Maccabean Uprising – Recommendation!!!

A relatively new occurrence has happened in the last two-years, Glorious God has revealed to us that the books of the Old Testament – that of the Jewish people – completely pre-figures, and in chronological order – the history of God's New Testament people, the Catholic Church.

Do have a look; watch my short 1-minute video post about this AMAZING website!

Glory to God in the highest!

TERRORISM: MELBOURNE CBD

Our nations fear of an Islamic terrorist attack has been realised today, some two-years since the hostage situation at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney CBD. This time in the Melbourne CBD, in the style of the attacks in Nice, France, and the recent one at the Christmas markets in Germany.

Several deaths, including a young child, and at least twenty seriously injured, including children and a young baby that was hurtled from its pram from impact of the erratic, senseless driving through the closed to traffic strip of the Bourke Street Mall. The CBD in lockdown – trams stopped – emergency services on "code red" and hospital employees called in for duty. The offender was shot in the arm and arrested. Police say it was "not terror related," though eyewitness accounts of the shocking event say the driver was yelling "Allah Akbar" from his vehicle whilst doing donuts out the front of the busy Flinders Street Station intersection.

An initial media report from the "Cairns Post" said the man was of "middle eastern appearance" but that was soon removed from the article. As I said above, the police declared it was NOT terror related and was a follow-on from a stabbing incident in the inner city suburb of Windsor. HOW can it NOT be terror related? After all, what did the innocent shoppers have to do with this stabbing?

"Nine News" reported it as a "police chase" of a "out of control vehicle" – yet there said vehicle contained an Islamist yelling "Allah Akbar" – OF COURSE it was TERROR related!

Oh, how we as a nation have drastically changed in the past seventeen-years. Twenty-years ago, Islam was rarely heard of; now it is SATURATING our society and the entire Western-civilisation as they undertake a MASS-INVASION of our nations under the disguise of being "Asylum seekers."

The Islamists have realised how far we westerners have "fallen from grace," not believing in anything  but ourselves, materialism, atheism and sexual gratification. A nation cannot stand for long when it loses its "moral compass"; its heritage and belief in the One True God. They see us as "ripe for the picking" – the invasion, pillaging and rape of our once God-fearing nations.

A nation without a BELIEF in something other than themselves, a reason to fight for the belief in a higher power, even unto death – will only last a short time until someone else FORCES their beliefs, their culture, their god on to us.

Abortions. So-called same-sex "marriage" and the selfish needs of our people not producing offspring. Enter the so-called "refugee" or "asylum seeker" with multiple wives and much larger families – our culture will end, and very soon, being replaced either by force or by using our democratic rights against us, eventually to legally bring in Islamic Sharia law because we shall be outnumbered, a minority in our own once great country.

When will this world WAKE UP and see the TRUTH instead of being constantly distracted by personal, selfish self-gratification? When will people turn back to GOD? By the time they wake up, trade in their sexual-liberation ideologies for the belief in God, it will already be too late, as our mothers, wives and sisters are taken as sex-slaves; our men beheaded publicly; homosexuals thrown off skyscrapers and Christians forced to convert, or die.

I for one know where my heart lies, and that is with GOD – the ONE TRUE LORD; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. With Jesus Christ. YHWH – I AM – the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Amen.

NOT with the "anti-god" of death. NOT with Allah, the god of Muhammad. I would certainly rather DIE than to bow my knee to their oppressive dictator-god – a so-called god whom is nothing more than a CHRISTIAN HERESY.

I would rather die, assured in my belief that I will be born into heaven. Lord, grant me the strength to die a martyr, not a traitor, if that be Your Will. No more pain – no more suffering. To be forced to convert, living a life I know is NOT TRUE would be a much worse option, for if I were able to keep my earthly life through conversion, it would not be a life at all, but to live in slavery as a second, third or fourth class muslim – not a free one, if there actually is such a thing.

Our Lord Jesus Christ died for our salvation. If need be, I shall die for Him – living for Him and He alone, or not at all. There can only be ONE real TRUTH. You shall know the spirits from the fruit of a faith. Christianity's fruits include LOVE and COMPASSION, whilst the fruits of Islam is DEATH; DISEASE; DECAY.

I know THE truth and "the truth shall set you free." – St. John 8:32.

Lord, grant me the STRENGTH; COURAGE; CONVICTION – to LIVE only for YOU, and to DIE only for YOU. In the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen, amen.

The STORM that's NEEDED

As we celebrate with friends and family it comes to the close of another year. We reflect on the previous 12-months and aim to do better with the next twelve, whilst also hoping for a less traumatic year to be had by all. Whether 2017 will be one of the good years or not we can only tell with time – though I believe this will be one big shake-up of a year for everyone. Get ready, world, to experience events of massive disruption to everyone: young and old, rich and poor, religious and atheist, slave and free.

During the last year the Church celebrated an extraordinary jubilee year of mercy. Divine mercy. This year, 2017, is a landmark year for many reasons, notably the centenary of the Fatima apparitions of Our Lady and the "miracle of the sun" but also 500-years since the "Protestant Reformation" ripped through Europe, fracturing western Christendom.

In the Jewish calendar we are currently in the year 5777. Those schooled in Biblical studies will know that the number seven is a divine number to indicate "perfection." The number five is to signify grace. 5,777 = grace + perfected. Have a read of this article on "Mystic Post".

So not only in the Church, but the Jewish mind also, we are at a cross-roads of sorts. Coincidence? According to Jewish Rabbi's, "coincidence" is not a "kosher" word. To many Catholics, coincidences are actually signs from God, or angels, which are signs from God, none-the-less.

Throughout the next nine and a half months there will be "signs in the heavens" culminating towards the end of 2017, near the centenary of the "miracle of the sun". Sadly, most of the world will not look up at the night sky to witness such events unfold before our eyes because they are too glued to their phones and computer screens.

"And a great portent appeared in the heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." – Revelation 12:1

For too long, God has been despised, hated, reviled, ignored, replaced. The whole world is wallowing in sin. In the west we have created a world without God. But God still exists, whether you want to claim he is a fable of antiquity, a moral guiding force for our ancient, illiterate, uneducated ancestors – as though we have the monopoly on knowledge! Perhaps, people in the past had things more spot-on than we have the world at this very moment.

Catholic prophecy speaks of a time when the "Immaculate Heart shall triumph" – I believe it will be soon, in the next twelve months. The prophecy also speaks of an "Illumination of conscience" where we will all experience a deep inward reflection of our lives and actions as they appear to God. Everyone. Not just Catholics. Not just Christians. EVERYONE. Some will take these signs for what they are, a warning from God, and choose to repent and mend their relationship with the Eternal Father. Many will have other excuses and grow harder in heart, becoming more wicked and evil.

Following this "illumination of conscience" there shall be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all who reflect and repent. Think the first Pentecost, but on a much, much larger scale. What an exciting time to be alive! The Lord is more-or-less giving us all a second chance, allowing us to know for certain He is real, from personal experience. An admonition. That shall be God's great mercy to us pilgrims here on earth.

Twelve-months ago I experienced my own personal "illumination" – though it wasn't THE "illumination" prophesied. Finally I understood the world in a different way. I understood why certain behaviours of mine were in fact evil. Sinful. I chose to take all that on board, renouncing the gay lifestyle I had been involved in since I was a teen. I broke-up the relationship I had with my now best-friend. Things have been going steady since, though I for one am not without sin, even now. The prophesied "illumination" may have to occur before I drastically change my ways, but I have started. Trust me, the sooner you know the truth, the better for your soul!

"Repent, and believe in the Gospel!" – Mark 1:15

FORK IN THE ROAD

There comes a time in everyones life, a turning point – a change in thought, a fork in the road – where we drastically change our thoughts, modify our behaviours, start doing things, though many times stop doing things as well. For the last fifteen or so years I have been a self-identifying gay/bisexual man (lets not get too hung up on sexual identity labels!)

Up until very recently I was in a steady, long-term, same-sex relationship. After a good twelve-or-more months of deep thought, prayer and reflection, I had an adult conversation with my partner and we called it quits in January 2016: on the feast of the Epiphany to be exact... one could almost say, "I had an epiphany ON THE Epiphany!" Was an amicable break-up; we are still good friends: praise the Lord!

So I've lost the need to identify with a specific sexuality finding much more freedom within myself as a result. A strange time to choose to leave the gay-lifestyle at a time in history when things are drastically changing in many western nations, people becoming more accepting of gay/lesbian folk, many now forcing it upon the rest of society.

I'd like to thank several different people and sources for my change in thinking, namely the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference with their "Don't Mess With Marriage" booklet distributed nationwide in Catholic schools last year. But most of all I'd like to thank God, for without the Holy Spirit many things would have fallen on deaf ears.

Not all my research and information came from religious or "anti-gay" sources as the media portrays. A fair amount came from a well educated, feminist lesbian, Camille Paglia; in other words, I made a good effort at getting factual information, scientific information, theological information from both left and right, none could call me a bigot just because I now believe what's not the current social-norm, politically correct thing to do.

Here in Australia we have an upcoming plebiscite on the "gay marriage" issue. Thanks to God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit I have drastically changed my mind on where I stand on the issue. I could no longer live my life, comfortable within myself, with such conflicting issues regarding my faith and sexuality, particularly when I read about the controversial "Safe Schools Coalition" already in many high-schools nationwide, teaching students unhealthy behaviours such as breast-binding and how to tuck-away your penis, and the ability for boys to go to school in dresses and vice-versa.

I've recently seen documentaries of young boys, not even into their double-figures in age, choosing to be "transgender" well before they have the mental capacity to fully understand their choices, and today I read how next month they will be teaching toddlers about sex and cross dressing in preschools, kindergartens and childcare centres!

Clearly even here in Australia the gay-lobby has gained too much power, and must be stopped. I don't want to fight for the rights of adults to live "on par" with traditional marriage. I'd much rather fight for the traditional understanding, as well as for those who are unable to fight for themselves just yet: the children of Australia, many of whom are growing up in broken homes already, without fathers etc;.

Children much be able to live their lives as children, not pushing them into the world of sexual ideologies too soon. They will have plenty of time to deal with those things when they become legal adults, unless the world finally sees through the lies of the gay agenda and yet again make drastic changes back to the way things were last century.

Perhaps if I was never exposed to the gay world at such a young age myself, who knows, but my life could have been very, very different by the time I turned 30. Maybe have a wife, my own family. A house, job, car and licence.

Instead, I must pick myself up yet again, dust myself off and see the positives to have come from the darkness in my life.

A practicing Catholic, still practicing!

This Catholic meme sums up my thoughts!

It only takes a short while to scan through previous blog posts I have written over the years coupled with social-media profiles posts, photos, comments and remarks – then one will have a preview of the life I have lived; being a practicing Catholic, though very much a cafeteria and cradle Catholic, until now.

Stupidly as I would now call it, I decided to "come out" of the closet in year-eight at the tender, still innocent age of thirteen or fourteen. For those unaware, "coming out" is the term used when one accepts their so-called sexual identity as being gay, or one of the many other letters in the ever increasing length of the LGBT label.

Growing up in the late 1990's and early 2000's it contained lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender... now I have seen labels increase to more than ten letters in that once famous four-letter acronym, with other "genders" and "sexual preferences" or "identities" including: queer, intersex, curious, questioning, allied – just think of what you want to call yourself and it will soon be added making everyone feel they are part of this great new-age human rights movement. That being the so-called human right to have free will and sin. If you add all those other terms the acronym starts to get quite lengthy: LGBTQIQCA.

Now I have blogged in the past about my being "gay" or "bisexual" – I could never pick which one I was as a teenager or as a maturing adult. I have also blogged more often about my belief in the One True God and being Catholic. Only a few months ago I also blogged about being a gay Catholic, how the two are totally incompatible to the other: a gay Catholic is indeed an oxymoron. By that I mean you cannot be an active homosexual and call yourself Catholic. Those who believe you can refuse Catholic teaching – Catholic truth – and still be an active homosexual really need to examine their lives, their conscience. It just doesn't make sense!

On the other hand one can be a Catholic who suffers attraction to the same-sex, though not acting on that sin of passion and desire they choose to live their life in a chaste way in conformity with God's truth as revealed by the guardians of the truth, the Holy Catholic Church.

Fairly recently I decided it was time after much reading and research on the topic of same sex attraction to renounce my standing with this evil sin. Sure, I still have attraction at times to the same sex, but I also have attraction to the opposite sex which has been increasing with age... and grace given wisdom from on high!

It was time I have "the talk" with my now best-friend, though at the time my partner of several years. I'm sick of being a hypocrite! Sick of believing in certain things, trying to manipulate God's word to conform with my life. That is certainly not how the Bible is to be read! We must read and pray the Bible with an open mind and heart allowing the Lord to teach us, to reprove and correct our thinking to be in line with His.

The more research I do on the topic of homosexuality, the more I get turned off and feel shame and regret over my past sins; sins thats for quite some time I was ignoring my conscience and not believing to be sin. Such a great wealth of information – TRUE INFORMATION! – is out there; don't believe everything you hear from the mainstream-media when it deals with the gender ideology. More often than not most of the research it corrupt with either very little to no scientific, factual or historical information. Certain things are simply outright lies but people still believe it as truth!

Thanks heaps you totalitarian, neo-fascist, gay-agenda activists and far-left elite intellectuals for corrupting the world, particularly for corrupting innocence – with your exaggerated research, outright lies and manipulation of words. They lie because people are ignorant enough to believe anything they read or see and happy to apply it to their lives. I wonder if the gay movement would have such support if a larger audience knew the real facts of the matter?

As I said, people are ignorant. They don't want to know the truth. Happy to live the lies they have been told, not questioning them. When your days draw to a close you will wish you has spent more of your time researching the evils of this gay movement, its corruption. Though it will take some time and quite a few blog posts I have decided I will start writing down just some – certainly not all – of my findings on the matter in the hope that someone out there questioning their "identity" will come to understand the truth before they "come out" and join Satan and his evil spirits as practicing sodomites in this modern, very real Sodom and Gomorrah. Satan is in fact real – the battle we are constantly fighting is increasing in evil.

Ultimately in this Jubilee Year of Mercy I have decided to repent, ask and receive forgiveness from the depth of God's Divine Mercy while I carry this heavy cross of mine. With time things will be easier, though to tell you the truth, if not for the grace of God I would still be wallowing in shame and self-pity, living a sinful life.

It is time I start to live my life – the life God gave me – to the glory of God! I am a child of God, as we all are – and I refuse to base my whole life one a word that does nothing but declare to the world: "Look! Over here! I'm a proud sinner with no shame!"

GAY+CATHOLIC =OXYMORON

Sacked CDF priest Krzysztof Charamsa and his partner, Eduardo.
SOURCE: Washington Post

Only a couple of months ago, on the eve of the synod on the family a Vatican priest came out of the closet as gay. He has a partner and believes it is time for change within the Church when it comes to LGBT Catholics. Consequently he worked in the 'Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith' (CDF) trying to bring about change from within the walls of the Vatican. In other words, he infiltrated the Church for his own personal, selfish reasons and that of other ignorant so-called gay Catholics.

Now, I say so-called gay Catholics, because to be gay is a self-imposed label. Innocently enough it starts, I for one classed myself as a gay Catholic only a couple of years ago; I have since seen through the lies: the education of the secular world, modernism, the lie that we are 'born this way' – lies; ALL LIES!!!

In my honest opinion to call yourself gay and Catholic is a complete oxymoron as the ideals of the two world are very conflicting. My point in case is that the priest I wrote of was calling for a change to teachings, more acceptance of gay and lesbian couples – basically that the Vatican should be condoning the sin of acting-out ones same-sex-attractions. The biggest issue I have here is that a) this priest should not be 'sleeping with' anyone regardless of sex. b) He took vows as all priests take of chastity, but ignored that commitment he took with God.

How can the Church say that those who feel they are exclusively same-sex-attracted are able to act on those inclinations outside the Sacrament of Marriage? Just because you're 'gay' doesn't give you any special privilege to live against the teachings of the Church while those with normal sexual attractions to the opposite sex must wait to be formed into one-flesh with marriage before they can have relations of a sexual kind. As this priest says, the Church uses 'Nazi words' against gays and that 'the Church needs a Stonewall,' referring to the New York riots of 1969, a pre-cursor to the gay rights movement in America.

After coming-out he has been sacked by the CDF, the Pontifical Universities he once lectured at and has lost his privilege to say Mass – unless he realise his HUGE error in judgement, particularly using the Synod as a tool at his disposal to cause maximum damage control, and he repents. Many would be saying that this is a grave injustice, homophobia in fact, though that is also quite reflective of the gay community and their activists, trying to shame everyone throughout the western world to accept their conditions, or condone their sins.

How can someone identify as gay, Catholic and also be a consecrated priest living in a same-sex relationship? They cannot! He knew what he was getting himself into; now he has turned his back on God in favour of the gay agenda. You can't possibly have an individual who takes religious vows of CHASTITY, perhaps one of OBEDIENCE TO SUPERIORS and treat them like they mean nothing. I am pretty darn sure they mean something to God. Becoming a priest isn't a step that is to be taken lightly. It is one that needs much prayer, study as well. You are giving yourself entirely to God – you are no longer your own person, but a person that is to be Christ-like: a servant for the Church of Christ.

Those most vulnerable to the self-imposed exile of being gay need education. They need to know what is true, what is false – specifically when it comes to gender ideology and being 'born gay.' If I had been told the truth from a younger age that sexuality does not define us as people, that I shouldn't decide on a sexuality at all – we are all children of God – perhaps my same-sex attractions wouldn't be as ingrained within me, they most likely would have simply been a phase of a young, developing, hormonally charged teen.

If I had of known back then what I know now, things would have turned out quite different indeed. Perhaps I have struggled with same-sex attraction only to at last 'see the light' so I can someway, somehow, use what I've learnt to educate others for Christ. Jesus does love gay people like he loves us all, but he does not condone the acting out of these attractions, or of any sexual encounters before marriage. We all have our own cross to bear, for some people that cross is to suffer from same-sex attraction. Pray for wisdom, discernment, patience, perseverance and perhaps one day those attractions will subside substantially or be entirely removed. 'All things are possible with God!' Matthew 19:26.

My 'coming-out' story

So it's late at night. Can't sleep. Been a while since I've blogged. So get ready for one of my little all-over-the-place somewhat mini-rant and 'coming out' story. For those expecting a juicy, steamy, sexy adult post, you've got another thing coming! I'm coming-out of the closet with a range of thoughts, reflections and more importantly: as a creature of God, with a very Catholic view on the realm of sexuality, and the world in general. Enjoy my rant, feel free to comment!

Like any good practicing Catholic, I read the Bible every day. I reflect on it, I study and pray it too. Over the last few years I have been working my way through a guide so you can read the entire Bible and Catechism over the period of one-year, ticking the days off as you go. I am yet to actually fully complete one of these booklets, which I printed it from the internet, twice! Whether I actually complete the booklet, ticking off each day – or whether I start again if I have been inactive for a long period of time – isn't the point of the exercise. Rather starting one's healthy relationship with scripture is! Perhaps I'll print it a third time and start again in 2016, only this time I'll read the Catechism column as well. Previously I have only read the Bible column of the guide.

At the moment I am reading through 1Kings, also known as 1Samuel. As we Catholics aren't all that into memorising scripture, for those not well acquainted with scripture 1Kings is about King Saul, David and Goliath leading to the anointing and Kingship of David. The last time I remember reading these chapters I was referred to them by a pro-gay-Bible article I read only a couple of years ago. My thoughts have changed significantly since then as I was pro-gay-marriage more-so out of lack of education on the matter, not because I wanted to get 'married' myself.

So, as I was reading last time I was actually reading my personal thoughts into the Bible. The relationship that David had with King Saul's son, Jonathan, was symbolic of a gay relationship, what with them kissing and all. This is from reading a very Catholic Bible, the Douay-Rheims! It doesn't have to be a corrupted translation of scripture. At the end of the day there are really only two types of Bible readers: a) Those who read for the TRUTH allowing SCRIPTURE to CHANGE them; b) Those who read SCRIPTURE with their hearts closed to the TRUTH, finding any possible way of CONDONING their SIN regardless of how stupid and irrational it sounds to anyone else.

Besides, the whole idea of sexual preference and defining it is only a fairly new ideal of modernism. Before the latter part of the last millennium no one anywhere actively defined themselves based on who they find sexually attractive. Many people who did have same-sex relations were fooling around, or depending on the culture it was a thing of power, domination, at times even for pagan religious worship. This all led me to reflect on my life and experiences. Certain things were filling my head from the past and the present as I lay in bed trying to sleep.


Mind racing, I decided to get up for a while figuring I wouldn't be getting to sleep any time soon, the hot night not helping much either. Back when I was in high school I remember people mentally placing people into groups. The jocks, the popular girls etc; and one of the new though un-popular fashions was to be 'label-free' which most people hated because we had the high school opinion that we must define, re-define, over-define pretty much everything in life.

Aware of having an attraction to the same-sex I would define myself as bisexual, then as gay, back to straight again followed by gay. Back in the turn of the century growing up I was picked on for this choice for the rest of my days at that school. Why didn't I just go by 'label-free' if I was having trouble choosing my sexual identity, as if it ever matters, especially at the age of thirteen! Like I said, it wasn't cool to be 'label-free' because then you are just wanting more attention. Rather stupid way of thinking, because now I would much rather use that term than gay, bisexual or straight. For someone to call themselves 'label-free' would be much smarter and not looking for or wanting attention.

In hind-sight I wish I made much better decisions in my early life, one of those being not to define myself by my sexual thoughts because it just doesn't matter! Sometimes I believe if I had kept it to myself I probably wouldn't have ever ended up going through the gay world. It could have been that decision to tell someone who blurted it out, making me hated by my peers for the rest of my time at the school. As a result I looked for friends outside of school, my hormones running wild and never really having any close male friends through my earlier years. Thus the gay community became a home of sorts at a very young age. Now it is a culture I can see through, one I have known about, one I have no interest in anymore.

Why would I want to support the lies of the gay community? Everyone looks so happy, so gay in the original meaning of the word, why not hijack the word to define their disordered affections? Not happy with that they even make a mockery of the rainbow. Truth of the matter is it is just a facade all the carefree happiness they exude. On the inside, they're crying. They're miserable. Depressed. Whether it's from a combination of drug and alcohol abuse or just their deep need for real love not objectification, the gay community really has nothing to offer anyone. Not that I am saying those in the community are worthless, but they are duped; by the media, secular education and their disordered way of life.

Many are seemingly ignorant, useful cogs in an agenda they don't know actually exists. There is much truth in the popular saying: 'ignorance is bliss!' I on the other hand would prefer the truth, even if it is hard to accept and apply to ones life, because as an ever better saying goes: 'the truth will set you free!' John 8:32.

2015: A Reflection

Dark Night Year of the Soul

Darkness. Overwhelming feeling of nothingness. Like God doesn't exist. Not an uncommon feeling so I've heard among faithful followers, even some notable Saints – St. Teresa of Avila, Bl. Mother Teresa, even the Apostle of Divine Mercy St. Faustina Kowalska had her moments. But what does it mean? Is God dead? Does He not exist? No – nothing of the sort! Just another trial to get through, in the end I will feel better, more loved by Him.

This is how I've been feeling for the most part of 2015 – another reason I have barely written in this blog for some time. I shouldn't be surprised though. It's something I was expecting to happen, I just had to keep telling myself: "He does exist, you know that. You believe that. Have faith, hope and trust in Him." 

I guess earlier this year I hit a theological barrier, I had an epiphany of sorts, funnily enough around the date of the feast of the epiphany! I was hit full force with a sudden realisation/understanding just why certain behaviours and actions are sinful. Sure, I've known for a while, but I never really understood how or why, so I would continue to "give in to temptation" in regards to certain sins, thinking my conscience is a better judge of my own behaviour being sinful or not. Above the teachings of the Church, which ultimately are the same teachings as Christ. Do I know better than Jesus Christ? The second person of the Triune, Eternal God? After undertaking my own research from a variety of differing views, I altered my personal opinion.

Things started opening up a whole new way of looking at the world. I was starting to understand it much better, though I was faced with issues I am still yet to fully resolve. Applying the things I have learnt – Catholic teachings – to my life. It appears I must "die to myself in order to live" (Matt 10:39)

HAVE NO FEAR

"The greatest weakness in an apostle is fear. What gives rise to fear is lack of confidence in the power of the Lord; this is what oppresses the heart and tightens the throat. The apostle then ceases to offer witness. Does he remain an apostle? The disciples who abandoned the Master increased the courage of the executioners. Silence in the presence of the enemies of a cause encourages them. Fear in an apostle is the principal ally of the enemies of the cause. 'Use force to enforce silence' is the first goal in the strategy of the wicked. The terror used in all dictatorships depends on the fearfulness of apostles. Silence possesses apostolic eloquence only when it does not turn its face away from those who strike it. So it was in the case of Christ's silence. But in that sign, he demonstrated his own courage. Christ did not allow himself to be terrorised. Going out to the crowd, he said courageously: 'I am he.'

Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński

Servant of God. 

In memory of Samantha.

A reading from the book of Wisdom.

The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God, and no torment will ever touch them.

In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little,
they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

Wisdom 3:1-9

TEN-YEARS TODAY

Ten-years today since that deadly crash.
Ten-years since I last talked to Samantha.
Only to see her again in photos. Memorys. Dreams.
Why waste time getting upset,
Wishing this were an on-going nightmare I can't wake from?

Time to be thankful; count my blessings.
Look at the positives to come from such trauma.
Finding FAITH in Almighty God,
Ten-years since that too!
As sore as I can be - physically, emotionally, mentally;
Thank-you God for restoring my faith in you.

For showing me different ways of dealing with my sufferings,
The different crosses we all must bear,
To unite them with our crucified Lord,
Who died for us all,
Purely our of love.

If not for my faith,
I would probably disregard my life.
As time goes on,
I start understanding
Your Will a fraction more;
Though I will never fully understand,
I trust your plans.

A decade ago, I questioned
"Why did this happen to me?"
Though now I understand a little better,
I'm not quite so upset.

Thank-you Lord for the Holy Spirit,
Teaching me to understand Your Truths better;
For giving me a humble spirit ready to be guided,
Not seeking a way to condone my sins.

Your truths never change,
But the world always does.
Thank-you for PERSEVERANCE
Especially when I experience
Darkness of the soul.

Thank-you for a loving family; for my parents,
Who were my first teachers,
Raising me in the Catholic faith.
Thank-you for a stable home;
A peaceful land of natural resources
Wish room to move around.

Thank-you for showing me different faiths;
But ultimately bringing me home
To the one true Church, thank-you, Lord!
I haven't many friends, but for the ones I do have,
Again I thank-you, Lord!

Thank-you for showing me my life has meaning
For revealing yourself in Jesus Christ,
Inviting me to a personal friendship with you.
Thank-you for your love,
Your mercy, your forgiving ways.

Especially for Holy Mass and the Blessed Sacrament,
Sharing yourself with us, thank-you Lord.
For the blessing of life and all that is in it,
And my hope to spend eternity with you;
Thank-you, Lord.

#WhyRemainCatholic

A recent Patheos blogger called us Catholics to write a post on why we remain Catholic in the midst of certain scandles (sex-abuse cover-ups, same-sex marriage etc). This is my blog post, also my first post for a while. If you wish to join in, use the hashtag #WhyRemainCatholic

Read her post here on Patheos.

We live in a fast-paced, post-modern, secular and increasingly godless world. A vast majority of the west have no faith; others have a selfish-faith, only believing in things appropriate to their lives, denying teachings that make them appear less well-intentioned.

Many would get up and leave the Christian faith altogether, unable to reconcile their lives with church-teachings. Of all the different faiths in the world and their denominations, why do I remain Catholic? It would be easier for me to leave the Church in favour of a modern one, or do what countless others have done in the past few centuries and create my own church with views and teachings agreeable to me and my state in life. Not long after I rediscovered God, that was one of my new, zealous ideas! A decade on, I’m still there! Guess I simply became lazy; Perhaps not.

I could write page after page of reasons I choose to stay, for there are many! The history, beauty and language; Liturgy, teachings, availability of Catholic Churches; Our Lady, the Saints, Popes and Martyrs. All these form part of the reason I stay. Regarding the teachings, not all of them I like. Many of them make it hard to go about life as I would like. However, being a Christian - particularly a Catholic - was never meant to be easy. The world isn't easy.

As my life leads on, I find certain stumbling blocks: saying no to drugs, homosexual-sex, contraception. At certain times I have been in complete opposition to Catholic teachings on these and other ideas that the secular world embrace. As Catholics, however, we are a pilgrim people, living in exile in the world, until we attain glory in Heaven, forever. As pilgrims, we are constantly learning, living that which we have learnt and evolving into better versions of ourselves.

Ultimately, the reason I stay is “The Truth” and the Catholic faith is the only faith that has the ultimate truth, created by Truth-Himself, Jesus Christ.

As people, we change. God is the one and same He has always been. My life will change a great number of ways in my time, but the truth will never change. The Catholic Church, her teachings and traditions are the same as they were 2,000 years ago. Its not just one of many churches or a conservative denomination. It is THE Church, founded by Christ Himself. Can God ever be wrong? In this post-modern world, many think He is always wrong. I place my trust and faith in Him, the successors of St. Peter. All other churches were found by the created, usually in direct opposition to God’s teachings. How can a man form his own truths in opposition to God’s truth? He can’t do that and succeed.

As I said earlier, I could write page after page, perhaps even a book with my reasons for staying with the faith, but to put it succinctly, truth is why I stay. Whilst I may not understand certain teachings, when I find I am living in opposition to what my faith teaches - after much reading, thought and of course, prayer - the ultimate truth wins and I adapt my life accordingly.

Just as Our Lord says, we must die to ourselves in order to live eternally with Him. Amen! 

Sunday Snippets: #08

SUNDAY SNIPPETS: A Catholic Carnival. 

Week starting Sunday 19th Week in ORDINARY TIME

We are a group of Catholic bloggers who gather weekly to share our best posts with each other. 

I've written quite a few posts this week, guess you can say I'm back blogging more than ever.

• A have a good old rant on belief and believing in God.
• Another rant on the power of the devil.
• This week was the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Here is some info I him.
• Some information on my Patron Saint: St. Stanislaus Kostka.
• I also write about my Patron Saint, Stanislaus Kostka and my own life.
• This week I started a Novena for the persecuted in Iraq.
• Day ONE and Day TWO of the Novena.

Enjoy reading! All comments are greatly appreciated and welcomed!

Power of the Devil

Many people will laugh at me when I say this, but do read on - Satan and his minions are real, not imaginary. All the issues going on in the world at the moment, also the ones that have been going on for quite some time now, some before I was even born. We are living in a very faithless, thus Godless, age. There are many people who have faith, many who "pretend" to have faith or have an obscure belief to "something of this world" and an increasing majority of those who simply have no faith and don't seem to want it, rejecting every opportunity as it arises.

Wars in the Holy Land; genocide and persecution of religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. Legalisation of abortions and euthanasia in Western countries; U.S.A's first public Satanic Mass. These are all under Satan's power! But none of these are his worst of powers, affecting people without faith, as well as many with faith, making you believe he doesn't even exist. He is simply an archaic creation of religious institutes in order to keep us for being evil. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I felt his power yesterday, and nearly gave into it. Since I've been reading more spiritual books, attending Mass more often and gradually trying to change my sinful ways, Satan doesn't like that, and will try to stop me reuniting with my Heavenly Father. Yesterday was the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, which is one of two Holy Days of Obligation in Australia - very important, for obvious reasons! I have known the Mass times for more than a week and planned to make the half-hour walk to my favourite local church for the event.

However, when I woke up in the morning, I was simply too tired. Felt like I hadn't slept properly. I got out of bed, came to the lounge room to start getting ready for my day... but just couldn't. So I curled up on the couch and when to sleep again. I woke up several times, checked the time, then kept on going back to sleep.

By the time I finally got up, made a coffee and told myself to get ready, it was quite late in the morning. I almost shrugged it off, telling myself I'd go to Mass on Sunday, don't worry about it! But with all the things I've been reading of late, many little dots have reconnected in my mind, and I realised this was all the power of the Devil!

Our Lady is Satan's greatest enemy, other than God Himself, so wanting me to be excessively tired that I would shrug off the greatest Feast Day of Our Lady is just what he wanted! He will employ the same techniques whenever I go to pray the Rosary or some other powerful praying technique!

Looking at the time, I realised I had better jump in the shower and get ready - FAST! Ive done it all too often in the past, where the smallest excuse would be the reason I don't go to Mass. Some days its too wet, other days too hot. Today was simply because I was tired when I really shouldn't have been! Getting ready as quick as possible, I had to then keep telling myself if I am late to Mass, whilst not preferably, I'm sure it's not any where near as bad as missing the whole celebration!

I left my house and walked into town, listening to some Holy music to get myself more in the spirit of the day and I made it to church with about one-minute before it actually started! I was quite hot as it was quite a Spring-type of day, but at least I made it. Everything after that was fine, my day ran quite smoothly and went to plan, making the most of such a Holy Day calling into the Catholic store next door for the second time in two-weeks. I didn't have a lot of money, but I thought I'm much better off spending it on things that will help my Spirit, as opposed to things that will slowly kill my Spirit.

St. Stanislaus & Me

We are a pilgrim people, always on the move and learning more about our spirituality every day. Never can we learn everything our faith has to offer, regardless of how many books you have read; we are learning and improving every day until our earthly-lives are up and we're recalled to God, in Heaven, where our true home is. Life on earth is only for a mere moment in comparison to the eternal life in Heaven we all dream of!

One of my favourite Saints who I attribute to my coming back to believe in God is St. Stanislaus Kostka. He is a popular Saint, but not as widely known of as certain others, such as St. Francis, St. Augustine or more modern day ones such as St. Faustina.

St. Stanislaus died at the tender age of eighteen, so he hadn't written books, been a teacher in theology or worked his way up the hierarchy of Catholicism to be anyone viewed as important, such as a Bishop. In fact, he was only a novice in the Society of Jesus for one-year before his death, so finding information and devotional items is quite rare. It doesn't make him any less significant however; he is a beloved Saint of the Catholic Church.

In my childhood as I prepared to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation (in my family parish we usually undertook the two Sacraments together) I chose to study St. Stanislaus. Originally I chose him because I would take on his name as my Confirmation name, and I thought it was a nice yet different name.

After surviving a car-accident nine-years ago - and finding faith in God once again - I would utilise my time with learning more about this Saint whom I learnt of in my childhood. I had forgotten pretty much everything I had once learned during my years away from spirituality and rejection of the church. All just teenage rebellion, trying to "find myself".

St. Stanislaus basically helped me get back into the faith I was bought up with, as opposed to going to another religion for guidance. I would read about his life, his death, and the certain things that he is a Patron Saint for. I would get very interested in him, firstly because I was at the time nineteen; he died at age eighteen, as well as learning of him being Patron Saint "against broken bones".

In my nineteen years of life, I had never broken or fractured a bone in my body, except for in the car-accident, breaking my spine. Other than that, even now, I haven't broken or fractured a bone since. This was all getting very exciting! I had studied about him in my younger days, thus his name was added to my own birth-name, but after reading he was patron against broken bones, I started to call him "My Patron Saint" once again. I have ever since!

Call it "coincidence" or true spiritual help. I myself don't believe much in coincidences - I believe in God, and through St. Stanislaus Kostka, He was inviting me back to His Church. As I grew in spirituality, I would often look for books or medallions of St. Stanislaus, but to no avail. With the power of the internet these days, however, I was able to find some items for him from international shops. Nothing that significant, but I now own a small prayer card of him, which came with its own medal to put on a chain around ones neck.

He was the first Saint I ever studied, and through his intercession to God, I believe is the reason I am still walking and not in a wheelchair. Thank-you, St. Stanislaus! Help me to become more like you, loving God everyday, through devotion to Our Lady: Queen of Heaven!

BELIEF: The ULTIMATE Question

It has been a while since I've had a good old rant, and at the moment, I have plenty on my mind. From examining my life, the way I live: what's right, what's wrong; why am I here, what is my purpose. PLENTY is going on upstairs, though that in itself is a miracle after enduring a serious car accident nine years ago, receiving a brain injury amongst other injuries... but more-so after having a brain hemorrage just over one-year ago. In reality, I should be a vegetable. But I'm not. I guess I'm a thinker - always have been, always will be. From childhood, through my youth, into adulthood.

I always have plenty on my mind regarding spirituality and religion, thinking of things from the minute I wake up to the second I fall asleep at night. My problem is I don't have anyone to really discuss my spirituality and beliefs with. Here I am, feeling alone in the world, as I am surrounded by people with very little, if any, faith at all. Those I am around who may have a spiritual belief certainly don't share the same depth of passion for it, or hold the same beliefs as myself. They are usually the ones to jump on the anti-Catholic bandwagon, if they themselves aren't actually driving it!

I'm one of the most tolerant of people around. I may not agree with another persons beliefs or lifestyle, but I won't try to push my beliefs on them. I hold true that the one true faith is Catholicism: if it weren't, then I could go to any denomination and still be at peace. However, if others choose to accept a different denomination, or a different world-religion all together, that is their choice and they shouldn't be questioned. I'm not God - He can judge them on the last days!

How would I feel if someone tries to push their faith on me? Even after learning I am a Catholic, they will still try, telling me all the faults and errors in Catholicism. Why can't they be like me, realise I believe in SOMETHING and be happy for me, as opposed to trying to push their particular denomination onto me? Generally the most hate filled people in the world can be people of faith, which really is quite sad.

Other times, I will encounter people who question my beliefs, why I go to church, what's the point of it all? To say simply: I don't have to answer them. They're not God. Only recently have I come to this  conclusion. As Jesus said to his own friend, St. Peter: "Go behind me, Satan!" - Matthew 16:23.

People such as these will fill my head with such thoughts that I am wasting my time believing in something that's simply not there. I used to debate these things with people until either they turned to my faith, I turned to theirs, or we agreed to disagree (which was usually the case). Then one word would be said: REGRET. When I die and realise I was wrong, won't I regret all those hours wasted going to Mass? All the books of spiritual nature I've read? All for... what?

If that were to be the case (which I don't believe at all!) then; No. I wouldn't regret having believed in something. I would be dead, I wouldn't exist, so how could I have regrets? I would however regret if I die and found myself in hell. That would undoubtedly be the biggest regret of my life, having to spend eternity in pain and suffering on a scale much more severe than the pains and suffering I endured whilst on earth.

I will go with a more comforting belief, give myself a better chance of getting to Heaven, and actually BELIEVE. Having beliefs I may be limited in what I can do on earth, for many things the body wants can be a sin. But to spend eternity in Heaven is a much better option, than to do whatever I want on earth and spend eternity in Hell.

Many scientific/medical tests will show that people of faith are happier people. So if we live, we die, end of story - at least having faith made me a happier person.

Prayer for the Year of Faith

The Apostles Creed.

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended into hell;

on the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting. 

Amen.

Prayer for the Year of Grace

Click here to download the prayer card!

Gracious God,

You have blessed this ancient land
with many gifts, especially its people.

We thank you for the Year of Grace,
a time to start afresh from Christ.

You invite us to contemplate the face of Jesus your Son,
that we may experience a new wave of grace,
and that the light of Christ may burn more brightly in our lives.

Attune our hearts and minds
to the presence of your Holy Spirit,
that our Church may be transformed,
our relationships be healed,
and our nation grow in compassion and justice.

With the intercession of St Mary MacKillop,
who showed us new ways of living the Gospel,
we make our prayer
through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Prayer for Twenty-Thirteen

Dear LORD,

This future year, I entrust to You, all my failings, my hopes, dreams, talents and wishes.

My needs, wants and gifts. My past, present and future self. 

To You I owe all my glory, to You I turn to when I need comfort.

Please, LORD, make this Year of Faith and Grace a successful one in mine and the lives of those for whom I care about.

Help me to grow in love for You, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Amen.