24th June 2021
The Birth of St. John the Baptist
Happy Feast day to everyone!
So, as you know, my last platform wasn't working out for me. I had written a piece on the rumours concerning changes to Summorum Pontificum but somehow it got deleted.
I have to see God's Hand in everything.
Today I want to express those thoughts again but differently.
You may remember that I mentioned in a previous post that I watched an 8 part Spanish series on the life of St Teresa of Avila dating back to 1984 or thereabouts.
It has made a huge impact on me, helping me see not only the state of the Church but my own life in deeper clarity.
A number of things struck me whilst watching that series. First was Teresa's absolute commitment to personal prayer, especially mental prayer. Her daily personal encounter with the Lord was at the centre of everything she did and she made every possible sacrifice to keep that commitment.
It is 100% clear that all her work for the Church and the reform of the Carmelites would have fallen flat without it. It is from that source of grace that she drew all the strength needed to carry out her undertakings.
I have no doubt that we all agree that the Church is in dire need of genuine reform. That reform must start with each one of us, personally. Reform must start personally, with me. The most important aspect of that is our fight with sin and our battle to grow in Grace and Virtue. Without prayer, penance and the Sacraments it simply cannot be done.
The second aspect that made an impact on me were the similarities between St Teresa and the Trad movement today. I think especially of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. How? Many in the Hierarchy at the time bitterly opposed Teresa's reforms. Many of her own nuns were quite vicious in their opposition.
It brings to mind Our Lord's words "a man's enemies shall be they of his own household." Matthew 10:36
We often think of that as meaning family members (parents, siblings etc) and that is true in many circumstances. There are numerous Catholics who will tell you of the bitter opposition they face in their family just because they practise the Faith. I have experienced it myself, ranging from mockery to placing of obstacles in the way of my Faith.
I have often told my relatives "Those that do not pray will always persecute those that do."
I think Our Lord's words also apply to the household of the Church. Our brothers and sisters in the Faith try every which way to stand in our path. They did it to Teresa. They are doing it to us.
I have said this before. Trads are not Toxic (although there are individuals who may be). Trads are embattled and persecuted. I think it's is going to get worse.
It's a slow white martyrdom. The type where you frequently get your head bitten off by an angry relative rather than chopped off by an angry terrorist.
Of course, blood martyrdom is happening increasingly around the world. Many of our brethren in the Faith are laying down their lives for Christ and His Church.
So why do our fellow Catholics treat us so? Why is it going to get worse? The reason is that Traditional Catholicism, if lived truly and fully, is an affront to the way they live.
Whilst not wanting to judge anyone's heart, look at how Modernists live. Do you see them as truly penitential? Do you see them as suffering for Christ and His Church? Do they strike you as models of prayer, sanctity and self denial? Or are they just a bit too comfortable?
I won't hold back. Look at the Church in Germany. They are drowning in money. Millions and millions of Euros and yet the pews grow emptier each month.
Comfortable Catholicism just doesn't cut the mustard. It is tantamount to saying to Olympians not to bother training because everyone will get a Gold medal, even if they don't take part.
We all know, deep down inside, that if it doesn't involve effort, struggle and sacrifice then it's worth zilch.
The Trad world has witnessed a steady growth over the years since Summorum Pontificum. Indeed, over the past year, since the Covid chaos, many TLM Communities have reported up to a 300% increase in their congregation size (as well as in collections for which the Hierarchy won't be happy).
Genuine reform actually means becoming more faithful to the Faith. It means become more prayerful, more demanding, more penitential and yes, more "rigid" (read stronger).
So how do we face this? One is with prayer. That is obvious. The other is with peace and trust. God really does know what He is doing. He could just appear to our persecutors and say "Stop!"
He hasn't. He seems to have another plan. He wants us to co-operate and trust. He wants us to live the Faith fully. We are to keep our eyes on the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
If the rumoured suppression comes about, plough on. Ignore any unjust declarations no matter who pronounces them. If you have to move to another Church for the Mass, go.
Remember that the TLM (and therefore the Faith that goes with it) was no abrogated. Benedict XVI reminded us that what was holy for our forefathers cannot now be evil or forbidden (words to that effect). If it was good enough for the previous 2000 years it is good enough for us. If it was ok back in 2007, when Summorum Pontificum was published, it can't suddenly become bad 14 years later.
Plough on. Resist respectfully and one day this will all be just a bad memory.
Please pray for priests, especially Diocesan priests who will most likely be the main target of any unjust attempt at suppression.
I have a particular priest friend in mind who is currently discerning his future with his diocese. He is deeply in love with the TLM.
Please spare him an Ave.
Frugal Tips
1) Christmas tips
It is 6 months until Christmas. I have started putting some money aside for presents.
Also you can buy your Christmas meats now and freeze them. Many shops push up their prices on meat in November and December. Most meats will store well in the deep freeze for between 6 and 12 months.
Now is also a good time to make home made liqueurs. Here the plums are ripening. It is a great opportunity to make Plum liqueur. After six months of maturing it tastes beautiful. Believe me, it goes down well after Christmas dinner!
Recipe that makes 2 Mason Jars:
If you have a kilo of plums
One litre of Gin.
500grams of sugar
Stick of cinnamon
Wash and split the plums, removing the stones. Pour into sterilized Mason jars together with the other ingredients.
Shake vigorously each day for 14 days until the sugar has dissolved. Store in a cool, dark cupboard.
A few days before Christmas, strain and bottle.
2) If you have chickens and an excess of eggs you can preserve them. Hard boil them, let them cool and peel them. Put them in a Mason jar and cover with vinegar.
3) If you have a glut of home grown fruit or veg you can freeze these or can them. Look up YouTube videos on canning.
4) Here in Portugal it hardly rains between June and November so people dig a "bowl" in the soil around their vegetable plants. This means that water doesn't run off when you water them and the water heads straight to the roots.
5) Remember the frugal mantra: Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.
God bless
