Can't see the forest from the trees

                    Not being able to see the forest for the trees!

Not a day goes by that I don’t read some article by a “conservative” writer – whether in a column for the almost uncountable publications, or in an editorial – lamenting the sad state of our beloved country.  

These lamentations include, but are not limited to, a runaway judiciary; special interest groups demanding more and more “rights”; abortion; the anti-God folks, and liberalism in general.  

To be sure, they have valid points to complain and write about, but there also seems to be some crucial element that is missing from their logic – especially when it comes to proposing a solution – if they do -- to the myriad problems that currently plague our nation.

Do I have the answer to these increasingly serious problems?

I’ll let you be the judge…  

First, let us look at the current state of affairs of a once great country: a country, I might add that had the full potential to be the republic that our first President, the great George Washington, visualized before he was the President.  

In addition to the seemingly insurmountable problems that I listed above, there is the eroding of our sovereignty.

Why is this important?

Because if we lose our sovereignty to the new world order, we cannot function independently of them and if we cannot function independently of them, it follows that we will soon become subject to them – the world of nations that is.  

But is that so bad?  

Yes, very!

The first forerunner of this new world order is that dubious organization, the United Nations.   And now, there is another – dubious at best – organization that has formed in Europe, the so-called European Union.

There has been more opposition to the United Nations – though you and I would be hard-pressed to see it in print -- and now the European Union -- than has been talked or written about in much of the world’s liberal media.   But the opposition IS there.   There are still some factions in those European countries that know that they have forfeited their sovereignty; but for what purpose? --   Monetary strength in dealing with the United States perhaps? --   Military strength in dealing with…?

Granted, it is possible that the European continent still perceives a threat from Russia, but we know that to be ludicrous, why?   Because communism is dead, right?

There is still another insidious organization that has recently flexed its muscle AGAINST the United States: the World Trade Organization.   Just this past year, it TOLD the President that if he didn’t remove the tariff on imported steel, they would IMPOSE billions – that’s billions with a “b” – in tariffs and fines on some of our products.  

And what was the reaction of our president?   He is now thinking of, and probably will, remove those tariffs that were put in place to help the struggling steel industry here at home.  

I guess we can see just who won this particular arm-wrestling match!  

So, we have the United Nations, the European Union, the World Trade Organization, as well as the World Court.  

As a sidebar, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was recently quoted as saying that in the future, the Supreme Court must take into account international law and decisions made by their courts when our courts decide cases.   What?  

Does anyone see a pattern here?   Can we now see what the loss of our sovereignty means?  

Does anyone remember or at least read about the Marshall Plan after World War II.   Through it, we rebuilt Europe, and now, they would have us under their thumbnail.   Let us not forget too, the countless thousands of our soldiers buried in the soil on the Continent who died for THEIR freedom!  

Early in the history of our country, there was a “doctrine” set in place to keep foreign countries from interfering in the American hemisphere; it was called the Monroe Doctrine.   Now, it seems, we have a twisted, reverse version of the Monroe Doctrine not only in the areas of economics and law, but also in the very area of our cherished sovereignty.

Even our borders are not secure and are open to all those who have some initiative and imagination, enter as they please and cause, at the very least, a drain on our resources and at worst, an avenue for criminals and terrorists of all sorts.  

You would think that the United Nations, the World Court, the European Union and the World Trade Organization, would, on its surface, appear to be the ideal organizations to help prevent wars, rampant poverty, and upholding of “human rights” around the globe (I don’t like to use the word “planet”).   But a glance at the record points in the opposite direction, why?  

One of the answers to these questions could befall of our first parents.   How?   Well, because of that infamous fall, mankind has been spiritually weak as well as weak-kneed ever since.  

It seems as though man has become a god unto himself; thinking that he can solve all problems by simply throwing money, lots of money into the “system” and cure all that ails us.

In addition, the leaders of the above mentioned organizations seem to think that they are the ones in charge of human affairs and happenings around the globe, but what they don’t realize or refuse to realize, is that they are not in charge.   There will be no lasting peace on earth; no lasting solutions to economic and social injustice; no end to the hideous abomination of world-wide, rampant abortion; few if any stable governments with equitable laws for its citizens and certainly no recognition of the one, true religion as proclaimed by the Church for the last two millennia.   Not unless and until those heads of governments around the world acknowledge and submit their governance to the unchanging, eternal Kingship of Christ.

Is this an answer?   No, this is THE answer!   And until our “conservative” writer friends realize that without the Social Kingship of Christ, they will never be able to see the forest for the trees!   

E. De Lalla.       

More filth at the checkout stand.doc

Filth at the checkout stand…

          As I entered the store, I glanced to my right and saw the first of the titillating magazines on display: the cover showed a side angle of a woman – a “celebrity” – with nothing on from the waist up and clearly showing the contour of her breast.

Next, it was easy to read the headline of a “tabloid” type newspaper extolling some form of sexual perversion between politician “a” and mistress “b”.

And once more, as I walked down the isle – with magazine facing head-0n – was a female – I hesitate to call these females women – with only her long, brown hair covering her un-clothed front.

Then there were the “fitness” magazines that left little to the imagination – usually, “men” and “women” in near embraces and wearing very little.  

          Was I in an “X-rated” video or book store inconspicuously tucked away in some dimly lit alley in downtown Boston or New York? 

          No, I was in a Rite-Aid pharmacy in Jaffrey.   But, I could have been in Wal-Mart or Hannaford Brothers or Shaw’s or CVS in Keene!  

          I find it interesting that there is no outcry from the families that patronize these establishments – particularly those with children – and demand that this filth be taken out of their stores.   Once more, it seems that the management of these retail operations sees fit to have these publications at eye level – at the checkout stands – where it is almost impossible to miss.  

          Why is that?

Is it because we have become so numb to what is corrupt and accepted as “normal” that we have lost our sense of what we should do in light of the evil that surrounds us?   Should we not fight those elements and establishments that threaten our children and their innocence, or has political correctness corrupted us into thinking that we must be tolerant of everything and to live and let live?

There are sins of commission and omission: ours is the sin of omission.   In the end, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

E. De Lalla  

 

Living dangerously 5 16 04.doc

5/16/04

                                        Living Dangerously

          “See you Frank,” “see you Monday Bill.”

The question begs: how do we know that Frank and Bill will see each other on Monday? 

          What does it mean to be living dangerously anyway?

Am I talking about jet pilots; professional rock or mountain climbers; stock car racers – all very dangerous occupations or pastimes to be sure, but what is it that makes the way they are living truly dangerous – not only to their physical well-being, but also to their state of soul?  

So many minds are so numbed to anything except what is felt or seen or heard and not open to what is hidden from our superficial knowledge of what our senses tell us.

Many people today just cannot fathom those things that are “hidden” from the senses, and because of this, perhaps, they live as though there is no tomorrow.  

So, how does Frank know that he will see his friend Bill on Monday?   He doesn’t know.   And neither does Bill know if he will see his friend Frank.  

I will state at the outset that Frank and Bill do not have very hazardous occupations or pastimes, but Frank and Bill are representative of, what seems to be, the majority of those who call themselves the average “man on the street” – working; paying a mortgage; raising a family – these days, a quite small family if Frank and Bill are the “average” American heads of households; playing or attending their favorite sporting events on the weekends; or simply going to the mall on Saturday.  

Frank and Bill are also representative of those who call themselves “Christian” and maybe even Catholic; perhaps, attend some type of church service.   In many instances, the average Frank and Bill do not attend any church service at all, let alone raise their children to at least fear the Lord.   But Frank and Bill are “good people”; they take care of their wives and children and generally provide well for them and their needs.   And, after all, “they believe in God.”

These days, those who are classified or thought of as “good,” can’t possibly be sent to hell just because they don’t “go to church” or raise their children to fear the Lord, or might have just one fling after they tell their wives that they have to “work late at the office.”   Who is sent to hell these days anyway?   Even the liberalized, new order “Catholic” Church tells those of other “religions” that as long as they follow their consciences and lead “good lives,” they too can attain salvation and the Beatific Vision.   There is no need to convert these “good people” of other “faiths” to Our Lord’s one, true Church because God is all love and wouldn’t think of sending anyone to hell.

This false sense of security is rampant among the modern population especially in the United States of liberal America.   Those in authority in the Church can be held responsible for the loss and wondering flock in search of some tradition, some truth, something to cling to in light of the ambiguities of the day.   Many lost “Catholic” sheep find solace and a sense of tradition in other so-called religions – some of Eastern origin.

Modern Rome will have much to answer for when it comes to enforcing Church teaching, or, should I say, lack of enforcement.   The moral and spiritual beacon that was once Holy Church, has been weakened by a weak-kneed hierarchy; chiefly bishops and their subordinate priests who refuse to tell the dwindling attendees at Sunday Mass that there is, in fact, such a thing as evil; right and wrong; moral absolutes -- and hell.   They all say that we must be tolerant of other “religions” and “dialogue” with them in an effort to – to what?   Convert?   No, but to base some type of “unity” on what we have in common; this false sense of “Christian unity” was condemned by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Mortalium Animos, 1928.  

So Frank and Bill go their merry way each day not realizing that their days are not guaranteed; only death and judgment are.

God and His one, true Church have been put on the backburner if thought of at all.

Sadly, entire families can and are lost to the evil one in a quest to attain “happiness” in this life.

Most folks don’t want to make waves or upset the applecart for fear of alienating family or friends.   And yet, this is just what we are told by Christ Himself that we must do: make waves; upset the applecart.   Or else we are not worthy to follow Him.

The God of “luv” is truly the God of Justice, but this is rarely mentioned in these latter days.   God also demands that we worship Him in a certain way; without innovation or novelty, but this too has been under attack for over 50 years now resulting in confusion as well as outright sacrilege in some instances.  

So, what is there to do for Frank and Bill and for ourselves, for that matter?   For Frank and Bill, if they show any good will at all, they must be evangelized in order that they might have the opportunity to amend their lives and the lives that have been entrusted to them and lead them down the narrow road that leads to the Kingdom of God.   For practicing Catholics, it is our job to continue to make waves; upset the applecart and evangelize the “Franks” and “Bills” of this world.   This one spiritual work of mercy can cover a multitude of sins and help save our own souls.

E. De Lalla.

  

  

  

 

   

Praying for our enemies...

Praying for our enemies.

For those who have family members in the military, or have served in the military in a war or combat zone, it would be easy to hate the enemy on the other side of the wire (perimeter).  

When I was on the inside of the wire, I knew that I had to stop whatever enemy attempt was made to gain entry to the air base I was assigned to protect.  If that meant killing the enemy, then that’s what I had to do. 

But did I hate the enemy?

I hated what he was doing and what he did.    I feared him and what he might do to me and my brothers, but how could I hate an individual without knowing him?

In battle, the series of events gets confused.  But the initial action is to neutralize the enemy, then, after the “smoke clears,” patch up the good guys as well as the bad guys.   Just as the bloodied, beaten man lay on the side of the road until the “enemy” – the Samaritan – came along and tended to his wounds and provided shelter until he was well.   If the wounded man was not of the true faith at the time, did the actions of the Samaritan, lead to his conversion?  

The Samaritan loved and prayed for his enemy, even though those like the wounded man hated the outsiders, those very same Samaritans. 

In 2008, an article was posted on the St. Benedict Center website entitled: The Seven Words, by Brian Kelly.

In that article, Mr. Kelly lists and explains the seven last utterances of Our Blessed Lord as He hung in His terrible agony on the Cross.   The first of those utterances, as recorded in the Gospels, pertains directly to the title of my short essay: Praying for our enemies.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  (St. Luke 23:34.)

But Our Lord expressed another “six words,” including: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  (St. Matthew 27:46, also St. Mark 15:34.)

In His human nature, Jesus is suffering physical – and spiritual – pain that can only be imagined (or can it?).   And because of the almost unbearable distress, He exclaims in desperation of being forsaken by God, His Father.

Divinely speaking though, we know that did not happen.

When we feel that we have been wronged by our enemy, do we not also feel that we have been forsaken, and ask: why is this happening to me?   What did I do that caused someone to attack my character or reputation, and, in the extreme case, my physical well-being?  

There are no easy answers.   But we do know that evil is mysterious.

I think it would be safe to say that we all have, at one time or another, been exposed to evil and praying for those who perpetrate evil upon us is one of the most difficult commands that Our Lord gave to us.   This is where the rubber hits the road, so to speak, when it comes to living our faith.  

One of the greatest examples of forgiving our enemies, in addition to that of Our Lord forgiving His enemies from the Cross, is that of one of my favorite Saint-martyrs St. Stephen the proto-martyr of the Church (Feast Day, December 26). 

As Acts 7:58-59 tells us, as he was being stoned by the Jews for professing the Faith of Christ, he said: “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”  (St. Augustine on Prayer, March 26, 2012, Brother Andre` Marie.)

Our Lord also tells us that there is no greater love for a man to lay down his life for his friend.

But what of a man’s enemy?

Who would be willing to lay down one’s life for an enemy if doing so would lead to that person’s conversion?      

Perhaps the way one dies would affect the one inflicting the heinous act upon us as some of those who tortured the Catholic faithful in the early centuries of the Church were converted by their martyrdom.  

And would such a sacrifice cover a multitude of sins for the last and ultimate act of that person on earth?  

Praying for one’s enemy is loving one’s enemy.

Our Lord tells us to not to hate our enemies, but to love them!   This is another big time test of our faith.  His command directly contradicts our fallen human nature to exact an eye for an eye.   But we are under the authority of the new covenant, not the old.

Our country and most of the Western nations are currently experiencing a moral morass that seems to be favoring the unnatural; the ungodly at the expense of those attempting to live a Christ-centered, Catholic life.  We are indeed surrounded by the enemies of the Faith both without and within the Church. 

Though it would be easy to become cynical and despair, all is not lost, as Our Lord overcame the world, the flesh, the devil – and death – through His bloody redemptive sacrifice.

But we have not been orphaned! 

As St. Peter and the Apostles were locked behind closed doors in the upper room for fear of the Jews, the Holy Ghost descended – as Our Lord promised – to invigorate and strengthen them to the point of martyrdom.   We too have His very flesh and blood, in the Holy Eucharist, to strengthen us to face whatever obstacles and roadblocks that may hinder us from finishing the race and winning the eternal prize (St. Paul).

In addition, He sent His most Blessed Mother to give us another weapon – the Rosary. 

This powerful, little weapon of choice is easy to reload by repeating the holy names of Jesus and Mary and begging for that final perseverance at the hour of our death.

If a physical martyrdom does come to the elect, may we be able to utter those last words of forgiveness and mercy for our enemies as St. Stephen did, so eloquently and so desperately, with his last breath.    

E. DeLalla

O Mary conceived without sin

Article for Mancipia.

“Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

No other human on earth hears my little prayer, one that is quickly followed-up with the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.

I articulate these two, little, but powerful prayers in the late evenings while performing maintenance chores in my commercial cleaning business.   (I’m now retired!!)

I do have an ulterior motive for repeating the prayer to our Blessed Mother: the protection of our son, James, now serving in the Marine Corps, and to St. Michael the Archangel that he, and his brothers, might never be sent to an unjust war or combat zone.  I also petition St. Michael to protect James from all moral, physical, or spiritual harm.  (James has since been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps.)

I also keep a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Miraculous Medal in my storage room.  The apparition of the most lovely and gracious “Lady of Guadalupe,” first appeared to the humble Aztec Indian, the now St. Juan Diego in 1531.

In the years that followed, it is estimated that over eleven million South Americans were converted to the Catholic Faith, a counter to the millions of Europeans that left the Faith and embraced Protestantism, whether by choice or coercion.  

In these days of uncertainty for our country – as well as for many other western countries, I know of no more powerful an Intercessor than the Mother of Our Lord.

The always-believed doctrine that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mother of both God and Man, and that Our Lord had both a Divine and Human nature, but is one Divine Person, had to be etched in stone at the third ecumenical Council at Ephesus in 431 A.D., under the authority of Pope St. Celestine.

The Council was called in response to the Bishop of Constantinople, Nestorius, claiming – and proclaiming – that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mother of Christ, but not God!   He further claimed that there were two persons in Christ, both human and divine. (St. Leo the Great: No Fear, No Compromise, the Lion in the Chair, February, 2008, by Brian Kelly, Catholicism.org.)

“The Council gave its verdict and excommunicated and anathematized Nestorius. The sentence received 198 signatures, and some more were afterwards added. A brief notification addressed to ‘the new Judas’ was sent to Nestorius. The Coptic Acts tell us that, as he would not receive it, it was affixed to his door. The whole business had been concluded in a single long session, and it was evening when the result was known. The people of Ephesus, full of rejoicing, escorted the fathers to their houses with torches and incense.”  (Catholic Encyclopedia; Council of Ephesus.)

As young children, we instinctively ran to our mothers for comfort and succor when we scraped our knee, or felt threatened in some way.

As adults, we may feel threatened in other ways, especially surrounded as we are by those who would diminish or downright eradicate Christianity in general, and Catholicism in particular.

And we, who have recourse to our Mother, should run at breakneck speed to the Queen of Heaven and Earth, for the succor that only She can give.

A man would come away stronger; a woman more womanly, and both better able to faithfully fulfill their particular state in life.  Devotion and confidence shown to Our Lady, not only increases her glory in Heaven, but also sheds rays of grace to those who petition God’s Mother.  And what is one of the most popular ways we can do this?  With the powerful weapon of the Rosary, first given to St. Dominic, -- as related by Bl. Alan de la Roche – we can defend ourselves against the devil and his minions, especially when temptations disturb our peace of mind and soul.

There have been conversions of some of the most hardened of hearts through the recitation of the most Holy Rosary.  

And, as the great feast of the Assumption approaches, here is the post-communion prayer from the Vigil of the Assumption: Grant Thine assistance, O merciful God, to our frailty, that we, who anticipate the festival of God’s holy Mother, may, by the aid of her intercession, rise from our iniquity. 

The Gospel of St. Luke on the feast of the Assumption relates Our Lady’s great Magnificat: My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior; because He hast regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His name, and His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.    

In the same Gospel, St. Luke continues to relate Our Lady’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, who was then with child -- the future St. John the Baptist.

It is quite telling what occurred as the soon to be Blessed Mother entered the household of her cousin: Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?   For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.  And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

We have here the beginnings of the great “Hail Mary,” as well as the sanctification of St. John the Baptist in the womb of his mother.   In addition, we also have a great apologetic for the cause of the pre-born! 

As my now deceased aunt, Sr. Angela Spinelli, of the Religious Teachers Filippini for nearly fifty-eight years, always told me that she prayed for me – to our Blessed Lady -- in a “special way.”  

She knew what she was doing, as I returned to the Faith in the early 1990s after being the Prodigal son for so many years.

Our Lady, help of Christians, pray for us.

E. DeLalla

9-11 Conspiracy coverup 10 4 15

In a documentary (2011) on the 9/11 affair, the supporters of the government’s official report attempted to show the inconsistencies of those “truthers” and others demanding another investigation of what really caused the twin towers – and building seven – to collapse at nearly free-fall speed.

In the documentary, there were two glaring examples of missing information and inconsistencies that became obvious: the first – and most important? – is that the twin towers were designed to survive multiple jet hits. 

This, according to the designer of the buildings.  And, second: the documentary didn’t even mention the destruction of WTC7.  A forty-seven story skyscraper.

In fact, building seven wasn’t even mentioned in the official NIST report until 2008! 

A forty-seven story building is taller than most buildings in many American cities, and yet it wasn’t mentioned in the documentary.  Why? 

Anyone who watched building seven collapse could see that it was, in fact, an example of a perfect demolition.  It too, fell at free-fall speed.  And yet the government says that fire caused it to fall. 

No skyscraper has ever fallen due to fire.  Not in this country, nor in any other country on earth. 

Were the “attacks” on 9/11 another “Pearl Harbor” that ushered in legislation that further reduced or eliminated many of our liberties in order to be more secure? 

Ben Franklin said that those who sacrifice liberty for security, will have neither. 

Who, then, are the real conspirators?  

Eugene DeLalla

Hate and malice 8 18 17

Hate, malice, double standards, hypocrisy, death threats, lies, fake news; the list is endless when it comes to Americans attempting to exercise their First Amendment rights that are guaranteed under the Constitution – which itself is now under constant attack.

And what is worse, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, is the recipient of outright threats to his life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness guaranteed under the Declaration of Independence.

What is going on here? 

Let me answer my own question: Mr. Trump is a Republican.  Just think if someone had called for the assassination of Obama.  All political and legal hell would have broken loose.

Anyone who threatens the life of the President has committed a federal crime and, at the very least, must be arrested and interrogated.  But they are not.

The president makes a statement, but the media contradicts what he said, or claim he didn’t say what he said.

Violence is condemned by the Left, but only when the Right is allegedly involved.  But the Left rarely if ever condemns violence committed by those on the Left.  E.g.; the so-called “anti-fascist” Antifa anarchists, who ironically use fascist tactics themselves to suppress the free-speech rights of those that disagree. 

That is just one hellish example; there are many, many others.

I was a kid when Truman was president; I have never seen anything like what is happening in our country these days. 

For a peace-loving veteran, this is disconcerting, to say the least. In fact, it is downright frightening. 

I wonder where all this will lead… Civil unrest?  We already see that daily.  Civil war?  That could be just around the corner. 

Did you get that? 

Can civil war really happen in our lifetime?  If it does, will it lead to martial law?  Is that the intended end here? 

We have not experienced these dreaded scenarios in our lifetimes, but only read about them in other countries.  If such happened here, our lives will be forever changed; nothing will be the same again.  Fear will reign; uncertainly will be engrained in our psyche.  Plans for the future will be dashed to smithereens.  The First and Second Amendments will go by the wayside.  The Constitution will be dead on arrival. 

I ask again: can this really happen here?

Eugene R. DeLalla