For those who have achieved the Illuminative State, here is some advice from St. Francis de Sales on virtue.
I think that choosing a virtue will come naturally. Some people have one virtue which stands out above all the rest.
Most modern day priests have told people to be like sugar. No.
This is not the call of God in the world.
of life to which he is called.
Deacons do not have the same role in the Church as priests.
dealt with their own predominant faults and are free of egotism.
visible; the truest, not the most conspicuous.
I know a saint by her cheerfulness.
not as neglecting any others, but as an object and pursuit to the mind.
in danger of losing your crowns."
We are so afraid of suffering in our culture, that we cannot serve others as we should.
The proficient, the ones who have been purified, know how to do this.
building churches, and adorning the altar, making peace among men.
of this their chief thread which runs through all.
merely being seen on the altar. The hidden gifts are lay gifts of those who have come into the light.
beset him, was confirmed in all manner of holiness and godly virtues.
with a very exceeding degree of fervour and charity.
away all such servile fear by degrees.
when they found themselves thus driven up so steep and high an ascent.
made himself all things to all men in order to win all.
grief at the death of those she loved as to peril her own life.
disperse or absorb those humours.
Too often, people want to do something other than to what God is calling them. This is pride.
passions than actions, which we may receive, but cannot create.
The proficient does not seek after consolations. He knows that humility and suffering are the way to light.
reapers, and lying down at his feet, was raised up to become his bride.
Mums' jobs, and bloggers, those who encourage others to be holy, none of these things are great.
their goodness lies more in high-flown words than in heart and deed.
But we must beware of despising or presumptuously condemning anything.
I think the proficients discover in humility their real call.
I have some bombshell news to share with you.
You see, four years ago we began implementing a groundbreaking social media strategy for LifeSite.
The goal was to get the life-saving message of the Culture of Life out to millions more people, right where they are – on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
To say this strategy was a success would be a massive understatement. It was revolutionary!
Thanks largely to our rapidly growing presence on social media, traffic to LifeSite grew by over 400% in those four years, to over 20 million unique visitors last year - with many of those new visitors coming directly from social media sites like Facebook!
MORE activists like you armed with the facts you need to be more effective culture warriors.
But by now you’re probably thinking: So where’s the bombshell?
Well, out of the blue, Facebook has announced that they are dramatically changing the way businesses and organizations - including limited-income non-profits like ours - communicate with our Facebook fans who chose to follow us, and who RELY on our daily posts!
Until last December, a large percentage of our over 500,000 Facebook fans would see the many articles that we posted, which they in turn shared with their friends.
Now, Facebook forces us, and hundreds of thousands of similar organizations, to fork out tens of thousands of dollars to reach our fans (fans we spent YEARS accumulating)!
We simply do not have the funds to do that!
Therefore, our fans have seen a massive drop in LifeSite stories on their Facebook feed since then.
Obviously this was a smart business move for Facebook. But right now, it is hurting LifeSite's mission!
Tens of thousands of people who have indicated they want to read our reports are being blocked from this information, unless we pay big dollars for the right to share with our Facebook friends - for every post!
Unlike many for-profit corporations and media organizations, we simply don’t have the funds to suddenly start spending that kind of money on Facebook marketing.
And sadly, thanks to Facebook’s changes, for the first time in five years, traffic to our site is no longer growing.
But fortunately, all is not lost. Far from it.
In fact, for the past six months we have been working on a number of tools that will enable us to reach more people than ever before with the good news of the Culture of Life!
Our new website was just the first step in this process.
But in order for us to make the best use of these tools, the blunt fact is that we actually need to far surpass our minimum $150,000 campaign goal.
And yet, thanks to Facebook’s changes, it is now harder than ever for us to reach many of our core readers to even ask for a donation!
So not only do we need to add a new category of marketing expenses to our budget, it’s even harder for us to raise the minimum funds necessary for our basic operating expenses!
That’s why I need you to make the most generous gift you possibly can, today!
I can’t tell you how excited I am about some of the things LifeSite is developing to help spread the message of the Culture of Life.
A year from now, I firmly believe we will be reaching far more people than in our entire history.
But in order to get there, we desperately need your help today.
Please, make a donation today, and consider asking your friends and family to do the same.
Thank you so much for your support. Because TOGETHER we can create a Culture of Life!
P.S. - With the changes Facebook has made to require non-profits like LifeSite to PAY to reach our fans, we need to surpass our goal now more than ever! Click here to make a donation to our Fall Campiagn today.
I knew about this when a friend of mine who has lived for job reasons for many, many years, half the year in EU and half in USA got letters from his Swiss banks.
According to a brief by the OECD, among the data that governments would share with each other as part of the “automatic exchange of information” (AEOI) regime are various categories of income, changes of address, purchase or sale of property, and more. Of course, the scheme turns American traditions and constitutional protections upside down. Instead of being secure in one’s house, papers, and effects without a warrant and probable cause, governments and autocrats around the world will be free to rifle through citizens’ most sensitive information at will. Hackers, criminals, and identity thieves, among others, might also be able to access the data, opponents warn.
Indeed, aside from Uncle Sam, virtually every national government in the world uses a residence-based tax system. The only other exception is the ruthless gangster regime ruling the tiny African nation of Eritrea, which, though less successful at collecting, also demands tribute from citizens everywhere on Earth. In 2011, the United Nations Security Council, with support from the Obama administration, blasted the Eritrean dictatorship, saying it “condemns the use of the ‘Diaspora tax’ on Eritrean diaspora by the Eritrean Government … and decides that Eritrea shall cease these practices.” The African dictator, however, demands only a tiny fraction of what Uncle Sam seeks to extract from U.S. citizens abroad.
Ironically, joining the rest of the civilized world by ending taxation of citizens abroad would almost certainly provide huge benefits to the federal government, too. “History reveals that replacing Citizenship-Based Taxation with Residence-Based Taxation will raise net Federal tax revenue because of increased economic growth,” the RNC said, echoing numerous studies and analyses spotlighting the drag imposed on the U.S. economy by the arcane taxation policies. Residence-based taxes would also “significantly reduce IRS administrative expenses,” the resolution explained.
Another one of the myriad benefits of adopting residence-based taxation, sometimes abbreviated as RBT, would be the elimination of “complex requirements and tax forms, such as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (‘FATCA’) and the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (‘FBAR’),” the RNC resolution states. As The New American reported in April as part of an in-depth investigation, the FATCA regime — hidden inside a Democrat “jobs bill” and signed by Obama — has made life overseas nearly impossible for countless Americans, now widely regarded as “pariahs” by foreign banks and companies.
Among other focal points of the growing outrage, FATCA seeks to turn every financial institution in the world into an unpaid agent of the IRS — all in a supposed bid to collect less than $1 billion in additional tax revenue each year (enough to run the federal government for a few hours). If the institutions refuse, gigantic “withholding taxes” or outright exclusion from U.S. markets would be applied, crippling any business. So far, the roll-out of the new taxation regime has been an unmitigated disaster, as even compliance mongers admit. Numerous banks, for example, responded to the scheme by simply refusing to serve anyone who holds U.S. citizenship or has permanent residence.
While the taxation and FATCA resolutions are primarily addressed to congressional lawmakers with the power to undo the damage, Republicans are pursuing other options as well. Among the tactics: Republicans and Americans living overseas are working to challenge the constitutionality of FATCA through the courts. Outraged U.S. citizens and others in Canada are also pursuing a judicial challenge there. The Obama administration, however, continues to bully foreign governments into signing unconstitutional pseudo-treaties to advance the scheme.
More than a few experts predict that FATCA will eventually be relegated to the ash heap of history. In the meantime, though, foreign governments and international institutions, seizing on FATCA, are working to create a truly global version of the scheme, which critics say could be more nightmarish than the original. Americans concerned about jobs, privacy, the economy, overseas U.S. citizens, the trade deficit, national sovereignty, the Constitution, the separation of powers, the U.S. dollar, and economic competitiveness should get involved.
Amazing! I have been talking to people lately who do not understand that there is a purgatory and that it is a horrible place of suffering.For some reason, most Catholics I have been talking to think they will go to heaven when they die. They have not even thought of purgatory, purgation, the entire point of my perfection series of now over 700 posts.
Some see purgatory as a sad place of healing. NO. Some see purgatory as merely the absence of the God they just saw for the first time. NO.
Many simply do not believe in purgatory. Lately, I have read stupid articles in Catholic media of all types which state that saints were not perfect. Yes, they were, which is the entire point of canonization. A saint is a person who skips purgatory and goes right to heaven after death for two reasons. One, they were purified on earth. Two, they reached the highest level of perfection they could while on earth.
Most people go to hell. Many people go to purgatory. A few people go straight to heaven when they die.
That is the truth. Sorry, it is not a nice idea, but it is the teaching of the Catholic Church.
The whole point of purgatory is that it is purification not faced on earth and the paying back of punishment due to sin.
One sins, one goes to confession, one gets a penance. But, one still has to pay back for the sins in a temporal manner. And, this why we have purgatory-penance and purgation.
Let us suppose one commits one mortal sin, just one. Then, let us suppose that person goes to Confession and is forgiven by God through the action of the priest in that sacrament. Let us further imagine the priest gives the person a rosary to say for penance.
There is still something else that person must face. And that is atonement to God for this sin and expiation.
Atonement has to do with justice.
Here is Trent on Christ's Atonement for sin.
Whence it came to pass, that the Heavenly Father, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1, 3), when that blessed fullness of the time was come (Galatians 4:4) sent unto men Jesus Christ, His own Son who had been, both before the Law and during the time of the Law, to many of the holy fathers announced and promised, that He might both redeem the Jews, who were under the Law and that the Gentiles who followed not after justice might attain to justice and that all men might receive the adoption of sons. Him God had proposed as a propitiator, through faith in His blood (Romans 3:25), for our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for those of the whole world (I John ii, 2).
Christ had to ransom us and He did so out of love for us. The work is done. But, we continue to use our free will to choose evil in mortal or venial sin.
For these sins, we must make reparation and atone for ignoring the mercy and justice of God.
We can do sacrifice on earth for our sins. I think St. John Paul II did this in his long life, especially with his suffering at the end of his days. His example is for all of us.
The acceptance of suffering on earth is primarily to atone for our sins, to make reparation.
Reparation is justice given to God for sin. If I get a speeding ticket, I have to pay for breaking the law. If it is a minor offense, it does not go on my driving record, but if it would be a major one, that sin would follow me around, as it were.
So, too, with our forgiven sins.
Reparation and atonement need to be made to an All-Perfect, All-Merciful and All-Just God.
We can ask God for our purgatory on earth, but be prepared for great suffering.
A NO vote and a duh moment!
More and more countries do not have a replacement rate of birth. The lie of Malthus has crept into the consciousness of those who make policies, from the UN, to the EU, to Washington.
Infrastructures of nations cannot be sustained without workers, without a solid base of citizens who want to build a country, have national and personal goals which overlap.
As young people remain single in these countries, or are dinkies, (dual-income, no kids intended-an old nineties phrase in my part of the world), the cult of death spins the web of deceit, dulling the sense of what is necessary for a future people to exist.
Most no longer care, falling into carpe diem.
Horace's Ode is famous, but even his idea held some reckoning of the old idea of "enduring" hard times, which many are not facing through gaming, clubing, endless consumerism and so on.
Ask not—we cannot know—what end the gods have set for you, for me; nor attempt the Babylonian reckonings Leuconoë. How much better to endure whatever comes, whether Jupiter grants us additional winters or whether this is our last, which now wears out the Tuscan Sea upon the barrier of the cliffs! Be wise, strain the wine; and since life is brief, prune back far-reaching hopes! Even while we speak, envious time has passed: pluck the day, putting as little trust as possible in tomorrow!
This, of course, is not the Christian philosophy of life, which is to love God and one's neighbor as one's self.
That last part of the Christian statement is the crux of the matter. People do not love themselves. They do not love their souls. They do not love God, which enables one to love one's self properly.
Those who care....are fewer and fewer; fact, the remnant.
The cult of death is a suicidal cult, destroying babies, ideas, holiness.
On which side of the line in the sand are your standing? Life or death?
11Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God[b] that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Where the Hoplites fought and died in great numbers, not knowing if their sacrifice would bring victory, we as Catholics should have even more reason to jump into the fight: we *know* victory is assured and that sacrifice for the Kingdom will be efficacious. It's every general's dream, really. (and what a great general we have to ... Bravery is dying and the cult of the individual is destroying patriotism. 10 July 2012 11:17 · Post a Comment · Newer Post Older Post Home.
Etheldredasplace: On Gentlemen-are they an extinct type?
We will have to count on terrific upheavals. But I am equally certain about what will remain at the end: not the Church of the political cult, which is dead already, but the Church of faith. She may well no longer be the dominant social power to the extent that she was until recently; but she will enjoy a fresh blossoming and be seen as man's home, where he will find life and hope beyond death.” - Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), Faith and the Future. 10 May 2012 15:42.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
What I have learned in my short years, relatively speaking, is that what is unseen is more than what is seen.
There are more spiritual beings, good and bad angels, than we can imagine. We cannot see what is really here, all the time.
We cannot see the saints, the martyrs, Mary, the Trinity, except for Christ hidden in The Eucharist, in the Body and Blood.
We cannot see history or the future. We only have the present moment.
What is unseen is much, much bigger than what is seen.
We cannot see the powerful choirs of angels, both those who worship God and are good, and those who hate God and us and are bad. Remember, angels from all the choirs, all the thrones and various levels fell. Some are in hell. Some wander the earth.
We cannot see those disembodied spirits, those damned souls, who, for our holiness and growth, are allowed to be on the earth.
We cannot see most things which are real. Well, most people cannot see these beings.
Sometimes we can see the work of these beings.
There is more unseen than seen.
It is interesting to me that years ago, many years ago, one could find protestants writing about heaven, hell, and yes, some, purgatory.
Where are those teachers, those pastors now who would preach the reality of what is unseen as being just as real and BIGGER, more vast, than what is seen?
If you are complacent about spiritual warfare, wake up.
If you are in mortal sin, wake up. What you would see if you could now see the spiritual world, would change your life.