Humility and Pride.

Humility and Pride.

Humility.  Being humble does not necessarily equal holiness, but is the first step in attaining holiness.

Pride.  Is a major step in the opposite direction of holiness.  It is, in fact, one of the deadly sins.

Remember in the Gospel: two men enter the Temple; one, a Pharisee, spouts his tithes, prayers, and thanks God he is not like the other man, a Publican (tax collector and sinner).  The Publican doesn't even dare raise up his eyes to look at the altar, the center of worship in the Temple, but stays afar off in the back, and strikes his breast saying: be merciful to me a sinner!

It is clear, or it should be, who went home justified.  In fact, we are told this by Christ: the Publican!

So, it is easy to see how being humble -- submitting oneself to authority, and the ultimate Authority, God, can open up the soul to the graces needed to get through this life and its trials and tribulations, and reach our final, eternal destination.

Now we can take a look at Pride; some good and some bad aspects of same.

In the good sense, one can say: I take pride in my work.  Or, I am proud of the accomplishments of my son or daughter; I am proud of my wife, she is absolutely the heart of our family.  Or, I am proud of my country (not necessarily of the government!).  I am proud of my military service, etc.

But Pride can also separate us from God.

How does this happen?

Simply, by not submitting ourselves to His authority, or rebelling against all that has been revealed through His Church; through the Magisterium (the teaching arm of the Church).

One does not have to be a Catholic to recognize the dangers of Pride.  On a natural level, we can see how it can cause major problems in our lives by over-emphasizing our self-worth over others; our neighbors.

Pride: I will not serve (Him)!
Humility: I want to know, love, and serve (Him)!

Pray for discernment to recognize both, and the common sense to choose what is right.

Gene DeLalla

Those who have abandoned the Faith, accuse the faithful of what, THEY, themselves have done...

It's a simple formula: accuse others of what "you" have done.

Those in the hard-left media, accuse pro-life, pro-family, pro-2nd Amendment, veterans, etc., of what the they, themselves have done.

These self-deceiving folks also accuse "us" of hate, or stifling someone else's lifestyle choices.

I contend that the main reason for this schema, whether they know it or not, is that the admonishment of those that have strayed off course, have had their guilty consciences tweaked.  And no one likes to have their choices questioned, even if those choices are destructive in nature.

Again, the conscience is a "funny" thing: sometimes we absolutely hate it, because we know what we have done is dead wrong.

This is especially true of fallen-away Catholics.

Even if one abandons the Faith, there is always some residue entrenched in the deep, dark recesses of our intellect.  It won't let go.  I speak from experience on this.  And this sometimes-tiny residue (grace?) can, eventually lead one back to the fold.  But it doesn't always happen.  Sadly, many times it doesn't happen, and souls are lost.

If someone is in such a situation, don't give up, or, should I say, don't give in further to the enemy, you will only get weaker.  Again, I speak from experience.

Always pray for proper discernment, and pray for our country.

Gene DeLalla

Free-will and our choices...

Free-will is an amazing attribute of our humanity!

Just think, we can use our free-will to make the choices we want; this gives us the freedom to live the way we want, with no one telling us what to do, or when to do it.  It's all up to us.  

I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me, right?

A big WRONG!

First of all, the good God that made us -- which includes our free-will -- expects us to use our free-will for the good, and to follow His dictates; His laws, including the ever-present Natural Law.

If we use our free-will to "free" ourselves from Him, then that's when we invert authority and become our own little gods.  This can negate any graces He granted us in the first place to live lives pleasing to Him.

This can lead to absolute chaos, not only in our personal lives, but also this attitude can easily overlap into our relationships with our children, neighbors, or strangers for that matter.

This new-found "freedom" is a deception. It is, rather, imposed slavery.  It separates us from the path, that narrow road, that leads to our final destiny.

If we embrace this false dichotomy for ourselves, that's one thing, but that act, by its very nature, can have deleterious effects on any children in the household.  They will absorb what they see and hear; they will be affected, and, I contend, for the negative, with the very good possibility of leading them astray, possibly forever.

This is called scandal.  And those perpetrating such scandal of the little ones entrusted to their charge, will be held accountable, whether one believes that or not, it's true.

But it's not too late to return to the fold so long as one is breathing air.

Pray for discernment and clarity.  Pray, too, for our country.

Gene DeLalla

Catholics living on the edge... and falling......

Is modernism a relatively new phenomenon, say, about 50 or 60 years old?

If you think that, think again.

It was St. Anthony of the desert, in the 4th century, who indicated that some in the (Catholic) Church, said that She must be brought up to the "spirit of the age."

The 4th century (the 300's)!

Let's step forward to the present time...

In my opinion, far too many Catholics have fallen for the "spirit of the age."   Much of this anti-Traditional attitude stems from weakness among the human element of the Church, add to that, the disastrous Second Vatican Council.  

So, what do we have today?

Many Catholics have abandoned sacred Tradition as handed down from the Apostles, and codified in the Magisterium of the Church.  Included in the Magisterium, are the perennial teachings of the Church over the last 2,000 years.

If a person describes himself/herself as a Catholic, there are certain prerequisites that must be met in order to validate that assertion.  We are not Protestants, therefore, we are, by Faith, different from our separated brethren.  That means that we Catholics have to accept certain teachings that "rub" us the wrong way, or we consider too difficult to attain.  (One of the tenets that the Church teaches -- and is reflected in Biblical exegesis -- is that God will provide the graces necessary to live according to what is required.  St. Paul tells us that we will not be tempted beyond our ability to resist -- looking from a negative perspective)).

One of the major contentions these days, among female Catholics, especially married female Catholics, is that it is up to them (and their husbands?) when and how many children they will bring into the world.

It is not up to them; never has been, never will be, no matter what modernist prelate says to "let your conscience by your guide."  This is a false teaching, and directly contradicts God's admonishment to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth.  Not just increase the population, but to SUBDUE the earth.  Only He knows the reason for that command, and it is a command!

In 1968, Pope Paul VI, issued Hamanae Vitae.  This papal encyclical condemned the use of "the pill," as well as other means of contraception.

It was too late.

Far too many Catholic women were so immersed in the new-age culture, that most completely disregarded this binding teaching.

The key word here is: binding.

Sadly, many priests and bishops in America ignored Rome to such a point, that there was, for all practical purposes, a silent schism.

Take this one step further; what if "the pill" failed?  What happens next?

Must I spell it out?

So, as you can see, far too many Catholics are living on the edge, if they are living the Faith at all.

Pray for conversion, and pray for our country for an end to the killing of the pre-born.

Gene DeLalla

You don't own me!

The year was 1963... I was in high school.

Later that year, Nov. 22, to be exact, our first and only Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated while his motorcade was traversing the streets of downtown Dallas, Tx.

Whether there was one shooter, or multiple shooters as well as a conspiracy of the deep-state governmental infrastructure, is not known for sure.  Personally, I do believe the multiple shooter, conspiracy analysis, but that is a topic of discussion for another day...

Also in 1963, the U.S. was right smack in the middle of the "rock and roll" era, with many "girl groups," as well as many single girl singers.

One of those singers was Leslie Gore.

1963 was a big year for the 17-year-old, and going forward into the mid-60s, she had hit after hit.  Sadly, she is no longer with us, dying at a relatively young age.

"You don't own me," was perhaps, one of her biggest hits.

I'd like to comment on some of the words of that song, as it already shows the influence of the feminist movement infiltrating the younger generation of that time frame.  Also, keep in mind that the Second Vatican Council was in full swing, and for all practical purposes, had been taken over by the "progressives," planting those little "time bombs" that would eventually begin the downfall of Tradition, to put it mildly.  But that too, is a discussion for another day...

Back to Leslie...

Here are some of the words to that song; I'll make comments as we go along...

You don't own me

Comment: correct.  Single people are usually pretty independent.  However, if they marry, then they are no longer independent, but DEpendent -- on each other.  As it states in the Bible: the man leaves his mother and father and cleaves to his wife, and the two become one flesh... 

I'm not just one of your many toys

Comment: I can go along with that.  We men should never look upon a woman as an object of sexual satisfaction, in other words, we should not, cannot, lust.  After all, in the married state, we are complimentary to each other.  Men should always raise the woman to that lofty pedestal; to honor, protect and defend.   

And don't tell me what to do

And don't tell me what to say

Comment: in today's world, especially here in the U.S., is it still wise to hold a door open for a woman, without being accused of some type of "harassment"?   By the way, I would never tell a woman what to say or do unless what she said was blasphemous or sinful in some way, then it would be my duty to admonish her. 

Don't try to change me in any way

Comment: I would never do that, but if one is violating the Natural Law (an extension of Divine Law), or is a grave, public sinner, then, again, it is my duty to admonish her.

Don't tie me down
'Cause I'll never stay

Comment: I guess some just aren't made for the married state.  If that's the case, then perhaps the woman (or the man) should consider remaining in the single state.  But if one does marry, she is subject to her husband in all things, but sin.  And the husband must love his wife! 

I'm young and I love to be young

I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way that I want
To say and do whatever I please

Comment: this sure sums up the current attitude in the world today, especially in the "developed nations" doesn't it?  But those words conjure up a false notion.  No one can do and say whatever they want, or to live their life the way they want if it contradicts the Natural Law and God's Law.  After all, we are made in the image and likeness of God.  Our bodies are to be the temples of the Holy Ghost.  No one has the "right" to mutilate their  body, or to ingest drugs that contaminate the wonderful creation of the human person.  But even worse, to use another drug, for the purpose of contraception, or to terminate a developing baby in the womb through abortion.

Sadly, Leslie Gore died in 2015 of lung cancer.  She was 68 years old.  

Pray for her soul, as she was a lesbian since the age of 20...

Gene DeLalla

Want to avoid REAL global warming?

To all those Russia haters, keep it up and you'll have REAL global warming -- via NUCLEAR WAR!  Is that what you knuckleheads want?  Isn't that what this "Russia collusion" and Russia hate is all about?  Isn't that what you mean when you say that Trump -- and everyone that disagrees with your stupid mantra -- is a Russian agent?

Wake and smell the coffee, lest you convince all the other neo-con war-mongers to push that button and turn those keys, and end life on earth as we know it.  Where, in short order, the living will envy the dead.  Is that what you want?

That, my thickheaded friends, would be real GLOBAL WARMING.

I urge you to pray -- for rationality!  And pray for our country.

Gene DeLalla  

Is the handwriting on the wall so obvious that we can't see it?

Just what the heck is going on?

Every single day we see and hear some of the most depraved, demonic actions of lost souls, killing not only their chance to attain the beatific vision, but also hell-bent on dragging many others along with them to the eternally darkened pit, forever.

What is this clamoring for "rights," when at the same time, depriving others of those same rights?

Why is it that we rarely hear of the other word that should always accompany rights: responsibility?

Perhaps this is why folks think that they will not be held accountable because they lack the ability to accept the responsibility of those actions, or are ignorant of the consequences of their actions.

But they are mistaken: ignorance is no excuse.  If ignorance is no excuse in civil law, then how much more will ignorance of things divine lead to condemnation?

They -- and all of us -- will answer for our words and actions, or lack thereof.  In other words, if we fail to act as we are supposed to act, or say what should be said, especially to assist others (our neighbors) on their journey, then those "acts" of omission can be just as grievous as intrinsically evil acts!

This is where good will comes into play...

Those of good will, who make mistakes, as we all do, can find the road back, but those of bad will have a tendency to continue those sometimes serious errors of judgment.  It's like a snowball rolling down hill, getting bigger and bigger, until it reaches avalanche proportions.  At that point, it is difficult to turn back and amend one's life.  Sadly, many die in their sins, and are lost.  And, no, not all are saved.

Pray for discernment of what is just, and pray for our country.

Gene DeLalla