friendship — a living sign of Christ’s love.” What does that statement mean to me?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for YOUR faithful friendship to each of us. And thank You for the devoted friends You have given to us. Let ME be a faithful friend to others. When they feel like You are far away, teach me to be LIKE YOU and be present to their needs. Amen.

Scripture Readings:
Proverbs 17:17
John 14:1-3
John 14:18
Romans 8:31-39

(Please feel free to share this reflection with others.)

From Joseph D'Hippolito



Who's talking about "getting an amen" from the comment boxes? If "anonymous" wanted that, he would have imitated the denial you exhibit so well. You love the institution of the church so much that you would crucify Jesus all over again just to preserve it, just like the Pharisees and Pilate did, let alone make assumptions about people you don't know and never met! You think the Magisterium is serious about sexual morality? If so, then why don't your beloved bishops do anything about the clerical predators in their midst?

You are nothing but an idolatrous piece of filth. You are going to Hell because you worship an institution as God rather than God as God. You would sacrifice your own children to Molech if the Catholic Church told you. Hell, the church sacrificed its own children by exposing them to perverted priests. Your Irish forbears sacrificed them to the Madeline Laundries.

The Church doesn't give a damn about children. If it did, it would teach them truth instead of the modernist balderdash that permeates intellectualized Catholicism. If it did, it would protect them from clerical perverts. If it did, it would do more than give lip service to "pro-life" positions.

The Catholic Church doesn't give a damn about marriage, either. If it did, it wouldn't make annulments so easy to obtain (especially if you're rich Boston Irish trash, like the Kennedys).

You are a phony. You claim to care about truth yet when confronted with the truth about your miserable, corrupt, anti-God church, you defend it like a drunken uncle. Then again, you Irish know about drunks, don't you? You were probably on the Bushmills when you drafted three of your last four comments.

It's truly a pity Oliver Cromwell didn't wipe out your forebears when he had the chance. If he had, we wouldn't have had to put up with your snivelling hypocrasy.

So, how does it feel to be the focus of a personal attack? Don't like it? Then don't engage in them, you stupid, drunken Irish bitch!





This is how Joseph's full time job blaspheming Christ's Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in com boxes is working out for him.

Comment moderation is on. No good seed goes unpunished!

Folks, it is getting crazy out there. The more I see it, the wiser Michael's advice becomes.

[6] And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. [7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. [8] And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, which was slain from the beginning of the world. [9] If any man have an ear, let him hear. [10] He that shall lead into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword, must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.