Author: Sal

I’ve learned another valuable lesson

I’ve learned another valuable lesson this week

It is: don’t ask the newly-ordained Baptist minister at work any questions about politics, religion, or anything else for that matter. I saw he was reading “Revelation Unveiled” by Tim Lahaye of the “Left Behind” series fortune and fame. (No linked provided for Lahaye’s book because I don’t think Catholics should be reading it.)

“What do you think of that book?” I asked. Forty-five minutes later my guardian angel tapped me on the shoulder to tell me my lunch break was over and I’d better get back to work before I committed any more sins against charity. He didn’t look happy.

The Reverend had assailed me with a heaping pile of garbage about the “Book of Revelations,” the end-times, the Rapture. “There is going to be a great chastisement during which time all non-believers will be chaste. But I’m not worried, I don’t plan to be here for the tribulation,” he said.

“You believe in dispensationalism?” I asked.

“No, what I am saying is that Christ is going to come back, all the believers are going to be caught up with him, and then everyone who is left behind is going to be tribulated.”

Tribulated. If I had laughed out loud it would have knocked over all our modular office furniture. I think my lip quivered for a second. Reverend might have noticed.

As that singularly hilarious moment passed he spoke about how he believes the Holy Spirit is going to leave the Earth during the tribulation but there will still be an opportunity for salvation if those left behind accept Christ.

“What about what Jesus said, ‘I am with you always, until the end of the age.’?” I asked.

“Well see that’s only for the believers.” he replied.

“The ones who won’t be tribulated?”

“Yeah, them.”

Yow. Don’t just pray for our preachers, pray for other Christian preachers as well.

Feast of our Lady of

Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe homily

I actually heard a priest say if you ever want to get into a fight with a Mexican you can make fun of his mother, his sister, or Our Lady of Gualdalupe.

My last word on the

My last word on the Fugitive unless something good happens

I sincerely appreciate all the comments we’ve received in the past few days over this issue with the Fugitive. I appreciate most of all your prayers for her because I know she needs them. I can’t thank you enough. Please keep them coming, she needs them. Fr. James Poumade was kind enough to offer his perspective via Eric. Father, you have a standing invitation to join the Catholic Light team any time you wish. You presence would not only be welcomed, it would be an objective ontological improvement to our content. We might even be able to block access from the Chancery in Arlington if that would help!

After thinking quite a bit about this I realized that in telling her not to receive Communion I had two principal motivators: first, I didn’t want to do anything, by action or inaction, that would dishonor our Lord. Second, I didn’t want her to do anything that would be bad for her soul. I thought about how to advise her not to receive Communion when she mentioned her desire to go to Mass a few days earlier, and I honestly believed she would accept my words because of the trust we shared. In saying what I did I stepped on a emotional landmine. It has cost us our friendship, which I deeply regret, and it might cost even more. She may never set foot in a Catholic church again. Perhaps she might do so after this has incident has receded from her memory. I can’t say. She may remember and be drawn to the peace she spoke of when she was quiet before the Blessed Sacrament. She has told me that she went to the chapel of a church near her home rather regularly and found solace there. “It’s because God is there,” I said. “In body, blood, soul, and divinity.” I remember her nodding as if she was accepting that but didn’t fully understand it. She told me she wanted to go to Mass because she was looking for answers. I should have said, “You’ll find the answer there.” The answer, as Peter Kreeft has said in his book Making Sense out of Suffering is not an statement, but a person. The person of Jesus Christ is the answer to our brokeness, our restlessness, our suffering, our pain, our anxiety, and our sin. Why does God let bad things happen to good people? He let it all happen to Himself to show us He is the answer, to show us how deep His love is for us, and to show us the way home.

I thought she might be able to understand that in a small way if she just went to one Mass. I could have given her directions to the Church, let her go, and discussed it with her afterwards. I decided to go with her, to bring a missal so that she could read the prayers, and to support her. It didn’t happen the way I hoped it would. In fact, it has been an absolute disaster. I have lost a friend I valued very much. I think if everyone in the world knew her this would be a better place. She really is that special. If you could see her smile or hear her laugh you would understand. There is tremendous joy in her and so much pain, so much yearning for God. I really thought she might have been slowly turning a corner. Perhaps when this is all behind us she will. Perhaps all this pain is causing it. I don’t know. But I do trust in God who santicfies our suffering even when we don’t know the purpose of it or why we are enduring it.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.