Wisdom, Chapter 4,
Verse 20
Fearful
shall they come, at the counting up of their sins, and their lawless deeds
shall convict them to their face.
Sounds like purgatory to me and the judgement of the
wicked.
For
the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness,because he himself made the great as well as the
small,and he provides for all alike;but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny
impends.
1. Instead of having short, publicly-funded political campaigns with limited and/or free advertising (as a number of Western European countries do), the US has long political campaigns in which candidates are dunned big bucks for advertising. American politicians don’t represent “the people.” With a few honorable exceptions, they represent the 1%. American democracy is being corrupted out of existence.
2. That politicians can be bribed to reduce regulation of industries like banking (what is called “regulatory capture”) means that they will be so bribed.
3. That the chief villains of the 2008 meltdown (from which 90% of Americans have not recovered) have not been prosecuted is itself a form of corruption.
This month, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Justice
Department decided not to charge Angelo Mozilo, the former CEO of the former
company known as Countrywide Financial Corp., someone long thought of as a
prime potential target Should Americans be outraged that the meltdown moguls
aren't headed for the slammer, as director Charles Ferguson suggested Sunday
night when his documentary, Inside Job, won an Academy Award? Perhaps.
But, nearly three years after the financial crisis hit, a better way to look at
the lack of high-level indictments is as an indictment of the entire financial
system — a system that was rife with avarice, ignorance and double-dealing.[2]
4. The US military
budget is bloated and enormous, bigger than the military budgets of the
next twelve major states. What isn’t usually realized is that perhaps half of
it is spent on outsourced services, not on the military. It is corporate
welfare on a cosmic scale.
5. The US has a vast
gulag of 2.2 million prisoners in jail and penitentiary. There is an
increasing tendency for prisons to be privatized, and this tendency is
corrupting the system.
6. The rich
are well placed to bribe our politicians to reduce taxes on the rich.
7. The National Security Agency’s domestic spying is a form of corruption
in itself, and lends itself to corruption. With some 4 million government
employees and private contractors engaged in this surveillance, it is highly
unlikely that various forms of insider trading and other corrupt practices are
not being committed.
8. As for insider
trading, it turns out Congress undid much of the law it hastily passed
forbidding members, rather belatedly, to engage in insider trading (buying and
selling stock based on their privileged knowledge of future government policy).
That this practice only became an issue recently is another sign of how corrupt
the system is.
9. Asset
forfeiture in the ‘drug war’ is corrupting police departments and the
judiciary.
10. Money and corruption have seeped so far into our
media system that people can with a
straight face assert that scientists aren’t sure human carbon emissions are
causing global warming.
Today
think about righteousness and self-restraint and the coming judgment. Pray for
our Priest’s and Bishop’s that the love of the world and money not turned their
hearts from the one pearl of great value.
Since
the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special
devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in
Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls.
The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not
yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other
sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are
certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy
Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man
can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can
shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and,
especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Prayer
INVOCATION
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
FOR
THE SOULS IN PURGATORY My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine
agony in the Garden, in Thy scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to
Calvary, in Thy crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory,
and especially on those that are most forsaken; do Thou deliver them from the
dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace
in paradise. Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal rest, etc.
FOR
ALL THE DECEASED By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath
dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy
servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from
Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to
our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their
road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy
of the heavenly kingdom. Byzantine Liturgy
DE
PROFUNDIS The psalmist is crying out here from the depression that grips him
because of his sense of sin. He tells God that no man could be forgiven should
strict justice be demanded; but, since God is forgiving and merciful, the
psalmist (Israel) will hope for redemption from iniquities. We, who know the
mercy of God far better than the g Israelites, may pray this psalm with even
greater trust in God. The Church uses this psalm in the liturgy as her official
prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my, voice! Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication:
If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is
forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in
His word. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord, For with
the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption; And He will redeem
Israel from all their iniquities. Psalm 130
THE
MISERERE This psalm is a marvelous act of contrition, confession, and
supplication by a repentant sinner. It was composed by David after his sin with
Bethsabee. In reparation David promises to lead others back to God by telling
them of the ways of divine justice. Instead of offering God an external sacrifice
which he knows He will not accept, he offers instead the sacrifice of a
contrite and humble heart, a sacrifice that will always be most pleasing in the
eyes of God. Have mercy on me, 0 God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of
Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my
sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always:
"Against You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your
sight"-- That You may be justified in Your sentence, vindicated when You
condemn. Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me;
Behold, You are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being You
teach me wisdom. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash
me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear the sounds of joy and
gladness; the bones You have crushed shall rejoice. Turn away Your face from my
sins, and blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, 0 God, and a
steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from Your presence, and Your
holy spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of Your salvation, and a
willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners
shall return to You. Free me from blood guilt, 0 God, my saving God; then my
tongue shall revel in Your justice. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall
proclaim Your praise. For You are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a
holocaust, You would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, 0 God, You will not spurn. Be bountiful, O Lord,
to Sion in Your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem; Then shall You
be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts; then shall they
offer up bullocks on Your altar. Psalm 50
FOR
THE SOULS IN PURGATORY O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy
gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their
offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all
eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they
may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be
united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their
heavenly home: "Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Daily
Devotions
Comments
Post a Comment