Summer Flowers

 Photos

Pied-Billed Grebe adult male.

Sunflower

Nasturtiums

Cosmos

Sunflower, caught in twine.

Summer Flowers

 Photos

Pied-Billed Grebe adult male.

Sunflower

Nasturtiums

Cosmos

Sunflower, caught in twine.

Anticipations

Humility Wins

 I have been reading about Padre Pio again. One thing becomes immediately obvious: if one does not want pain and suffering, they should not expect to suffer the wounds of Christ, who immediately crucifies every victim soul in whom He has instilled a genuine longing for that particular martyrdom.

None of us in this world will ever know completely everything he encountered in life, whether joyful or mournful. The fact is, you seldom find pictures of Padre Pio with a mournful expression on his face. It is equally true of ordinary folk like us, that we know very little about one another unless in our lives we encountered our beloved baring their soul to us to find some peace and comfort.

Things that have passed us by, all too often appears to have settled deeply into a life causing no little pain of soul and mind. This being the case, let us be attentive to one another as we navigate life, and never miss an opportunity to pray for one another, whether acquaintances or the most intimate of friends.

Our separateness is transcended by God, and we often have the opportunity to know about sorrow in the lives of those we love. We ought to be willing to suffer some trivial thing for them so they may know peace and love.

It is a mystery how victim souls can genuinely encounter Jesus nailed to the cross and suffering every indignity in life. The fact is, they do, in such a way that the Will of God is fulfilled and their consciousness encounters the restful peace of His love.

That peace can coexist very well with the most abject pain and divine joy, and cloisters are filled with people who are cheerful, crucified in agony and knowing the full penetration of the lance which opened Christ's side. Let us give thanks for them, and pray that we not be subjected to such misery ourselves, yet willing to encounter some misery ourselves for their sake. Never be ashamed of the humbleness of our participation in their suffering; the humiliation itself, that we are not strong enough, can itself be offered humbly and unselfconsciously.

Blessed are they who encounter the cross and are not distressed to see the Face of God in our brothers and sisters in the world.

If we get to heaven, we may very well give thanks to God that someone confronted the Divine Passion on the Face of Christ.

Anticipations

Humility Wins

 I have been reading about Padre Pio again. One thing becomes immediately obvious: if one does not want pain and suffering, they should not expect to suffer the wounds of Christ, who immediately crucifies every victim soul in whom He has instilled a genuine longing for that particular martyrdom.

None of us in this world will ever know completely everything he encountered in life, whether joyful or mournful. The fact is, you seldom find pictures of Padre Pio with a mournful expression on his face. It is equally true of ordinary folk like us, that we know very little about one another unless in our lives we encountered our beloved baring their soul to us to find some peace and comfort.

Things that have passed us by, all too often appears to have settled deeply into a life causing no little pain of soul and mind. This being the case, let us be attentive to one another as we navigate life, and never miss an opportunity to pray for one another, whether acquaintances or the most intimate of friends.

Our separateness is transcended by God, and we often have the opportunity to know about sorrow in the lives of those we love. We ought to be willing to suffer some trivial thing for them so they may know peace and love.

It is a mystery how victim souls can genuinely encounter Jesus nailed to the cross and suffering every indignity in life. The fact is, they do, in such a way that the Will of God is fulfilled and their consciousness encounters the restful peace of His love.

That peace can coexist very well with the most abject pain and divine joy, and cloisters are filled with people who are cheerful, crucified in agony and knowing the full penetration of the lance which opened Christ's side. Let us give thanks for them, and pray that we not be subjected to such misery ourselves, yet willing to encounter some misery ourselves for their sake. Never be ashamed of the humbleness of our participation in their suffering; the humiliation itself, that we are not strong enough, can itself be offered humbly and unselfconsciously.

Blessed are they who encounter the cross and are not distressed to see the Face of God in our brothers and sisters in the world.

If we get to heaven, we may very well give thanks to God that someone confronted the Divine Passion on the Face of Christ.

Forbearance

Life is boring without anyone to
appreciate our surroundings.

I finally got the blog set up the way I want. I would not have succeeded without the Lord; things fell into place without much struggle, and that is a blessing.

As near as I can tell, night was invented for torture, but out of the tumbling and yelling, the answers to questions appear. It is like a rock collector putting promising stones into a tumbler to tumble for hours and hours. The result is smooth and shiny and beautiful; beautiful enough to make them worth quite a bit of money. Sometimes, though, it is hard at first, to appreciate being in the tumbler environment, but as the stones bang against each other, their beauty is revealed. 

It is too bad that human beings don't appreciate each other more. Out of the appreciation rises growth and maturity and the answers to questions. I find the thought of mutual annihilation abhorrent, and I believe the Lord is trying us; He has not ended the trial with a hung jury. Since  wars can still break out, we ought to be careful we don't annihilate each other. There are weapons enough to do it, but woe unto them who refuse to refrain from using them. 

If we can come to mutual agreements, we can get to see who else is out there because they cultivate forbearance, and I think that is worth a lot.

Forbearance

Life is boring without anyone to
appreciate our surroundings.

I finally got the blog set up the way I want. I would not have succeeded without the Lord; things fell into place without much struggle, and that is a blessing.

As near as I can tell, night was invented for torture, but out of the tumbling and yelling, the answers to questions appear. It is like a rock collector putting promising stones into a tumbler to tumble for hours and hours. The result is smooth and shiny and beautiful; beautiful enough to make them worth quite a bit of money. Sometimes, though, it is hard at first, to appreciate being in the tumbler environment, but as the stones bang against each other, their beauty is revealed. 

It is too bad that human beings don't appreciate each other more. Out of the appreciation rises growth and maturity and the answers to questions. I find the thought of mutual annihilation abhorrent, and I believe the Lord is trying us; He has not ended the trial with a hung jury. Since  wars can still break out, we ought to be careful we don't annihilate each other. There are weapons enough to do it, but woe unto them who refuse to refrain from using them. 

If we can come to mutual agreements, we can get to see who else is out there because they cultivate forbearance, and I think that is worth a lot.

Rains

 

Blind nun heals woman.

News About Three Gorges Dam

It is raining here in Seattle at the moment. It was anticipated, but no one here is facing the catastrophe that China is, with regards to the potential disaster of the collapse of the Three Gorges dam. Any expectation of peace in the world is going to be affected by events in China and the reaction of the world's people. 

Frankly, I do not know what to ask for first, if reported events are true. It is difficult to verify these happenings when major media outlets ignore the crisis or distort the truth. How do you evacuate millions of people, and provide for them under the circumstances? If it were us facing these disasters, what would be the likelihood of aid from other countries who have been under threat of nuclear war at the hands of China? Hostilities would have to diminish or cease to exist as people bring solutions to bear on an oppressive situation. The people of China need assistance and the solidarity of Christians bringing moral support and encouragement to people who have lost everything except their lives.

The Lord stands before us whether we are aware of it or not. An increasing awareness of His presence would be a good sign. It would ordinarily be anticipated, and a person who has experienced aridity might be suddenly filled with joy. As dark as the moment may be for the world today, There is light, and it waits for those who act on the realization of the closeness of God to us all. A whole world awakening to Him would be incredible. Jesus  has told us this, and some have anticipated the arrival of light and peace as the answer to a life time of prayer. Keep praying if you have been praying, and focus on the Lord in the midst of troubles so that the Will of God might be done, because the consequences of success are to stupendous to be ignored.

Rains

 

Blind nun heals woman.

News About Three Gorges Dam

It is raining here in Seattle at the moment. It was anticipated, but no one here is facing the catastrophe that China is, with regards to the potential disaster of the collapse of the Three Gorges dam. Any expectation of peace in the world is going to be affected by events in China and the reaction of the world's people. 

Frankly, I do not know what to ask for first, if reported events are true. It is difficult to verify these happenings when major media outlets ignore the crisis or distort the truth. How do you evacuate millions of people, and provide for them under the circumstances? If it were us facing these disasters, what would be the likelihood of aid from other countries who have been under threat of nuclear war at the hands of China? Hostilities would have to diminish or cease to exist as people bring solutions to bear on an oppressive situation. The people of China need assistance and the solidarity of Christians bringing moral support and encouragement to people who have lost everything except their lives.

The Lord stands before us whether we are aware of it or not. An increasing awareness of His presence would be a good sign. It would ordinarily be anticipated, and a person who has experienced aridity might be suddenly filled with joy. As dark as the moment may be for the world today, There is light, and it waits for those who act on the realization of the closeness of God to us all. A whole world awakening to Him would be incredible. Jesus  has told us this, and some have anticipated the arrival of light and peace as the answer to a life time of prayer. Keep praying if you have been praying, and focus on the Lord in the midst of troubles so that the Will of God might be done, because the consequences of success are to stupendous to be ignored.

Connections.

One never knows how our prayers and sufferings are connected.  

Connections.

One never knows how our prayers and sufferings are connected.  

Intentions

Prayer Intentions for Today

(1) Ukraine

(2) Middle East: Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Yemen[

(3) Red China, Russia, North Korea

(4) Drought stricken areas, and areas under flooding

All of these places need prayer asking to restore peace, and the salvation of those who live
and who are not. 

That a Congress of moderate people will be elected, and that the people who hate our Democracy lose power. We need people to be able to sit down and talk to one another and cooperate on getting the business
of the people done. That does not include eliminating voting, failing to hold elections or peaceably getting to work.

With so much hate, violence and warfare being carried out, we cannot afford to deprive each other of our rights as citizens. It is not permitted to take away other people's rights by violence. Everyone should have the right to speak up, but violence is not permitted.

People convicted in a court of law of crimes against the government ought not to be allowed the privilege of governing the people they would disenfranchise.

God blesses those who follow His Will and His Law, and punishes those who rebel and refuse to surrender to His authority. By their fruits you will know them.

Intentions

Prayer Intentions for Today

(1) Ukraine

(2) Middle East: Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Yemen[

(3) Red China, Russia, North Korea

(4) Drought stricken areas, and areas under flooding

All of these places need prayer asking to restore peace, and the salvation of those who live
and who are not. 

That a Congress of moderate people will be elected, and that the people who hate our Democracy lose power. We need people to be able to sit down and talk to one another and cooperate on getting the business
of the people done. That does not include eliminating voting, failing to hold elections or peaceably getting to work.

With so much hate, violence and warfare being carried out, we cannot afford to deprive each other of our rights as citizens. It is not permitted to take away other people's rights by violence. Everyone should have the right to speak up, but violence is not permitted.

People convicted in a court of law of crimes against the government ought not to be allowed the privilege of governing the people they would disenfranchise.

God blesses those who follow His Will and His Law, and punishes those who rebel and refuse to surrender to His authority. By their fruits you will know them.

Prayers

Importance of Forgiving

Predictions that Donald Trump will be president cause me no joy. Neither do predictions of apocalyptic catastrophes. My mind and heart are moved to implore the mercy of God and His Mother, and to urge everyone to concentrate of God and His Mother as little children, dependent on God to be led to Him in the midst of calamities.

Whilst predicting miseries, people drop the ball, because merely correctly predicting a disaster is only half a cup. The fullness is God's mercy, protecting His children. There can be no rejoicing in calamities and disasters, as if we think of ourselves as pristine in the midst of the most calamitous sinfulness that has ever been..

Since we are all equally guilty in our own way, we should concentrate on loving Jesus and His Mother. Jesus can dismiss the calamities and save the souls of those He loves, with a motion of His hand. With such power should come trembling and effusions of loving trust, not trembling, and not glee at anyone's punishment.

So I plead with people to keep their minds and hearts in the right place - near the Heart of Jesus and Mary. I plead also that people pray for holy priests whose delight is the sacraments and the Mass; the world should be in such a state that any invitation to hear Mass and celebrate the sacrament of penance ought to stir crowds of people happily anticipating a family gathering to praise and worship God, and not to be shivering in fear of any pain or misfortune that may occur, because there will be plenty to worry about when the time comes.

I am 77 years old, and recall a different universal attitude. The atomic bomb ended the second world war, but what that war lacked is being fulfilled in the cold war. The cold war strives to harden hearts against nations and seems to yearn for catastrophes to engulf the unwary in blind unconcern for those who are human beings in spite of their humanity and their errors. The fact is that errors can be corrected. If a man breaks his leg, a doctor need not cut it off necessarily without examining the man to determine what treatment is necessary. People can become fonts of merciful charity toward others, and let go of anger and wishing evil to fall on others. A Christianity based on hatred and anger is not of God, not of Jesus Christ who tells us He is love. Can we atom-bomb others with joy and love? I think not, and I doubt Jesus would approve of wishing it on anyone.

Remember that God is merciful. He has called saintly souls and has invited multitudes of holy people to join Him in the salvation of the human race. These people have suffered terribly, all for people to be saved and to become loving toward one another.

Do not trouble Jesus for signs and wonders which may only serve to confuse and lead the just astray. If there is any question in your heart, that is no better occasion to ask the Lord what is meant so that in your heart of hearts you understand, because the light that comes from asking for love and mercy and enlightenment is a delight shared with everyone.

I repeat what I have already  said many times; be at peace, and seek the Lord with all your heart, not stopping to inquire if anyone saw or heard anything. Will He not make His presence known? Has HIs Mother failed to give us hope and peace? Keep your hope alive at all times, and rest in the peace of the Virgin Mother as She asks you to. Do not wish calamity on anyone, and speak encouragement to those wavering and doubting.

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven.

Prayers

Importance of Forgiving

Predictions that Donald Trump will be president cause me no joy. Neither do predictions of apocalyptic catastrophes. My mind and heart are moved to implore the mercy of God and His Mother, and to urge everyone to concentrate of God and His Mother as little children, dependent on God to be led to Him in the midst of calamities.

Whilst predicting miseries, people drop the ball, because merely correctly predicting a disaster is only half a cup. The fullness is God's mercy, protecting His children. There can be no rejoicing in calamities and disasters, as if we think of ourselves as pristine in the midst of the most calamitous sinfulness that has ever been..

Since we are all equally guilty in our own way, we should concentrate on loving Jesus and His Mother. Jesus can dismiss the calamities and save the souls of those He loves, with a motion of His hand. With such power should come trembling and effusions of loving trust, not trembling, and not glee at anyone's punishment.

So I plead with people to keep their minds and hearts in the right place - near the Heart of Jesus and Mary. I plead also that people pray for holy priests whose delight is the sacraments and the Mass; the world should be in such a state that any invitation to hear Mass and celebrate the sacrament of penance ought to stir crowds of people happily anticipating a family gathering to praise and worship God, and not to be shivering in fear of any pain or misfortune that may occur, because there will be plenty to worry about when the time comes.

I am 77 years old, and recall a different universal attitude. The atomic bomb ended the second world war, but what that war lacked is being fulfilled in the cold war. The cold war strives to harden hearts against nations and seems to yearn for catastrophes to engulf the unwary in blind unconcern for those who are human beings in spite of their humanity and their errors. The fact is that errors can be corrected. If a man breaks his leg, a doctor need not cut it off necessarily without examining the man to determine what treatment is necessary. People can become fonts of merciful charity toward others, and let go of anger and wishing evil to fall on others. A Christianity based on hatred and anger is not of God, not of Jesus Christ who tells us He is love. Can we atom-bomb others with joy and love? I think not, and I doubt Jesus would approve of wishing it on anyone.

Remember that God is merciful. He has called saintly souls and has invited multitudes of holy people to join Him in the salvation of the human race. These people have suffered terribly, all for people to be saved and to become loving toward one another.

Do not trouble Jesus for signs and wonders which may only serve to confuse and lead the just astray. If there is any question in your heart, that is no better occasion to ask the Lord what is meant so that in your heart of hearts you understand, because the light that comes from asking for love and mercy and enlightenment is a delight shared with everyone.

I repeat what I have already  said many times; be at peace, and seek the Lord with all your heart, not stopping to inquire if anyone saw or heard anything. Will He not make His presence known? Has HIs Mother failed to give us hope and peace? Keep your hope alive at all times, and rest in the peace of the Virgin Mother as She asks you to. Do not wish calamity on anyone, and speak encouragement to those wavering and doubting.

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven.

What We Do Not Know

 

See, I have suffered for you; will you
be willing to suffer for me, some small thing?

Someone to emulate

Suffering as we know it, does not resemble anything in the spiritual realm. I have frequently been offered suffering, and endured much, but it is nothing compared with the suffering of souls in hell or purgatory, and I offer it all for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those most in need of the grace and the mercy of God.

Lately the Lord has pointed out His mercies to me so that I might have confidence in Him and love Him as I am unable otherwise.

If you open your heart to Jesus, He will open His to you, and you may suffer in life, but I assure you that you have not suffered as much as He, nor does He cease to suffer, since there is so great a torrent of sorrows in the world today.

If the world saw the sin, and the suffering endured to mitigate punishment,  it would be deeply silent before all the suffering in the world. Armies of souls are united in suffering, and in the sufferings of Christ in particular, and because of their love for God, He has forgiven much, and always will because of His perpetual love.

However, the world will suffer, above and beyond the sorrows of this world, because His justice is offended beyond bounds. All the more we should love Him, because He does not abandon us for our sins and transgressions against His justice. How could we imagine that we could be free to commit sin over and over again and suffer nothing? We know that nature compensates for a dearth of anything, whether that be rain or wind or heat or cold. Whatever changes in the world, many things are balanced out as a result of changes in nature. Nature mimics the divine, and for all excesses, there is s a compensating force to be experienced somewhere, especially in His Heart and our own. If we were given the lance that opened His Heart, could we have the courage to thrust it into His side? Yet, every sin is a thrust of that lance, and people wield it thoughtlessly, unaware of what we have done. Or do you think people like St. Padre Pio agreed to suffer the wounds of Christ in His body for a game?

It is time for the human race to regret their sins and ask for forgiveness and mercy because we love the Lord. Do not worry that you can not know of anything you could do to obtain forgiveness or  mercy; He has already assigned the penances we could do, and if we rest in His peace, when He gives it, we will grow to love Him accordingly. 

Often, our sins cause other people suffering just in the natural order of things; we should ask to be made aware of the suffering we have caused others by our sins, and ask to be forgiven and obtain mercy for those we injured. This is only just, since God has forgiven our sins, but we must also satisfy justice, and by accepting His Will without reservation, we can most effectively obtain what we ask.

Be at peace, and in your peace give thanks to God that He is merciful and forgiving. But, cease those habitual sins, as they continually add up to what cannot be forgiven, eventually. 

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,  save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of thy mercy.

What We Do Not Know

 

See, I have suffered for you; will you
be willing to suffer for me, some small thing?

Someone to emulate

Suffering as we know it, does not resemble anything in the spiritual realm. I have frequently been offered suffering, and endured much, but it is nothing compared with the suffering of souls in hell or purgatory, and I offer it all for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those most in need of the grace and the mercy of God.

Lately the Lord has pointed out His mercies to me so that I might have confidence in Him and love Him as I am unable otherwise.

If you open your heart to Jesus, He will open His to you, and you may suffer in life, but I assure you that you have not suffered as much as He, nor does He cease to suffer, since there is so great a torrent of sorrows in the world today.

If the world saw the sin, and the suffering endured to mitigate punishment,  it would be deeply silent before all the suffering in the world. Armies of souls are united in suffering, and in the sufferings of Christ in particular, and because of their love for God, He has forgiven much, and always will because of His perpetual love.

However, the world will suffer, above and beyond the sorrows of this world, because His justice is offended beyond bounds. All the more we should love Him, because He does not abandon us for our sins and transgressions against His justice. How could we imagine that we could be free to commit sin over and over again and suffer nothing? We know that nature compensates for a dearth of anything, whether that be rain or wind or heat or cold. Whatever changes in the world, many things are balanced out as a result of changes in nature. Nature mimics the divine, and for all excesses, there is s a compensating force to be experienced somewhere, especially in His Heart and our own. If we were given the lance that opened His Heart, could we have the courage to thrust it into His side? Yet, every sin is a thrust of that lance, and people wield it thoughtlessly, unaware of what we have done. Or do you think people like St. Padre Pio agreed to suffer the wounds of Christ in His body for a game?

It is time for the human race to regret their sins and ask for forgiveness and mercy because we love the Lord. Do not worry that you can not know of anything you could do to obtain forgiveness or  mercy; He has already assigned the penances we could do, and if we rest in His peace, when He gives it, we will grow to love Him accordingly. 

Often, our sins cause other people suffering just in the natural order of things; we should ask to be made aware of the suffering we have caused others by our sins, and ask to be forgiven and obtain mercy for those we injured. This is only just, since God has forgiven our sins, but we must also satisfy justice, and by accepting His Will without reservation, we can most effectively obtain what we ask.

Be at peace, and in your peace give thanks to God that He is merciful and forgiving. But, cease those habitual sins, as they continually add up to what cannot be forgiven, eventually. 

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,  save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of thy mercy.

Promises

  

God promises peace.

Appearances of the Blessed Mother, of Jesus or of saints are a delicate matter, and the Church wishes to prevent deception and other harm that can proceed from acknowledgement of authenticity of spiritual appearances.

Concern arises out of declarations about appearances. There is a great deal of power to be wielded by anyone judging spiritual events. They may serve the function of preventing harm to people attracted to supernatural events, but they may also serve only the prejudice of jaundiced officials whose egos subvert the work of God.

One example was the action taken against St. Padre Pio of Pietrecina who was forbidden to say Mass with anyone else present for several years. The truth was brought to light in the end, and he was restored to the fullness of his priestly ministry, but not before a great deal of harm was done him in the process.

Unscrupulous people might even make a lot of money with "pilgrimages" etc. to the sites of alleged apparitions. We should guard our hearts in Jesus, and not go looking to see miraculous things by which we may stumble into error.

New devotions spring up all the time, or things get added to the Holy Rosary or other liturgical events. My opinion is that we stick to the form of any devotion and  not be eager to innovate.  The Mother of God will respect our humble prayers, and our veneration of the Mother of God, or of Jesus or any of the saints. 

Genuine devotion will be well regarded by Mary or Jesus, and attract Him to us, since He has fewer friends all the time, as people are led off by things that are unholy and not of God in the first place.

Love God, and one another, and you cannot go wrong. Do not be concerned that you are not continually stirred up and agitated by events. Agitation is a good indicator of efforts of the unholy to turn your spiritual gaze from Jesus and from heaven. Ask Jesus to restore calm and His peace in you if you find yourself under attack by such things. Nothing can emulate that peace. It is powerful and unique and nourishing for the mind and spirit. Desire humility and try to accept trials when they comes, trusting that Jesus is close to us to protect us and to deliver us so we may enjoy His presence again. God gives what we need, and peace accompanies His gifts.

Promises

  

God promises peace.

Appearances of the Blessed Mother, of Jesus or of saints are a delicate matter, and the Church wishes to prevent deception and other harm that can proceed from acknowledgement of authenticity of spiritual appearances.

Concern arises out of declarations about appearances. There is a great deal of power to be wielded by anyone judging spiritual events. They may serve the function of preventing harm to people attracted to supernatural events, but they may also serve only the prejudice of jaundiced officials whose egos subvert the work of God.

One example was the action taken against St. Padre Pio of Pietrecina who was forbidden to say Mass with anyone else present for several years. The truth was brought to light in the end, and he was restored to the fullness of his priestly ministry, but not before a great deal of harm was done him in the process.

Unscrupulous people might even make a lot of money with "pilgrimages" etc. to the sites of alleged apparitions. We should guard our hearts in Jesus, and not go looking to see miraculous things by which we may stumble into error.

New devotions spring up all the time, or things get added to the Holy Rosary or other liturgical events. My opinion is that we stick to the form of any devotion and  not be eager to innovate.  The Mother of God will respect our humble prayers, and our veneration of the Mother of God, or of Jesus or any of the saints. 

Genuine devotion will be well regarded by Mary or Jesus, and attract Him to us, since He has fewer friends all the time, as people are led off by things that are unholy and not of God in the first place.

Love God, and one another, and you cannot go wrong. Do not be concerned that you are not continually stirred up and agitated by events. Agitation is a good indicator of efforts of the unholy to turn your spiritual gaze from Jesus and from heaven. Ask Jesus to restore calm and His peace in you if you find yourself under attack by such things. Nothing can emulate that peace. It is powerful and unique and nourishing for the mind and spirit. Desire humility and try to accept trials when they comes, trusting that Jesus is close to us to protect us and to deliver us so we may enjoy His presence again. God gives what we need, and peace accompanies His gifts.

Choices

 

Choose wisely.

In my neighborhood, we have street-walkers all over the place, and used condoms discarded on the pavement where people parked to do their sexual thing and then went back home. It is an ugly reality. Also in the nearby area, we have drugs, discarded syringes and people drugged out their mind and screaming at the top their lungs. And, to top all off, we have people shooting one another. Downtown, there are incidents of people being killed or injured just because someone had an impulse and acted on it.

The laws have been changed so that offenders don't go to jail. If some people had their way, there would be no laws at all; it interferes with having their fun.

It is interesting that yesterday two whores looked me over on my way to a local business where I wanted to buy an SD Card Reader because my main computer does not have an SD Card Reader installed, out of the box, and I don't know how I would install one to being with; if I had a kit to install one, I still might be stymied because there are no wires to connect the item to the computer.

So we have no SD Card Readers so I can transfer  my photos from my digital camera to my PC. I can do the transfer on the old computer, but then I have to copy the files to thumbdrive and then copy the files from the thumbdrive to the PC. There are several reasons I don't use the old one the way I use the new one, but I won't go into all of that.

It it lamentable that the store does not stock items like SD Card Readers, but we have plenty of whores circling around the neighborhood looking to plug into each other for a thrill. The degradation of the human spirit caused by such activities causes Jesus and His Mother a great deal of pain, because it does not build up His children, but contributes toward their death and eternal separation from Him for eternity.

That the world is suffering as a result should surprise no one. A general lack of restraint on the part of millions of human beings inevitably leads to wars and rumors of wars which millions can be killed outright in milliseconds. The universe is full of terrifying possibilities like that; it is only Jesus keeps it all in check. If we deliberately discard the restraints that prevent sin, then a general punishment results.

There very well might be beings lie us somewhere in the universe. They might be intelligent like us. The terrors nearby us ought to give pause in the conduct of our lives. It is all too easy to annihilate each other, and so tragic when people kill each other, because we do not know if there are any other beings like us, and we will never get the opportunity to encounter them if we do not learn mutual respect and the spirit of cooperation which edifies instead of destroys.

The quick easy fix is often a deplorable disaster in many ways. The Three Gorges dam in China is a good example; the communist party in China decided to build the dam, even knowing the consequences. Millions of people were displaced when they filled  the reservoir, and when unusually strong rainfall came along, it threatened to overtop the dam and sweep away anything down stream. As a consequence, the dam that was supposed to prevent flooding, could not stop catastrophic floods, and people downstream of amny dams were displaced or killed deliberately when the dams were breached outright. The Three Gorges dam was not a quick fix, nor was it cheap, and there seems to be some evidence that the dam is a ticking time bomb waiting to break and inundate millions of people downstream.

We have people in this country who think similarly, and if they are elected, the people who elected them will pay the price because there will be no other choice.

As for the whores of Aurora avenue, they have to choose what they will do in eternity.

Choices

 

Choose wisely.

In my neighborhood, we have street-walkers all over the place, and used condoms discarded on the pavement where people parked to do their sexual thing and then went back home. It is an ugly reality. Also in the nearby area, we have drugs, discarded syringes and people drugged out their mind and screaming at the top their lungs. And, to top all off, we have people shooting one another. Downtown, there are incidents of people being killed or injured just because someone had an impulse and acted on it.

The laws have been changed so that offenders don't go to jail. If some people had their way, there would be no laws at all; it interferes with having their fun.

It is interesting that yesterday two whores looked me over on my way to a local business where I wanted to buy an SD Card Reader because my main computer does not have an SD Card Reader installed, out of the box, and I don't know how I would install one to being with; if I had a kit to install one, I still might be stymied because there are no wires to connect the item to the computer.

So we have no SD Card Readers so I can transfer  my photos from my digital camera to my PC. I can do the transfer on the old computer, but then I have to copy the files to thumbdrive and then copy the files from the thumbdrive to the PC. There are several reasons I don't use the old one the way I use the new one, but I won't go into all of that.

It it lamentable that the store does not stock items like SD Card Readers, but we have plenty of whores circling around the neighborhood looking to plug into each other for a thrill. The degradation of the human spirit caused by such activities causes Jesus and His Mother a great deal of pain, because it does not build up His children, but contributes toward their death and eternal separation from Him for eternity.

That the world is suffering as a result should surprise no one. A general lack of restraint on the part of millions of human beings inevitably leads to wars and rumors of wars which millions can be killed outright in milliseconds. The universe is full of terrifying possibilities like that; it is only Jesus keeps it all in check. If we deliberately discard the restraints that prevent sin, then a general punishment results.

There very well might be beings lie us somewhere in the universe. They might be intelligent like us. The terrors nearby us ought to give pause in the conduct of our lives. It is all too easy to annihilate each other, and so tragic when people kill each other, because we do not know if there are any other beings like us, and we will never get the opportunity to encounter them if we do not learn mutual respect and the spirit of cooperation which edifies instead of destroys.

The quick easy fix is often a deplorable disaster in many ways. The Three Gorges dam in China is a good example; the communist party in China decided to build the dam, even knowing the consequences. Millions of people were displaced when they filled  the reservoir, and when unusually strong rainfall came along, it threatened to overtop the dam and sweep away anything down stream. As a consequence, the dam that was supposed to prevent flooding, could not stop catastrophic floods, and people downstream of amny dams were displaced or killed deliberately when the dams were breached outright. The Three Gorges dam was not a quick fix, nor was it cheap, and there seems to be some evidence that the dam is a ticking time bomb waiting to break and inundate millions of people downstream.

We have people in this country who think similarly, and if they are elected, the people who elected them will pay the price because there will be no other choice.

As for the whores of Aurora avenue, they have to choose what they will do in eternity.

Weakness

A foggy morning gives way to clear bright skies.

If a limb has been immobile for a period of time, it will regain  mobility slowly and specific exercises will be necessary to restore mobility fully. Similarly, if one has been indifferent or cold towards the Lord, it may be difficult to warm up to Him and function fully. God provides the exercise, and though the exercise may provide pain, or one might find himself responding sluggishly and with some disdain. Lovers may lose affection with each other if their relationship is not nourished mutually by their love.

The fact is, we need to nurture or relationship with God. A person might ask how one nurtures a relationship with God whom he cannot see, but if we have the will to try to orient our existence toward God, He has the strength to unite us to Him and improve our relationship to Him. Our position is awkward since we cannot see God or touch Him the way a lover might touch his beloved. But as He is aware of us within Him the way a mother is aware of her unborn child within her, one need not fear He will forget or ignore us. Nothing could be further from the truth. He will draw you into Himself through prayer. You can desire to be closer and to be more aware and trust that that is exactly what will happen.

God created everything in three days, and three days after He died, He rose from death to life, and He intends that we should enjoy that privilege as well. Do not judge by your feelings. While they are necessary to awaken our love of God, they are not reliable, and are subject to errors or, worse, to errors suggested by our enemy. Love will assert itself to tell the truth so you may live in some certainty that your relationship may blossom. Be at peace.

Weakness

A foggy morning gives way to clear bright skies.

If a limb has been immobile for a period of time, it will regain  mobility slowly and specific exercises will be necessary to restore mobility fully. Similarly, if one has been indifferent or cold towards the Lord, it may be difficult to warm up to Him and function fully. God provides the exercise, and though the exercise may provide pain, or one might find himself responding sluggishly and with some disdain. Lovers may lose affection with each other if their relationship is not nourished mutually by their love.

The fact is, we need to nurture or relationship with God. A person might ask how one nurtures a relationship with God whom he cannot see, but if we have the will to try to orient our existence toward God, He has the strength to unite us to Him and improve our relationship to Him. Our position is awkward since we cannot see God or touch Him the way a lover might touch his beloved. But as He is aware of us within Him the way a mother is aware of her unborn child within her, one need not fear He will forget or ignore us. Nothing could be further from the truth. He will draw you into Himself through prayer. You can desire to be closer and to be more aware and trust that that is exactly what will happen.

God created everything in three days, and three days after He died, He rose from death to life, and He intends that we should enjoy that privilege as well. Do not judge by your feelings. While they are necessary to awaken our love of God, they are not reliable, and are subject to errors or, worse, to errors suggested by our enemy. Love will assert itself to tell the truth so you may live in some certainty that your relationship may blossom. Be at peace.

Certainty

I don't know much, but I am certain about one thing: God is holy, and we are meant to be holy like God. Holiness is the essential ingredient in any life that wishes to be safe in God.

With regards to our needs and God's requirements for our lives, He does not compromise on holiness. If you know you are sinning, then you must cease. He may mitigate  our sufferings out of love for us, but not entirely. There will always be some small requirement of us that God demands we meet. If we do not know what it is we need to do, we can always posit that more prayer and more penance are necessary; these must be unselfish as well. The only certainty is that God will see to it we are fit to  be in His presence. If an examination of our life proves we have spots that need more attention, common sense demands an acquiescence to His Will, regardless.

This is on top of an immense and interested love for us, so that no matter how frightening and painful life may be, it will always be possible to reach God and to know His love, if we are fixing our vision on Him, and not ourselves or anything else.

St. Padre Pio was among those saints who embodied God's Will and acquiescence to it. When necessary, he required obedience of his penitents, but once they had done what was asked, his kindness sprang out of his immense love, so that our actual expense was minimal. I take that to mean that obeying him was obedience to God. In turn, St. Padre Pio enjoyed the immensity of God's love enabling him to do the impossible, particularly as regarded ecstasies and miracles. It is clear and obvious that feeling His love and obtaining miracles were signs of His intervention in our lives, so that we may grow spiritually to become human beings worthy of Heaven. Jesus dreaded the thought of the nails piercing His hands and feet, and the lance in His side. But He endured the imposition of these events for love of us, and for all time, so that we might be available to Him, and He might be available to us. Make an effort to express your love to Him, regardless of feelings; that is, don't expect ecstasies for your reaching out to God, but also, do not let your feelings deter you from asking. That is a act of obedience which will not be used against you in your final hours.

Certainty

I don't know much, but I am certain about one thing: God is holy, and we are meant to be holy like God. Holiness is the essential ingredient in any life that wishes to be safe in God.

With regards to our needs and God's requirements for our lives, He does not compromise on holiness. If you know you are sinning, then you must cease. He may mitigate  our sufferings out of love for us, but not entirely. There will always be some small requirement of us that God demands we meet. If we do not know what it is we need to do, we can always posit that more prayer and more penance are necessary; these must be unselfish as well. The only certainty is that God will see to it we are fit to  be in His presence. If an examination of our life proves we have spots that need more attention, common sense demands an acquiescence to His Will, regardless.

This is on top of an immense and interested love for us, so that no matter how frightening and painful life may be, it will always be possible to reach God and to know His love, if we are fixing our vision on Him, and not ourselves or anything else.

St. Padre Pio was among those saints who embodied God's Will and acquiescence to it. When necessary, he required obedience of his penitents, but once they had done what was asked, his kindness sprang out of his immense love, so that our actual expense was minimal. I take that to mean that obeying him was obedience to God. In turn, St. Padre Pio enjoyed the immensity of God's love enabling him to do the impossible, particularly as regarded ecstasies and miracles. It is clear and obvious that feeling His love and obtaining miracles were signs of His intervention in our lives, so that we may grow spiritually to become human beings worthy of Heaven. Jesus dreaded the thought of the nails piercing His hands and feet, and the lance in His side. But He endured the imposition of these events for love of us, and for all time, so that we might be available to Him, and He might be available to us. Make an effort to express your love to Him, regardless of feelings; that is, don't expect ecstasies for your reaching out to God, but also, do not let your feelings deter you from asking. That is a act of obedience which will not be used against you in your final hours.

Uncertainty

 It is not true that the universe is in charge of itself; God is in control of the universe, and our perception of it and understanding of it are dependant on God, however we like it. I can understand that people are uncomfortable with  uncertainty, but uncertainty often figures largely in the agonies we endure.

Many would rather limit the extent of uncertainty so as to suffer less anxiety. If forgiveness of sin has taught me anything, it is that being forgiven and asking for forgiveness frees a person like nothing else can.

That freedom is the certainty of His love, ironically. He loves us, without a doubt, and He is capable of infinite love and patience. He confronted uncertainty and doubt, fear and depression on the night in which He was arrested and endured a night in the midst of den of snakes, all full of the venom of hatred, and the next day, He was consigned to the romans who told them to crucify Him themselves. In the end, the romans had to do the crucifying, and they were the first to be washed in His blood, and the plasma that gushed from Jesus side when the lance pierced His side and opened His Heart so as to ensure His death.

He relied on His few friends to remove His Body and anoint it with the oil and spices of traditional Jewish burial. and He ultimately was laid to rest in the sepulcher.

He endured everything we can endure, and some things we cannot imagine. He comforted those who died after a just life but could not enter heaven. Then, He rose from the dead and appeared to the apostles. He has removed ambiguity and uncertainty in every possible permutation. Therefore, as God, He is able to deal with all uncertainty, and capable of understanding our feelings and our sufferings as we wait for Him, and hope that we might live up to His expectations. We must live to learn where we are in the scheme of things. Small as we might be in all the vastness of the universe, that smallness only makes Him love us more, and extends graces that save us, before we have had the chance to earn them or ask them.

Uncertainty

 It is not true that the universe is in charge of itself; God is in control of the universe, and our perception of it and understanding of it are dependant on God, however we like it. I can understand that people are uncomfortable with  uncertainty, but uncertainty often figures largely in the agonies we endure.

Many would rather limit the extent of uncertainty so as to suffer less anxiety. If forgiveness of sin has taught me anything, it is that being forgiven and asking for forgiveness frees a person like nothing else can.

That freedom is the certainty of His love, ironically. He loves us, without a doubt, and He is capable of infinite love and patience. He confronted uncertainty and doubt, fear and depression on the night in which He was arrested and endured a night in the midst of den of snakes, all full of the venom of hatred, and the next day, He was consigned to the romans who told them to crucify Him themselves. In the end, the romans had to do the crucifying, and they were the first to be washed in His blood, and the plasma that gushed from Jesus side when the lance pierced His side and opened His Heart so as to ensure His death.

He relied on His few friends to remove His Body and anoint it with the oil and spices of traditional Jewish burial. and He ultimately was laid to rest in the sepulcher.

He endured everything we can endure, and some things we cannot imagine. He comforted those who died after a just life but could not enter heaven. Then, He rose from the dead and appeared to the apostles. He has removed ambiguity and uncertainty in every possible permutation. Therefore, as God, He is able to deal with all uncertainty, and capable of understanding our feelings and our sufferings as we wait for Him, and hope that we might live up to His expectations. We must live to learn where we are in the scheme of things. Small as we might be in all the vastness of the universe, that smallness only makes Him love us more, and extends graces that save us, before we have had the chance to earn them or ask them.

Choice and Desire

Love makes a soul fragrant so the love
is shared with everyone.

Jesus loves us immensely. He loves us enough to forgive us our sins and to inspire us to do things for people we don't even know; that is, to suffer for them so they truly can receive what they need.

Mind you, it is not for us to establish what or how much we will suffer, let alone to propose suffering the passion-life with Him. If such a thing happened in our life, it would be the case of Him proposing the suffering, knowing us as He does, and not of us offering to be crucified. Those he loves the most, He most afflicts, and if the passion-life is concerned, it will be real and genuine. He has asked so many to join Him in His passion-life. They loved Him very deeply to be able to embrace the cross, and it was impossible to suffer so without the love. Often, illness, particularly unknown suffering afflicted many, before the passion joined it's life to their own life. The suffering is such that there is no energy to direct our own passion; we lack the depth of emotion and intellect that exists when God is at the heart of a sharing of the passion.

A soul in whom Jesus occupies the most part of their minds and hearts are full of thoughts of Jesus, and Jesus is so full of the sufferings of His cross, that it is no great shift to focus on His passion-life from our desires for others and our service to them. 

Yet, it need not be the cross that intrudes into our lives. We may be dumbstruck to learn what has overtaken us. The unexpected misery engulfs us in love as we have never experienced it before. A grateful soul speaks tenderly to Him, and the love fills the heart so deeply, it is almost no suffering at all, to embrace what He may have arranged.

Wonder at the depths of love of the saints.