#(when the catholic church losing power and influence was ALSO part of that collapse!)

[bookshelfdreams]

americans learn what the middle ages are challenge

[newstfionline]

Thursday, March 4, 2021

The ‘free world’ keeps shrinking (NYT) Three-quarters of the people on earth live in countries where freedom is declining. That’s one of the grim takeaways in an annual report produced by Freedom House, the Washington-based pro-democracy think tank and watchdog. This year’s survey, published Wednesday, marked the 15th consecutive year of global democratic backsliding—“a long democratic recession,” in the organization’s words, that is “deepening.” Freedom House grades individual countries on 25 indicators that evaluate the health of a given nation’s democracy (or lack thereof). The cumulative score then enables the organization, which has been in operation since 1941, to rank a given country as “Free,” “Partly Free,” or “Not Free.” Of the 195 independent countries evaluated, 73 saw aggregate score declines and only 28 saw growth. That margin is the widest of its kind in the past decade and a half. Moreover, 54 countries are now labeled “Not Free,” or about 38 percent of the world’s population, the highest share since 2005. Less than 20 percent of the world’s population lives in countries now classified as “Free.”

Vaccine Passports, Covid’s Next Political Flash Point (NYT) The next major flash point over coronavirus response has already provoked cries of tyranny and discrimination in Britain, protests in Denmark, digital disinformation in the United States and geopolitical skirmishing within the European Union. The subject of debate: vaccine passports—government-issued cards or smartphone badges stating that the bearer has been inoculated against the coronavirus. The idea is to allow families to reunite, economies to restart and hundreds of millions of people who have received a shot to return to a degree of normalcy, all without spreading the virus. Some versions of the documentation might permit bearers to travel internationally. Others would allow entry to vaccinated-only spaces like gyms, concert venues and restaurants. While such passports are still hypothetical in most places, Israel became the first to roll out its own last week, capitalizing on its high vaccination rate. Several European countries are considering following. President Biden has asked federal agencies to explore options. And some airlines and tourism-reliant industries and destinations expect to require them.

US infrastructure gets C- from engineers as roads stagnate (AP) America’s infrastructure has scored near-failing grades for its deteriorating roads, public transit and storm water systems due to years of inaction from the federal government, the American Society of Civil Engineers reports. Its overall grade: a mediocre C-. In its “Infrastructure Report Card” released Wednesday, the group called for “big and bold” relief, estimating it would cost $5.9 trillion over the next decade to bring roads, bridges and airports to a safe and sustainable level. That’s about $2.6 trillion more than what government and the private sector already spend. “America’s infrastructure is not functioning as it should, and families are losing thousands of dollars a year in disposable income as a result of cities having to fix potholes, people getting stuck in traffic or due to repairs when a water line breaks or the energy grid goes down,” said Greg DiLoreto, one of the group’s past presidents.

Pandemic puts 1 in 3 nonprofits in financial jeopardy (AP) More than one-third of U.S. nonprofits are in jeopardy of closing within two years because of the financial harm inflicted by the viral pandemic, according to a study being released Wednesday by the philanthropy research group Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. The study’s findings underscore the perils for nonprofits and charities whose financial needs have escalated over the past year, well in excess of the donations that most have received from individuals and foundations. The researchers analyzed how roughly 300,000 nonprofits would fare under 20 scenarios of varying severity. The worst-case scenario led to the closings of 38% of the nonprofits. Even the scenarios seen as more realistic resulted in closures well into double digit percentages. “If you are a donor who cares about an organization that is rooted in place and relies on revenue from in-person services, now is the time probably to give more,” said Jacob Harold, Candid’s executive vice president.

Biden Sanctions Russia Over Navalny Poisoning (Foreign Policy) The United States imposed sanctions Tuesday on a number of Russian individuals and entities linked to the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The move was made in concert with the European Union, which issued separate asset freezes and travel bans on four Russians. The Russian Foreign Ministry has brushed off the impact of the moves, while threatening a reciprocal response. “Irrespective of America’s ‘sanctions addiction,’ we will continue to consistently and decisively defend our national interests, rebuffing any aggression. We urge our colleagues not to play with fire,” Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Wednesday. According to White House officials, more U.S. sanctions targeting Russians involved in the SolarWinds hack, the alleged bounty program on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, and Russian interference in the 2020 election are expected soon.

Biden’s Afghan dilemma (The New Yorker) Afghanistan presents Joe Biden with one of the most immediate and vexing problems of his Presidency. If he completes the military withdrawal, he will end a seemingly interminable intervention and bring home thousands of troops. But, if he wants the war to be considered anything short of an abject failure, the Afghan state will have to be able to stand on its own.

Greece: Thousands spend night outdoors after powerful quake (AP) Fearful of returning to their homes, thousands of people in central Greece were spending the night outdoors late Wednesday after a powerful earthquake, felt across the region, damaged homes and public buildings. The shallow, magnitude-6.0 quake struck near the central city of Larissa. One man was hurt by falling debris but no serious injuries were reported. Officials reported structural damage, mainly to old houses and buildings that saw walls collapse or crack. One of them was a primary school, stone-built in 1938, in the quake-hit village of Damasi where 63 students were attending classes. “The teachers kept their cool and the pupils stuck to the emergency drill, and everyone got out okay,” headmaster Grigoris Letsios said while on a video call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The army set up tents and meal counters at a nearby soccer field as local officials urged people to remain outside their homes until they could be inspected. A series of powerful aftershocks of up to 5.2 magnitude kept many residents on edge.

Indian Government Regulation Squeezes Christian Charities (CT) For Christians trying to care for the poor in India, there is always a need for more prayer, more hands, and more money. Much of that money comes from donors in other countries. Recently, though, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has tightened regulations on foreign funding to nonprofits, including Christian groups that feed orphans, run hospitals, and educate children. Since Modi took office in 2014, the Indian government has revoked permission for more than 16,000 nongovernmental organizations to receive foreign funding, using the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). “It is deliberately an assault against the nonprofit sector,” said Vijayesh Lal, the general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, “and that includes the churches.” While the FCRA is not designed specifically to target Christian groups, experts say its cumbersome regulations have been used by the ruling parties in India to stifle political and religious dissidents since the law’s adoption in 1976.

Intense preparations before pontiff meets Iraqi ayatollah (AP) In Iraq’s holiest city, a pontiff will meet a revered ayatollah and make history with a message of coexistence in a place plagued by bitter divisions. One is the chief pastor of the world-wide Catholic Church, the other a pre-eminent figure in Shiite Islam whose opinion holds powerful sway on the Iraqi street and beyond. Their encounter will resonate across Iraq, even crossing borders into neighboring, mainly Shiite Iran. Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are to meet on Saturday for at most 40 minutes, part of the time alone except for interpreters, in the Shiite cleric’s modest home in the city of Najaf. Every detail was scrutinized ahead of time in painstaking, behind-the-scenes preparations that touched on everything from shoes to seating arrangements. For Iraq’s dwindling Christian minority, a show of solidarity from al-Sistani could help secure their place in Iraq after years of displacement—and, they hope, ease intimidation from Shiite militiamen against their community. Iraqi officials in government, too, see the meeting’s symbolic power—as does Tehran. The 90-year-old al-Sistani has been a consistent counterweight to Iran’s influence. With the meeting, Francis is implicitly recognizing him as the chief interlocutor of Shiite Islam over his rival, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Pentagon: US contractor dies in rocket attack at Iraq base (AP) A U.S. contractor died Wednesday when at least 10 rockets slammed into an air base housing U.S. and other coalition troops in western Iraq, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the contractor “suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering” and died shortly afterward. He said there were no service members injured and all are accounted for. British and Danish troops also are among those stationed at the base. The rocket attack was the first since the U.S. struck Iran-aligned militia targets along the Iraq-Syria border last week, killing one militiaman and stoking fears of another cycle of tit-for-tat attacks as happened more than a year ago. Those attacks included the U.S. drone strike in January 2020 that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani in Baghdad and set off months of increased troops levels in the region. Wednesday’s death of the contractor heightens worries that the U.S. could be drawn into another period of escalating attacks.

Reports: Myanmar security forces kill at least 33 protesters (AP) Myanmar security forces dramatically escalated their crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, killing at least 33 protesters Wednesday in several cities, according to accounts on social media and local news reports compiled by a data analyst. That is highest daily death toll since the Feb. 1 takeover, exceeding the 18 that the U.N. Human Rights Office said were killed on Sunday, and could galvanize the international community, which has responded fitfully thus far to the violence. Videos from Wednesday also showed security forces firing slingshots at demonstrators, chasing them down and even brutally beating an ambulance crew. Demonstrators have regularly flooded the streets of cities across the country since the military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Their numbers have remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested protesters en masse.

China’s vaccine diplomacy campaign (AP) The plane laden with vaccines had just rolled to a stop at Santiago’s airport in late January, and Chile’s president, Sebastián Piñera, was beaming. “Today,” he said, “is a day of joy, emotion and hope.” The source of that hope: China—a country that Chile and dozens of other nations are depending on to help rescue them from the COVID-19 pandemic. China’s vaccine diplomacy campaign has been a surprising success: It has pledged roughly half a billion doses of its vaccines to more than 45 countries, according to a country-by-country tally by The Associated Press. With just four of China’s many vaccine makers claiming they are able to produce at least 2.6 billion doses this year, a large part of the world’s population will end up inoculated not with the fancy Western vaccines boasting headline-grabbing efficacy rates, but with China’s humble, traditionally made shots. Inoculations with Chinese vaccines already have begun in more than 25 countries, and the Chinese shots have been delivered to another 11, according to the AP tally.

Taiwanese urged to eat ‘freedom pineapples’ after China import ban (The Guardian) Taiwanese pineapples have become the latest victim of deteriorating cross-strait relations, after Chinese authorities suddenly banned imports of the fruit. The ban, which began on Monday and is indefinite, was announced by the Chinese customs office on Friday. The customs office said harmful pests had been detected in recent shipments. Taiwan’s government rejected the claim, accusing Beijing of making an “unacceptable” unilateral decision, and urging citizens and international allies to eat “freedom pineapples” in support of the domestic industry, echoing the campaign to support Australia’s wine producers after Beijing imposed tariffs last year. Beijing has a history of enacting trade sanctions during international disputes, most recently with Australian wine, coal and barley, action that can cause significant economic damage to industry and put pressure on rival governments. Relations with Taiwan are at the lowest in decades. Despite the Communist party never ruling Taiwan, Beijing considers it to be a province of China, and has vowed to unite it with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Lebanese anger at economy grows as political deadlock persists (Reuters) Protesters blocked some roadways in Lebanon for a second day on Wednesday after the currency’s fall to a new low further enraged a population long horrified by the country’s financial meltdown. In the past year, Lebanon has been through a popular uprising against its political leaders, the bankruptcy of the state and banking system, a COVID-19 pandemic and, in August, a huge blast that killed 200 people and destroyed parts of Beirut. The financial crisis has wiped out jobs, raised warnings of growing hunger and locked people out of their bank deposits. The collapse of the Lebanese pound, which fell to 10,000 to the dollar on Tuesday, slashed about 85% of its value in a country relying heavily on imports. It was the last straw for many who have seen prices of consumer goods such as diapers or cereals nearly triple since the crisis erupted. Demonstrators burnt tyres and rubbish containers across many parts of Lebanon to block roads on Tuesday night.

[the-fool-brahe]

Rousseau’s ideas fuelled the 18th century (Part II: The General Will)

part i

I said that Rousseau wrote on politics as well. Lads, we are entering the frev. 

First, I think, we need to talk about the build-up to the French Revolution. Now, I could lose myself down the Wikipedia rabbit hole, or down the textbook rabbit hole, or down the notes rabbit hole, but here is the gist of it. France and England get involved on opposite sides of the War of the Austrian Succession. The Hapsburgs try to win back Silesia, dragging France and England back into war. Most of the world’s continents become involved. France loses most of its colonies in the Americas to England. 

The Seven Years’ War was expensive. England compensates by raising taxes in the Thirteen Colonies. France helps the Colonies in the American War of Independence because they want to get back at England for taking their colonies. Lots of French people literally go to America to provide aid, and Revolutionary ideals start to rub off on them. 

Now, the mother nation of France isn’t doing so well either. They’re also paying expenses for the Seven Years’ War, and now they’re further in debt after the American War of Independence. Add on the divisions within the second estate and the third estate (not necessarily between, but within!) and the fact that the duke of Orleans has given the Parlements back the right to evaluate royal decrees and the fact that the third estate is paying most of the taxes, and you have instability a-brewing. 

So. Once Louis XVI is coronated, he has this problem of massive national debt. There is no good solution to this: France has no central bank, and therefore no means of creating credit, or even of creating inflation. The monarchy itself was not even strong enough to declare partial bankruptcy. His finance minister, Jacques Necker, proposes a tax reform. Louis calls for an Assembly of Notables, who in turn call for an Estates General. Now, the last two kings before him, Louis XV and Louis XIV, had made a point to not call an Estates General (because absolutism) and Louis XVI wants to maintain this tradition. So he puts forward a decree to establish this tax reform. Remember the Parlements - you know, the ones that the duke of Orleans gave power to, and the ones that can evaluate royal decrees? The Parlement of Paris vetoes this tax decree. When Louis tries to dismiss the Parlement judges, protests occur. He declares an Estates General for the first time in almost 200 years. 

This Estates General doesn’t go that well. The representatives of the Third Estate represent something like 98% of France, but they get one vote, so (I believe, anyway) even historically, they are outnumbered by the First and Second Estates 2:1. Alienated and eventually locked out of the hall they were supposed to meet in, they find a tennis court, where they form the swear the Oath of the Tennis Court and form the National Assembly. Said Assembly pledges not to dissolve until a new constitution is written. 

I’m going to take a moment to talk about the Jacobin Club. 

Established during the Estates General, it had been first for representatives from Breton. It was re-established later in the year, opened to the public, and then in 1790 formally focused itself on working with the National Assembly and discussing the new constitution. Maxmilien Robespierre, at this time a budding lawyer and politician, was both a Jacobin and a member of the National Assembly. 

The Jacobin Club was also an avid supporter of Rousseau’s idea of “general will”, or the common good. They insisted that the best way to ensure the general will was to put a constitution into place. They also focused on the idea of “the citizen” - that “Citizenship is the expression of a sublime reciprocity between individual and General will.”

Even Rousseau stated that caution must be taken with this idea, though: “…when the social tie begins to slacken and the state to weaken, when particular interests begin to make themselves felt and sectional societies begin to exert an influence over the greater society, the common interest then becomes corrupted and meets opposition, voting is no longer unanimous; the general will is no longer the will of all; contradictions and disputes arise, and even the best opinion is not allowed to prevail unchallenged.“

When you look at the Terror, and even afterwards at the Napoleonic Era, this warning is almost prophetic. 

But now - of course, Louis XVI isn’t all that thrilled that his citizens are trying to diminish his power. However, he sent mixed messages regarding this issue, first trying to reconcile and smooth things over, and then turning around and sending troops to dissolve the National Assembly, whose headquarters were in Paris. His intention was not to be malicious - he was just very weak-willed and susceptible to the influence of his relatives and his court. 

The citizens of Paris at this time were suffering through poverty and political instability. When they hear that the King is sending troops to Paris, they finally have had enough. From this comes the Storming of the Bastille, as well as many peasant revolts in rural areas. Many peasants retake their lands from nobles and refuse to pay taxes. The duke of Aiguillon, member, and later president of the Jacobin Club, advocates for the abolition of serfdom and the privileges of the nobility. 

In August of 1789, the National Assembly issues its constitution, The Declaration on the Rights of Man and of the Citizen which stresses equality before the law, a sovereign people, and individual freedom. Unfortunately, the constitution has little practical effect. It scares the nobility though, and many of them flee. This forces the collapse of markets for luxury items, further diminishing the economy. Angry, many peasant women march to Versailles, with the goal of killing the frivolous queen, Marie Antoinette. They don’t succeed. 

Finally, Louis XVI succumbs to the pressure of the people, and agrees to a constitutional monarchy. The Revolution isn’t over, though - there’s still many things to be angry about. Namely, the fact that voting is restricted to the wealthiest 50% of men, that guilds and worker’s associations have been banned, and that the Catholic Church has been abolished. 

However, now that the constitution has been finished, the National Assembly dissolves. 

The Revolutionary government now forms the Legislative Assembly, declares war on Austria and Prussia after they issue the Declaration of Pillnitz, and arrests the royal family after they try to flee their palace at the Tuileries. 

Now that the King is at their mercy, the Legislative Assembly calls for an election, opening the vote to all men. They name this new government the National Convention, and declare France a republic.

It is 1792. We enter the Second Revolution.

[pamphletstoinspire]

Catholic Prophecy - Part 10

14 Catholic Prophecy

U 10. Fr. Souffrand (19th century). "During the reign of the Great King, the noblest virtues will be practised throughout the world, and the land will yield abundant crops." 1f 11. Rudolph Gekner (17th century). "A Great Prince of the North with a most powerful army will traverse all Europe, uproot all the republics, and defeat all the rebels. His sword moved by divine power will most valiantly defend the Church of Jesus Christ."

Comment: These are but a few excerpts given to you as an introduction. Many more need to be read and carefully collated before the general outline of events can take form and before many seemingly indifferent phrases can assume a deeper significance. I did that job many years ago; so, I can, even now, add a few useful comments to the above passages.

St. Columba's prophecy has already come to pass: We have had two world wars so far; unjust laws have been enacted in every country; the Church lost her property in 1870; the development of the printing press has caused people to read and write a great deal, something which was impossible for anyone but a saint to visualize in the 6th century; charity and humility are now scoffed at, and people believe in the false human messianism which arose during the Renaissance in intellectual quarters, and which has spread among the common people from the 18th Century onwards. But more of this later; we shall soon see what this false human messianism involves in practical terms. We shall see, also, how and why it must be regarded as the cause of the coming disaster. Thus, this little phrase jotted down as if in passing by St. Columba will assume a deeper significance.

Elizabeth Canori-Mora, too, alludes to the "false maxims of modern ideas." Many other private prophecies do so and some in great detail; we shall see some of them.

Berthe Petit announces the great disaster that will cause the almost total collapse of modern civilization. Br. Louis Rocco foretells the Great King who is to rule over Europe and extend his moral influence throughout the whole world during the period of peace which will follow the great disaster.

St. Methodius was one of the earliest prophets of the Christian era to foresee the victory of Communism. He did not name Communism, but correlations with other prophecies will make this clear. Many other prophecies say that the victory of

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Communism will seem so certain that they, the Communists, will throw up their caps and shout about their triumph. At that very moment a cosmic phenomenon will take place, and help the designs of the future King's small army (it is only later that his army will grow to be very large). This most Christian prince will reduce the Communists to a rabble.

Pius IX alludes to the same episode, although in different terms: he sees the cosmic phenomenon that will follow the triumph of the Communist revolution.

Melanie Calvat also foretells the rise of the Great King, the wonderful period of peace, and the religious revival which is to follow. So does St. Cataldus in the 5th century and, again, Fr. Souffrand in the 19th century.

Rudolph Gekner confirms all the above predictions and adds that this King will "uproot all republics." Countless prophecies develop this point, saying that this King will herald a new social and political order in which authority will be hierarchical and descending, instead of popular and ascending. This is an aspect of political philosophy to which we shall have occasion to return.

j| 12. St. Malachy (12th century). "Ireland will suffer English oppression for a week of centuries, but will preserve her fidelity to God and His Church. At the end of that time she will be delivered, and the English in turn must suffer severe chastisement. Ireland, however, will be instrumental in bringing back the English to the unity of Faith."

Comment: The authenticity of older prophecies is sometimes open to question. The above has been challenged. On the other hand, many reliable authors regard it as genuine, and it is indeed a striking prophecy in many respects: In the 12th century, England had just begun the conquest of Ireland, but she was still Catholic. The persecutions did not start until the 16th or 17th century. Despite these ferocious persecutions, Ireland preserved her Faith. The liberation has come in stages: World War I, independence within the British Empire; World War II, complete independence. Thus, Ireland was under British rule for seven centuries. It is likely that the severe chastisements which England will soon suffer, according to other prochecies, will be the prelude to her return to the Catholic Faith.

1 6 Catholic Prophecy

j[ 13. St. Thomas a'Becket (12th century). "A knight shall come from the West. He shall capture Milan, Lombardy, and the three Crowns. He shall then sail to Cyrprus and Famagoste and land at Jaffa, and reach Christ's grave where he will fight. Wars and wonders shall befall till the people believe in Christ toward the end of the world."

Comment: As it stands this prophecy is abstruse. However, it confirms what is known from more specific prophecies : The Knight is the great Christian King who will be chosen by God to destroy Communism and to whom the U.S.A. will lend its material power. He will fight first in France and in Germany, then in Italy, and he will liberate the Vatican ("Three Crowns" equals the Tiara). He will then sail to Palestine to restore Christianity there. Many prophecies confirm this, however incredible it may now sound.

jj 14. St. Hildegard (12th century). 'The time is coming when princes and peoples will reject the authority of the Pope. Some countries will prefer their own Church rulers to the Pope. The German Empire will be divided. Church property will be secularized. Priests will be persecuted. Toward the end of the world mankind will be purified through sufferings. This will be true especially of the clergy who will be robbed of all property."

Comment: This prophecy is already partly fulfilled: many countries became protestant in the 16th century, and the German Empire was divided as a result.

fl 15. St. Hildegard (Continuation). "A powerful wind will rise in the north carrying heavy fog and the densest of dust by divine command, and it will fill their throats and eyes so that they will cease their savagery and be stricken with a great fear. Before the comet comes, many nations, the good excepted, will be scourged by want and famine. The great nation in the ocean that is inhabitated by people of different tribes and descent will be devastated by an [sic] earthquake, storm, and tidal wave. It will be divided and, in great part, submerged. That nation will also have many misfortunes at sea and lose its colonies. By its tremendous pressure the comet will force much out of the ocean and flood many countries, causing

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much want and many plagues. All coastal cities will live in fear, and many of them will be destroyed by tidal waves, and most living creatures will be killed, and even those who escape will die from horrible diseases. For in none of those cities does a person live according to the laws of God.

"Peace will return to the world when the white flower again takes possession of the throne of France. During this period of peace, people will be forbidden to carry weapons, and iron will be used only for making agricultural implements and tools. Also during this period, the land will be very productive, and many Jews, heathens, and heretics will join the Church."

Comment: Many more prophecies mention wind of such velocity and fog and dust of such thickness that men will be forced to stop killing each other. This natural disaster will cause much loss of life and great destruction. After the failure of harvests, many people will starve to death, and their unburied bodies will cause terrible epidemics. The nation of "many tribes" in the ocean does not seem to be America. In fact, another prophecy names England, a former great colonial power, which was also made up of many different tribes in the beginning. The "White Flower' 1 is the Lily, the symbol of French Monarchy. The Great King will rule over the whole of Western Europe. His will be the new Roman Empire at the end of which, according to many Fathers of the Church, will come the last persecutions of Antichrist. Although St. Hildegard was a German Saint, she mentions France in particular. Why? Because France, for better or for worse has always had a great influence on world affairs. France poisoned the whole world with the deadly doctrines of her 18th-century philosophers, Rousseau and Voltaire in particular. The French Revolution marked the triumph of these philosophers' ideas, which took root first in America, then throughout Europe in the wake of Napoleon's victorious armies. From Europe, they spread throughout the world in the ensuing colonial period. The social and political institutions of the whole world — including Communism — are the logical development of those ideas. It is fitting, therefore, that the Counter-Revolution should start in France too. And, indeed, it is in France that the Great King, according to all prophecies, will begin his work.

1 8 Catholic Prophecy

|f 16. Monk Adso (10th century). '"Some of our Teachers say that a King of the Franks will possess the entire Roman Empire. He will be the greatest and the last of all Monarchs. After having wisely governed his kingdom, he will go in the end to Jerusalem and will lay down his sceptre and his crown upon the Mount of Olives. Immediately afterwards, Antichrist will come."

Comment: The Great King will be of Frankish descent, although his actual nationality is uncertain. Inter-marriage between the various royal families of Europe makes it possible for virtually every prince to claim Frankish ancestry.

It seems that he will travel twice to Jerusalem, once at the beginning of his reign to reassert the right of the Christians, and again at the end to fight Israel, which by then, will have grown powerful under the rising Antichrist. The mention of his laying down his sceptre and crown, coupled with that of Antichrist, seems to indicate that he will be defeated and killed by the Anti-Christians. This interpretation is confirmed by other prophecies. Thus will end the period of complete peace and prosperity which is to follow the coming disaster.  And after this the End of the World, which is to mark the triumph of righteousness, and the reward of the elect will be quite close.

|f 17. St. Edward (11th century). "The extreme corruption and wickedness of the English nation has provoked the just anger of God. When malice has reached the fullness of its measure, God will, in His wrath, send to the English people evil spirits who will punish and afflict them with severity by separating the green tree from its parent stem the length of three furlongs. But at last this same tree, through the compassionate mercy of God and without any national assistance, shall return to its original root, reflourish, and bear abundant fruit. "

Comment: Here again we see that the Anglican schism was predicted centuries before its actual occurrence. But St. Edward, the King of the Anglo-Saxons, was off the mark concerning the duration of the schism — unless a furlong is not meant to be a century, or unless this prophecy was tampered with at some time in the past. This is not rare with older

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prophecies; we are on much firmer ground with the many 19th-century prophecies, which we also possess. It is to be noted, too, that there was no English nation as such in the 11th Century, but only a kingdom of the Angles and Saxons. This discrepancy, however, may be due to a mis-transcription.

|f 18. St. Malachy ( 12th century). (Following is a list of the last Popes according to a prophecy attributed to St. Malachy. Each Pope is designated by a short motto. Rejected as spurious by some Catholic commentators (including Dr. Rumble of Sydney), this prophecy has been accepted by many other scholars as genuine. In any case, it has given fitting descriptions of every Pope since the 16th century, when it was discovered. The following are the last twelve mottoes: Crux de Cruce ("Cross from a Cross"). Pius IX, the Pope who had to bear the Cross of the Italian Revolution backed up by the House of Savoy, the Coat of Arms of which features a Cross.

Lumen in Coelo ("Light in the Heaven"). Leo XII I, the Pope coming from the Pecci family whose coat of arms featured a comet. He was also a brilliant writer ('light") for the Church (heaven).

Ignis Ardens ("Burning Fire"). St. Pius X. World War I ("burning fire") broke out on the I 1th Anniversary of his election. He was also "on fire" with zeal and was canonized 40 years after his death.

Religio Depopulata ("Christendom depopulated"). Benedict XV, the Pope of World War I.

Fides Intrepida ("Fearless Faith"). Pius XI, the Pope of the Propagation of the Faith.

Pastor Angelicas ("Angelic Shepherd"). Pius XII, a Pope of unquestioned holiness.

Pastor el Nauta ("Shepherd and Sailor"). John XXIII, mostly concerned with pastoral problems, this Pope came from Venice, the Sailors' city. He also set the Church on a "new'' course with his aggiornamento.

Flos Florwn ("Flow 7 er of Flowers"). Paul VI. Uncertain significance: the flower of flowers is the lily which the Pope's coat of arms is said to feature, but it may also mean martyrdom.

[romancatholicreflections]

3rd December >> Sunday Homily & Reflections for Roman Catholics on the First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

First Sunday of Advent

Gospel text : Mark 13:33-37

vs.33  Jesus said to his disciples: “Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. vs.34  It is like a man traveling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. vs.35  So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; vs.36  if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. vs.37  And what I say to you I say to all: “Stay awake!”

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We have four commentators available to choose from:

Michel DeVerteuil      Lectio Divina with the Sunday Gospels – Year B

Thomas O’Loughlin   Liturgical Resources for Advent& Christmas Years A,B, and C

Sean Goan                    Let the reader understand, The Sunday Readings for Year B

Donal Neary                  Gospel Reflections for Sundays of Year B

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Michel DeVerteuil Lectio Divina with the Sunday Gospels- Year A www.columba.ie

General Comments

Although the passage is short, you may  divide it up, as each section is different and you may meditate on it separately. The key to to understanding verse 33 is to take “the time” as the time of grace, the time when a longed for event finally comes to pass: Jesus is reminding us that if we are not awake we let those moments pass us by.

Verses 34 and 35 are a parable, although the emphasis changes is verse 35 so that even these two verses should be meditated on separately. In verse 34 the vocation of the doorkeeper is the focus, so enter into it. In verse 35 the delay in coming is the main point. In verse 37 identify with Jesus, consciously making a distinction between “you” and “all”.

Prayer Reflection

Lord, we remember the hard times: – a relationship meant everything to us, yet we were just not communicating; – a beloved child had turned to drugs or alcohol; – the project to which we had given ourselves wholeheartedly collapsed. Then, quite unexpectedly, something happened and all was well again. How true, Lord, that when we are dealing with people we must never lose hope but remain on our guard and stay awake, because we never know when the time will come.

Lord, the world today presents a dismal picture: – violence in families, in neighbourhoods, between nations; – famine in the midst of abundance; – money that is sorely needed for food and drink spent on arms. It is enough to make anyone despair. You tell us today that this is not your will for the world at all. It is like when the master of the house goes abroad and delays returning, so that everyone becomes slack and undisciplined. We pray that we Christians may be like faithful servants, each of us with our own task, and especially that we may be like doorkeepers, a sign to all that this world is your home and you will be returning soon to live with us.

Lord, we thank you for the people who have waited for us – parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts; the church community; friends. When everyone else had given up on us and gone to sleep, they were the doorkeepers. As we hesitantly made our way home, wondering if we would be let in, they were awake and welcomed us back.

Lord, forgive us that we give up too quickly just because evening and midnight have passed. But when we stop hoping we miss the opportunities you send us: – a moment of reconciliation comes but we don’t even notice it; – the word of encouragement that could have brought a community or nation to life remains unspoken; – we give things to people but we do not give them the space where they could grow in self-confidence, all because we are not on our guard and have gone to sleep.

Lord, we watch today with all those who wait: – oppressed peoples throughout the world; – those who are trying to be agents of reconciliation in Ireland, in Colombia, in the Holy Land; – those who are working for solidarity between rich and poor nations. Evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn have all come and gone. We watch with them, trusting that their time will come

Lord, there are many in our country who have lost hope. Say to all what you have said to us Christians – that we must not despair but must stay awake.

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Thomas O’Loughlin Liturgical Resources for  Advent& Christmas Years A,B, and C www.columba.ie

Introduction to the Celebration

Today we begin Advent. This is the period when we prepare to celebrate the coming of the Christ among us two millennia ago, but we also believe that he is coming among us now and so we have to be prepared to receive him, and we know that he will come again at the end of time and we have to prepare the world for his coming. Everything we do as Christians is related to these three comings. So let us reflect on how it is because he first came that we are here at the Eucharist today; gathered now we ask pardon of our sins that we might be prepared for his second coming in this Eucharist; and as a community let us pray that we will be ready to stand before him when he comes again in Glory.

Homily Notes

1. On this first Sunday of Advent the church’s thoughts are concentrated not on the coming of the Lord in Palestine two millennia ago, nor upon the new liturgical year, but on the Second Coming at ‘the end of time’, the Last Days, the Parousia, the Eschaton, ‘The End’. This is not a popular topic for preaching. Indeed when most preachers, excluding those from the fundamentalist fringes, are asked about the topic they say that it is one best left alone. However, while preachers are silent, that does not mean that this topic is not communicated in popular programmes, urban folklore, and ill-informed comment in the media. Most people think they are more than familiar with the Christian view of the end-times: it’s the apocalyptic nightmare when God is going to come as fearful destroyer, give everyone their come-uppance, and it will be a combination of a horror film and a cataclysm. Such thoughts about ‘The End’ are seen to show that in the final analysis God is a mean brute exacting vengeance; and religion is just a scare story of a wicked father punishing misdeeds. This may seem a caricature, but it is widely held and one that many Christians are happy to adhere to as when there are calls for getting back to the real days of preaching when people were told what’s what. Moreover, a glance at Christian religious TV from the USA will show you that there are more than enough communicators of the ‘God as brute vengeance’ message in the world today.

2. Given this fact of so much misinformation in the public imagination about The End, this opportunity to say something that is not sensationalist and does express the church’s faith on the eschaton should not be passed over.

3. The place to begin is to acknowledge that there are two distinct views, schools of thought, about The End within the Christian tradition and that these views go back to the time of the earliest followers of Jesus. On the one hand there is the familiar view that God will come as avenging justice and repay the wicked with suffering: The End as the Great Crunch. A careful reading of the evidence in the gospels makes it almost certain that this was the vision of The End that was preached by John the Baptist: ‘His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire’ (Mt 3:12). One of the matters where Jesus’s teaching is very different from that of John the Baptist is on precisely this point: The End that Jesus announces as coming is one where suffering humanity is delivered through the Father’s love. For Jesus, The End is the Great Banquet. He preached a future in terms of banquet, harvest, rest, and fullness. The stark choice between the message of Jesus and that of the prophet John is the choice between the Great Banquet and the Great Crunch. However, in so far as many of John’s followers became followers of Jesus, they seem to have retained the Baptist’s vision of the future; or they seem to have perceived Jesus’s message as a refinement of John’s, rather than its replacement.

4. Down the centuries these two visions of The End have exercised varying amounts of influence in preaching. Some parts of the church have read, indeed devoured, the Great Crunch approach which has its clearest expression in the Book of the Apocalypse. Other parts of the church have been so appalled by it — the Greek churches on the whole — that while they have kept it in the canon, they have refused to read it in the liturgy. Other parts of the church have preached the Great Crunch, but then used the Great Banquet language of Jesus as the key to imagery about the life of the world to come.

5. The basic message of Jesus about the coming of the Lord is that of being brought into the Banquet of life: God is love, healer, restorer, mercy. If this is our faith, then this must form our vision of the Second Coming. Just as the First Coming was not the mighty warrior king that many hoped for, but love made flesh in Jesus Christ who reconciled the world to the Father, so the Second Coming is the mercy of God in Jesus Christ who reconciles us to the Father and bids us to takes our places in the Great Banquet. Hence our presence today at the Eucharist: this is the foretaste of that banquet. Christ’s coming now in our gathering is the anticipation of his final coming.

6.  To reflect on how we view the Second Coming is the challenge to purify our mind’s images of the future, of the message of the Christ, and our image of God.

It is to replace the image of the Great Crunch with the Great Banquet; to replace the image of vengeance with that of mercy; to replace the image of God is power with that of God is love.

7. For Christians, the future is good news!

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Sean Goan Let the reader understand www.columba.ie

Gospel Comment

It is widely thought that Mark’s was the first gospel to be written and that it was composed in Rome just after Nero’s extremely violent persecution of the Christians of that city. One of the themes in Mark is that Jesus is a crucified Messiah and that being faithful to him will involve suffering for your beliefs. This means that they must always be vigilant and that is the theme of today’s gospel. It is taken from chapter 13 which is a link between the end of Jesus’ public ministry and the beginning of the passion and it stresses the importance of believers not becoming lethargic or casual. The fact is we live in a changing world and new demands will be made on us as followers of Christ. For Mark’s first readers that meant being persecuted by the most powerful government in the world. For us, at this time of year, the threat to our faith may be from a more subtle yet no less destructive enemy of the gospel — rampant consumerism.

Reflection

When the prophet prayed that God might ‘tear open the heavens and come down’ he was probably thinking in terms of what had happened on Mt Sinai many years before when the Israelites experienced God in the awesome splendour of nature (Ex. 19). It would have been unimaginable for the prophet that God should indeed immerse himself totally in our world and yet in the fullness of time that is precisely what did happen. While Isaiah prayed that the mountains would melt like wax at the presence of God, it seems God was more interested in melting our hearts. It is as though the Potter became the clay. During Advent we are invited to think about our human weakness, not so as to become sad or depressed but so that we can be filled with wonder at the way in which God chooses to save us.

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Donal Neary SJ Gospel Reflections for Sundays of Year B www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

The Invitation

I like these words of the late Cardinal Hume: “There are times when I can visualize Our Lord at the break of day standing by my bed and saying: “Get up, follow me.” Whether I am conscious of it or not, in effect that invitation, that loving but insistent command, is given to me every day.  Each new morning is the opportunity to start again.  Yesterday there may have been inadequacies and failures but today Christ renews his call: “Follow me. I have chosen you. I need you.”  Who can fail to respond to the thought that God needs our willing collaboration.”

We are carers of creation and of his people. Take this seriously, it is our world.  God has made himself so vulnerable and this gospel reading is just before the passion.  An area or parish improves if enough people do something.  We look at areas in a locality which are now clean  of drugs, more prosperous and just. This has been the work of people  co-creating the world with God. Making it a better place. Doing the world a world of good.

Gospel today says – Don’t give up. God is always near!  Live in hope and preparation. Stay awake to the season – the ways we can deepen and grow in our faith — maybe do a a retreat, do something good for others with your time or finance, notice God in the events of the next few weeks, pray a bit every day, make time to be awakened to  the centre of our world who is God, and to his central action in creating the world each day, sending Jesus Christ his Son.

A question for the first week of Advent:How can I help someone today?Lord, send me, use me, create me for your work in the world.