I know two prominent bloggers who have blogged for years,
who have stopped. I have some friends who are no longer “on twitter”. I have
two other friends who no longer read blogs or comment.
These good people are heeding the call to reflection and
silence. We all know that being on the social networks on the computer can be
addictive. One must choose to be detached, unless one has a job which is
necessary for information, like journalism or teaching.
The call to more silence demands turning off the radio, TV,
and avoiding mindless talk. On this blog, there are so many posts on silence,
which you could read those happily for a long time.
And, the featured saints on this blog, such as the Doctors
of the Church and the mystics, guide us to reflection.
I remind all of the great difference between meditation,
which is Scripture based and contemplation, of which there are two kinds;
active and passive.
Active contemplation forms part of the beginners’ routes to
holiness. Passive contemplation is a gift for the proficient. Again, all these
definitions and guides are found in the perfection series.
I am still in the state of surprise, even shock, concerning
the majority of American Catholics who never reflect, never read Scripture
daily, and have no knowledge of the Divine Office. Why Catholics ignore all the
gifts found in the Church’s Tradition of prayer and guidance is a mystery. In
this area, which I am about to leave, Catholics prefer heretical New Age
methods such as “centering prayer”, “yoga” and “maze walks”. These people will
never find God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, nor will they
become perfect.
How sad, for those who stand in the fertile ground of the
life of prayer of the saints in the Catholic Church, to seek things which are
beneath and even demonic.
Pray for those who deceive themselves and lose discernment.
Stick with those who have gone before us, and who are in
heaven and ignore those who can only lead to hell.
I could not post on Monday in the afternoon as this area was
hit by severe weather and I could not get out. Last night, the weather was also terrible.
We had heat lightening for hours and then storms until four in the morning.
Tonight looks like it will be similar. Many thousands of people are not getting power.
Corn and wheat products will be affected, as there was an
early drought and now the deluge. Pray that people begin to realize that God is
in charge and is allowing hard times to come. People complain, but, do not stop
and reflect why things are difficult.
The number of babies slaughtered daily in this country
provides one big reason for the tribulations which are merely beginning.
We have had a SLIM victory for religious freedom and the horrible backlash is hot and heavy.
Do not get complacent, please.
