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Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

 As we walk on (and on) towards Christ, let us pray for His mercy towards us: Although it is more noble to pray for the salvation of our brothers & sisters than our own, and generally speaking we should be indifferent, if not hostile, to our own "well-being" (as the world would have it) if we truly mean to fulfill our promise to follow Him in bearing the Cross all the way to Golgotha, nevertheless we are all but certain to make mistakes along the way: tempted down some seeming shortcut to Heaven that bypasses the suffering implied by the Scourging; sidestepping those who have been making this journey since before we were born in a race to get the prize first, forgetting that in so doing we shall be last; shouting at Peter to arise in our impatience and kicking over the dreadful cup that we would have to drain to the dregs were we truly to emulate the Lord. I can only speak from experience, as these are a few of my own sins, or rather my shameful attempt to avoid sin and n...
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Man cannot be God

 But God may become Man. His will be done, on earth as in Heaven. The Holy Spirit may move through whomever It pleaseth, speaking Truth until it moves on to another host, leaving us at a loss for words, momentarily breathless but, let us pray: not as the dead. For we live in Christ.
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Heavenly Days

 Saints Alive! it has been quite a year we just Witnessed. The Lord is come: if you believe.  Now, as Christmas draws to an end and the world prepares for the revelry of Carnivale; as we the Faithful await the coming of the Magi, I wanted to check in with you and make sure that you all were well. Be without fear, save of Him who has power over the flesh & the Spirit: be without envy or resentment against the wicked, the powerful, the unjust, the ungodly, the annoying neighbors making so much noise tonight when the kids have to go back to school in the morning... I also wanted to create a space for myself and anyone else interested, who has lived outside of the Church but within the United States, to reference the following  link to the Proper Calendar of the Diocese for the USA  in order to observe the Saints' Days throughout the liturgical year.  Make merry now! For no one fasts while the Bridegroom is with us. The fast will come, and hard times, lean days....
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Be New

    Solomon (or somebody) said that nothing is new under the sun. But there is a New Thing: and this is Christ coming into our hearts and, indeed, into this troubled world Today.      Therefore, as we celebrate the New Year, in accord with Pope Gregory's reform of the calendar Caesar adopted for civil use in Rome and inaugurate the month named for the pagan god Janus, keeper of doors, who sees both backwards and forwards: we look only ahead, to His Glory; and so let us be new, in Christ. For no one puts new wine in old wineskins, that they should burst: but rather He puts the new wine in new skins...for the Harvest is here, the vintage Today, therefore be ye new, put off the Old Man and put your new skin on, and be ready: soon shall come a knocking on the door. Caspar, Melchior & Balthazaar are nigh on ready to Adore the Newborn King: are you?     For as Heraclitus of Ephesus said,      The sun is new every day.     Then re...
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Stay Saved

 Merry Christmas! Stay safe... and stay saved. ✝️  While this is a time to celebrate with loved ones, enjoying food drink fun & romance, a time when God & us sinners are reconciled: remember that Christ forgives all your sins, so be mindful and keep up the Good Word, which is not to say to avoid merriment but as much as possible think of those who are hurting, poor & hungry, and when the celebrations are over we need to clean up and get back on our best behavior so Christ (& Santa) will reward us in the future.
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Towards Christ

    'Not that I have already obtained this, or already have been made perfect, but I press on hoping that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it already. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me, I strain forward to what is before, I press on toward the goal, to the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Let us then, as many as are perfect, be of this mind; and if in any point you are minded otherwise, this also God will reveal to you,' as the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians (3:12-15) as quoted by Saint Jerome in his letter Against the Pelagians. Jerome goes on to say, 'And [St. Paul] asserts that he always forgets what is behind him, and strains forward to what is before him, thereby teaching us that we are to disregard the past and regard the future, so that what we thought today was perfect, in straining forward to what is better and what is before ...
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God's Plan

 God has a plan for YOU. Though Andy Warhol promised us all 15 minutes of fame, now accessible to be doled out in 30-second reels, Christ the Lord guarantees Eternal Life and forgiveness for our sins. While it has been said before, there are still those whom the Good News has not reached; and perhaps even more who have heard the Word & rejected, dismissed or doubted; and countless souls indoctrinated in the Faith have gone astray, tempted by the liberality of our modern culture, or dismayed by the hypocrisy, real or perceived, of the churches, institutions, preachers, and parents who attempted to force belief upon them. I did not grow up in a religious household myself, and found God in many strange and unexpected places along a twisting journey that left me exposed to many errors in my understanding, as well as discouragement and disbelief from friends and family. The basic Truth and the essentials of Faith, however, I knew with certainty at least 20 years ago; and yet time an...
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