Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Day 30-Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Secularism

ANNOUNCEMENT! We are getting very close to concluding "Let Freedom Ring" and beginning the 54-Day Rosary novena entitled, "Novena for Our Nation" (August 15 - October 7). Both on August 15, the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption. You can find information for "Novena for Our Nation" HERE.

"Let Freedom Ring" has acted as a kind of cleansing/purifying, or exorcism, as "Novena for Our Nation" acts as a call out to God to bless and heal our land. Please join us for "Novena for Our Nation!!"

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

At a word from you the devil and his minions flee in terror.

You are the source of all truth. You are the source of all strength.

By the power of your Cross and Resurrection, we beseech you, O Lord

To extend your saving arm and to send your holy angels

To defend us as we do battle with Satan and his demonic forces.

Exorcise, we pray, that which oppresses your Bride, The Church,

So that within ourselves, our families, our parishes, our dioceses, and our nation

We may turn fully back to you in all fidelity and trust.

Lord, we know if you will it, it will be done.

Give us the perseverance for this mission, we pray.

Amen

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception ... pray for us

St. Joseph ... pray for us

St. Michael the Archangel ... pray for us

(the patron of your parish) ... pray for us

(your confirmation saint) ... pray for us

 

"Freedom from Secularism" by Fr. Jim Altman

(Apologies for the delay on today's reflection. Unavoidable priestly duties/emergencies arose)

Dear family, I'm not quite sure whether it was Fr. Heilman or Fr. Peckman who "assigned" the topics - but I am sure it was guided by the Holy Spirit! Consequently, I was blessed to have "secularism" among my topics. If you ever want to "push my buttons," just bring it up! So we are clear on what button is getting pushed:  the term "secularism" was first used by the British writer George Holyoake in 1851. He invented the term secularism to describe his views of promoting a social order separate from religion - like as if that ever would be a good idea - without actively dismissing or criticizing religious belief.

Obviously, given its date of creation, secularism, in word and in deed, was not a principle stated in the Constitution. For the record, what the Constitution actually does state, in what is known as the "Establishment Clause," is, quote: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The unanimous understanding of this "Establishment Clause" had to do solely with preventing the national government from creating - like Henry VIII - a religion enforceable through government police power. This Truth is confirmed by the prohibition against prohibiting "the free exercise thereof." Understand, dear Family, that this applied only to the Federal government, while states actually had the right to establish a particular religion. Few people know and understand that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which clearly prohibits the creation of a national church, did not eliminate established churches in those states where they still existed. Indeed, it would have encountered opposition in those states if it had sought to do so.

Too many people spout off a "definition" of secularism as "the principle of the separation of Church and state." Typically those same people - like the Godless "Freedom from Religion" fascists in Madison, Wisconsin - twist those words around to make it something it is not. They embody the words of John Lennon's song, "Imagine." A doctoral dissertation could not cover all the many problems with that pagan paean, but let it suffice to say that when Lennon wrote "Imagine no possessions," he was living in a multi-million-dollar mansion and the music video finds him playing his ridiculously expensive white Steinway piano for which George Michael bought at auction for over two million dollars. Lennon wrote it's easy if we try to imagine no religion, even as he lived in a time when Godless communists slaughtered a hundred million of their own citizens.

As President Reagan put it so perfectly: "The Constitution was never meant to prevent people from praying; it's declared purpose was to protect their freedom to pray." Yet the Freedom from Religion crowd throw a tantrum over such things as taxpayers' children praying in taxpayer funded schools. Leftists get away with throwing their tantrums because too many people do not know the Constitution nor its historical precedents. Dear family, just wrap your minds around the fact that taxpayers' children praying in taxpayer funded schools was, in fact, Constitutional for roughly the first 175 years of our Country. Then realize that the ramifications of the rapid shift from this Truth to the Big Lie of "Freedom from Religion" has resulted in the downfall of our culture and society. As a brilliant meme put it so well: "Bibles aren't allowed in schools anymore, but are encouraged in prisons. If kids were allowed to read it at school, they might not end up in prison."

How do we sin with regard to secularism? Simple. We sin every time we support, in word or deed, the Big Lie of "separation of Church and State." We sin through any kind of voting for any Godless agenda. We also commit sins of omission when we fail to make a reasonable effort to be aware of, and fight against, these dark forces which are prevailing in our times. The many, versus the few, sin constantly in their ignorant and uninformed support - even cowardly support - for the Godless left wing agenda. This would include disregarding the unchanged and unchangeable Truth regarding the five non-negotiables of Catholic morality, including abortion and same-sex unions.

What are we to do in a culture that literally assaults us - in words and in deeds - just for being Catholic and standing up for the unchanged and unchangeable Truth?  Firstly, recognize that we cannot be surprised by the hatred of the Godless world. Jesus warned us: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first ... If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you ...  And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me" (Jn 15:18-21). No matter what hatred comes our way, we must stay attached to Jesus, Who is the True Vine, lest we wither away. And we know what happens to those who choose to not stay attached to the vine: "Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned" (Jn 15:6).

Dear family, buying into the Big Lie of secularism, and failure to intentionally let God's Grace and Wisdom openly direct and guide our public life, is a grave sin. You don't have to take my word for it. Jesus said, "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.  But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father" (Mt 10:32-33). We also know that standing up for our Faith will alienate us from the Godless because Jesus said that too: "Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three ...." (Lk 12:51-52).

Dear family, the left bludgeons anyone who brings Faith into the public square, even priests, with the Big Lie of "separation of Church and State." But prior to Lyndon Johnson's amendment and threat of taxation, faithful shepherds spoke up and spoke out against secular sin. Now, most everyone's a big coward, trembling in fear about being taxed. Please, dear family, honestly ask and answer two simple questions: Do we think the Father of Jesus Christ thinks it's a good idea that we cower in a corner because of oppressive secularism? Do we think Our Father thinks we should not openly bring Him into the public square? The answers are obvious. So are the consequences for how we answer those questions.

When Jesus said "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's," the corollary is "don't give to Caesar what belongs to God." As it was, as it is, as it always will be: God first, last and always. So let us always acknowledge God before men, and let us always openly apply our lives of Faith in the public square.

Prayer of Reparation

My Lord and my God,
We have allowed the temptation of the devil to move our hearts toward secularism.
Countless times we have cowered to the prevailing leftist sentiment to imagine no religion, not just in public life, but even in private life.
We are so immersed in temporal pleasures that we are blinded to our purpose in life, which is to know, love and serve God in this world so we can be with Him in the next.
We intentionally justify leaving God out of our public lives because, after all, "Freedom from Religion" and their ilk have successfully inculcated us with the Big Lie of their false interpretation of the Constitution's Establishment Clause and insistence upon "separation of Church and State."
We fail to attribute the current chaos and anarchy of our times to the seeds of Godlessness sown way back in the 60's when prayer was taken out of our taxpayer-funded schools.
Ever since we have wittingly or unwittingly joined the side of the Godless through our open or tacit acceptance of the Big Lie of secularism.
We turn to You Lord, in our weakness, and beg Your forgiveness for our own secular attitudes - especially for our cowardice about speaking up and speaking out in the public square.
We love You, Lord, and we beg for the wisdom and strength to love You more.
We know, Lord, if You will it, it will be done.
Trusting in You, we offer our prayer to You who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer of Exorcism

Lord God of Heaven and Earth,
In Your power and goodness, You created all things.
You set a path for us to walk on and a way to an eternal relationship.
By the strength of Your arm and Word of Your mouth
Cast from Your Holy Church every fearful deceit of the Devil
Drive from us manifestations of the demonic that oppress us and beckon us to faithlessness and fear.
Still the lying tongue of the devil and his forces so that we may act freely and faithfully to Your will.
Send Your holy angels to cast out all influence that the demonic entities in charge of fear have planted in Your church.
Free us, our families, our parish, our diocese, and our country from all trickery and deceit perpetrated by the Devil and his hellish legions.
Trusting in Your goodness Lord,
We know if You will it, it will be done in unity with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever.
Amen.

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious son of David, etc.
Light of the patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Watchful defender of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most valiant,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of workmen ,
Glory of domestic life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the afflicted,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

He made him the lord of His household,
And prince over all His possessions.

Let us pray.
O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. R. Amen.

To see the Goals, Methods and Levels of "Let Freedom Ring," go HERE.

Mark, Chapter 16, Verse 5-8

⁵ On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. ⁶ He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’” ⁸ Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were AFRAID.

 

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. They were doing an act of mercy to clean Christ’s corpse and properly bury him. When they experienced the power of God raising from the dead, they were shocked to silence. 

The Law of Victory: Jesus’ Resurrection[1]

 

The disciples had lost the teacher and Lord. The Jewish leaders had silenced their opposition. The people had lost their hope of a revolution against Rome. Even the devil thought he had finally stopped this divine leader and brought about the abandonment of the Gospel. What a surprise awaited that first Resurrection Sunday morning! When Jesus rose from the dead, He gave His followers a potent hope to end every doubt about His kingdom. 

The Wisdom of the Cross

 

The world can never recognize the wisdom of the cross. The other day while sitting in my church for mass it was revealed to me the wisdom of the cross.

 

·         As the Eucharistic celebration was being conducted, I was admiring our church and as I gazed on the altar, I notice we had the cross which represented Christ dead for our sins.

·         Behind the cross lit up with the sun waning was the stained glass of Christ ascending to the Father. I asked interiorly where the representation of Christ resurrected is? Then almost immediately an interior voice stated,

·         “You are the representation of Christ resurrected.” At first, I withdrew from the idea, sinner that I am.

 

Then I knew that this was the divine wisdom that we, by the frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament the Holy Body of Christ, become physically and spiritually the resurrected Christ to our families, neighbors, our friends and even dare I say our enemies. May God’s will and wisdom be done!

 

Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 17[2]

On Day 17 Father Calloway points out that Joseph was a virgin just as Mary was herself. Joseph desired to love the Lord his God with his entire heart for “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. Keeping your heart true to something is being chaste. Saint Joseph has three treasures: Jesus, Mary and you. As his children we have a father with a heart that is strong, protective, and gentle. He is a father, king, warrior and chaste man of God.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble offspring of David, Pray for Us.

Light of Patriarchs, Pray for Us.

Spouse of the Mother of God, Pray for Us.

Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, Pray for Us.

Foster Father of the Son of God, Pray for Us.

Zealous Defender of Christ, Pray for Us.

Head of the Holy family, Pray for Us.

Joseph Most Just, Pray for Us.

 

Joseph Most Chaste, Pray for Us

 

Father Calloway emphasizes 

·         Saint Joseph will help you have a chaste heart.

Father Calloway states that lust is the predominant vice at work in the hearts of men and women today. Indeed, Mary warned St. Jacinta that many souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh. We are at war with the World, the flesh and the devil. Our sexuality is part of the objective in this battle. It is a double-edged sword that if used via the will of God will cut for us; but if used improperly will cut against us. Joseph as your mentor will help you to be victorious in this battle to be pure in mind, heart, and soul. Seek the protection of the cloak of St. Joseph. If men were to reverence their wives as holy temples, families will be renewed and the devil’s attacks on the dignity of the human person will be overcome.

 Jewish Sexuality

 Judaism regards sex as a "divine gift" from God, for the purpose of procreation, as well as for the purpose of companionship and happiness. The core belief is that sexuality is good, and healthy for human beings. This gift from God is a strong drive that Judaism affirms must be under control because it is not just a mere physical act, solely for procreation, but an encounter that involves the whole being. Judaism regards sex as the cord that secures the union of two lovers for life: for shared strength, joy, and ease, and for the rearing of children". In this way, sex becomes a "mitzvah," which is a good deed or meritorious act. One of the most notable attitudes in Judaism is the fact that while it regards sex as a healthy and necessary part of a couple's life, it also asserts that the purpose of the sexual relationship within the bounds of a marriage is to satisfy the needs of the woman first of all.[2]

Santo Anello

In an interview by “Our Sunday Visitor” Father Calloway explains the need to go along with St. Joseph.

 Our Sunday Visitor: What were some of the more interesting things you learned about St. Joseph?

 Father Calloway: A lot of awesome stuff. I discovered the ring that St. Joseph gave to the Virgin Mary on their wedding day is still in existence. It’s known as the Santo Anello, “The Holy Ring,” and it’s housed in the cathedral, in a gigantic reliquary, in Perugia, Italy, which is really close to Assisi. And it’s exposed every year for the faithful to venerate. Married couples and those who are engaged are given the privilege of going up and touching their wedding ring to the Santo Anello. That was just mind-blowing to me. And then, the Holy House of Loreto, the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth, which was transported by angels to Italy in the 13th century. It’s been in Loreto, Italy, ever since. It’s one of the greatest relics on the planet, and I have in my book all the saints who visited it and what they said about it. That stuff was just awesome.

 Our Sunday Visitor: It’s fair to say that St. Joseph is often overlooked. Why do you think that is?

 Father Calloway: I think part of it is that we don’t have one word from him in the New Testament. For him, actions speak louder than words. Unfortunately, in the early Church, there were a lot of false documents circulating about different things associated with the life of the Holy Family. They’re not approved or inspired writings, they’re apocrypha, but they unfortunately set in motion an image of St. Joseph that he was old, widowed from a previous marriage with children. All that stuff is a legend; it’s never been the teaching of the Church, but all that stuff got into art, and people just looked at St. Joseph like, “Well, he’s not really important. He didn’t say anything, and he was old, and was just there as kind of a fill-in.” People didn’t really pay much attention to him. But now, especially in the last 150 years, the Church has done more to promote St. Joseph than in the previous 1,800 years of Christianity. It’s really building, and I think it’s crescendoing now with this movement of consecration to St. Joseph.

 Our Sunday Visitor: That he is not even quoted in Scripture, did that make it difficult for you to do research on him?

 Father Calloway: When it comes to a primary source, yes. But it wasn’t too difficult, because you can unpack his actions, his obedience, his faith from the things that he did. Even though he didn’t say anything, his actions speak really loudly. And then you can just look at what was required of a first-century Jewish husband and father with the working and the incredible amount of walking. What would have been going on with him when he had to take his family and flee to Egypt and be there for many years? And then you fill it in with what popes have said, with what saints have said, what mystics have said in the Catholic tradition. After a while, you get a really good picture of who this guy was.

 Our Sunday Visitor: What is the image like of St. Joseph that began to emerge as you studied his life?

Father Calloway: You get an image of a guy who was not old. If you do the math, he was required by Jewish law to walk to Jerusalem three times a year to fulfill certain rites of the Jewish religion. If he had to do that three times a year, for let’s say 30 years, if you add up the distance, St. Joseph walked around the planet. There’s no way an old man could do this. You had to be young. So as the model of manhood for his son, our Savior, he had to be young and strong. We call him the Model of Workmen, the Pillar of Families, the Glory of Domestic Life, the Terror of Demons — those are not the titles of an old man who’s taking afternoon naps and forgetting things. You get an image of St. Joseph that he was strong, a worker, really in a certain sense the first knight of the Virgin Mary. He’s the first one who called her “My Lady.” He’s the first one to give his life for Jesus and Mary and sacrifice himself. We’re talking about extraordinary holiness here.

 Our Sunday Visitor: You’ve mentioned elsewhere that you encountered difficulties in writing this book, even of a supernatural kind. What do you mean by that?

 Father Calloway: Some of it, I can’t go into that much, but the devil did not want the book published. There was resistance. The devil was really trying to destroy the book and not let it get into the hands of people, because the devil knows the power St. Joseph has in his intercession with God. There were some really difficult things in trying to get the book published.

 Our Sunday Visitor: What are the spiritual fruits of consecrating oneself to St. Joseph?

 Father Calloway: The greatest thing is for us to be drawn closer to Jesus through this. Ultimately, it’s all about Jesus, just like Marian consecration helps us to draw closer to Jesus. The second thing would be, if we are spiritual sons and daughters of St. Joseph, all children are called to resemble their parents. He’s not a biological father, of course, but we can resemble him in his virtues. That litany unpacks many of his virtues. He’s patient, he’s courageous, obedient, faithful. So, if we want to be like him, we have to imitate him. That’s a key fruit of seeking to imitate him in our lives. Some people have asked, “Can you really consecrate yourself to St. Joseph if you’ve already consecrated yourself to Mary?” Yes. We’re not members of a one-parent spiritual family.

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.

Every Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph

The Italian culture has always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass. You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous you could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.

·         Do the St. Joseph Universal Man Plan.

 

Daily Devotions

·         Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

·         The necessity of being faithful to the end

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Rosary

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[1] John Maxwell, The Maxwell Leadership Bible.

[2]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph