Translating a World on the Edge

One of the reasons this is even a question in America is that over the last three decades our education system has failed to teach the abominations of Socialism and Communism; in other words TRUE history. Please watch–especially if you are one of those who were fooled.

In the past some admirable politicians intended that their life’s work be their monument, but in this age of power hungry fame junkies far too many politicians make it all about the monument, and not about the work. Too many politicians, especially on the hard left, are examples of self-idolatry. Too many power-hungry politicians put themselves above us. Too many corrupt politicians seek to make their undignified, and even criminal, lifestyles seem the norm, not the abnormal. Where are the admirable words that ought to apply to our leaders, such as honest, noble, trustworthy, and selfless? Those words have nearly disappeared, and instead WE are supposed to settle for those who somehow propel themselves to fame through outrageous and plainly stupid platforms that do not help, but harm Americans.

Self idolatry stems from the weaknesses within all human beings. Catholics call them the seven deadly sins: Pride, Greed, Envy, Lust, Anger, Sloth, and Gluttony.

Each of the seven deadly sins is a form of Idolatry-of-Self. We all know people who may be in danger of destroying their own lives in selfish ways through one or more of them. And they are the way of the today’s world. Just look around. But it is the politicians WE vote for that hold a huge part of OUR individual lives in their prideful, greedy, envious, lustful, angry, lazy, and gluttonous hands. Where are the GREAT leaders?

Well. . . we do have a few.

Just as we–and the politicians–have the capability of sin, we also have the capability of virtue. The seven virtues are: Faith, Hope, Love, Prudence, Temperance, Courage, and Justice.

Are these virtues the way of our world today? Good news; many times they are, because whenever there is great evil, virtuous people will fight. Sadly, the reverse is also true. If a person is known to have virtue, there is usually someone to tear him/her down–even to crucify him.

President Trump is admittedly not a saint, but he is a great leader who is concerned more with the United States of America than with himself. Does he have an ego? Who doesn’t? Yet, he also shows an example of the seven virtues. He has faith in America and her people. He has hope for the future of Americans. He has love for God, his family, and the American people. He has an unusual amount of prudence and temperance. He is courageous, and I believe he is just. But because he is all this, there are plenty who want to crucify him for it. And of course, they do attempt to crucify him daily, as well as those who promote his message.

The Democrat slogan–we are stronger together– sounds good, but it is hypocritical, for they have only succeeded in dividing us. They have pitted races against each other, religions against each other, male and female against each other, parents against children, and now, they are attempting to push America into Socialism. Just take a look at what Socialism is.  Check it out: https://thefederalistpapers.org/us/capitalism-vs-socialism-brilliantly-explained-for-dummies

This is NOT the sign of leadership. They are not the party representation America needs, or wants.

If you are thinking of voting for what the Democrat party presently advocates, then watch this eye-opener!

Everyone wants to be Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day. But did you know Saint Patrick was a slave? Here’s the story from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.

As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.

During his captivity, he turned to  God in prayer. He wrote

“The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same.” “I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”

Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave  Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.”

He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick’s message.

Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Why a shamrock on Saint Patrick’s day?

Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God can be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

I don’t have….

I wish I had……

If only he/she would…

I am sick—why me?

I lost a child…..

My marriage is not like theirs…

Why did he/she have to die?

Smile? I have nothing to smile about!

Most of us can identify with unhappy, bitter thoughts–with lots of I’s and me’s. How do we make those bitter thoughts become better thoughts? How do we capture happiness for ourselves?

These four levels of happiness came from one of the Catholic Forums. I apologize for not remembering which one. But they are very telling.

The first is, “Getting what I want when I want it:” Instant gratification is the lowest form of happiness. A new car, a new pair of shoes, a filet mignon, sex, are all things which give us instant gratification. This is very self-centered happiness, and short lived.

“Praise for what I have done.” Personal achievement is a higher form of happiness than gratification of our desires. Getting compliments for our behavior or for things we have done, the plaque on the wall and the award at the national meeting, mother of the year award, etc., but they are still fleeting, and can be self centered, though we do start to reach out beyond the ME to touch others.

“Helping someone else.” Doing things to help others provides a higher level of happiness than personal achievement, but if it is not united to Christ, it sometimes feeds our pride. Philanthropy does draw us out of ourselves, away from our own carnal desires, to touch other people’s lives, and so it provides a higher level of happiness than the previous two.

But real happiness comes from this:

“Unification with God who made us and seeks us. ” The closer we unite ourselves to Our Lord, the happier we will be on earth. Just ask someone who has surrendered their life to God.

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.–St. Augustine