MANY of my writings have focused on the hope which is dawning in our world. But I am also compelled to address the darkness which proceeds the Dawn. It is so that when these things happen, you will not lose faith. It has never been my intention to frighten or depress my readers. But neither is it my intention to paint this present darkness in false shades of yellow. Christ is our victory! But He commanded us to be “wise as serpents” for the battle is not yet over. Watch and pray, He said.
You are the little flock given to my care, and I intend to stay awake on my watch, despite the cost…
LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
The current economic turmoil in America is important for two reasons. One is that it affects nearly every other economy in the world. The second is that, as I have written before, I believe America is a political stop-gap against the tide of moral relativism which threatens to entirely sweep the world. The late mystic, Maria Esperanza, made a bold statement in this regard:
I feel the United States has to save the world… —The Bridge to Heaven: Interviews with Maria Esperanza of Betania, by Michael H. Brown, p. 43
The coming election in the USA seems in many respects to be a battle for America’s very soul, and perhaps, for the “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” for Christians throughout the world. Who will defend the right to freedom of speech and religion for Christians? The European Union? China? Russia? India? In these rising super-powers, we are seeing quite the opposite.
But the point I wish to make here is that the coming election in America may in fact make little difference. For it is certain that those who hold the real power are the ones who dictate the agenda—those who control the money. And unfortunately, the agenda of the world powers amounts to a “culture of death.” A cursory look at the media, who for the most part are owned by the powers that be, indicates the success that Hollywood and television have had in carving out the moral tenets for a New World Order.
COMMUNISM… THROUGH THE BACK DOOR?
A letter from a reader raises some important points regarding the recent proposed “U.S. government” bailout of Wall Street’s investment banks:
I just finished reading all of the US take-over banking documents, and America is becoming a communist/fascist empire as we speak. The laws are written that the Federal Government now owns all the homes that have foreclosed and will foreclose due to bankruptcy in the future. On top of that, they also now own all current mortgages on the failed banks on people who have no trouble making their monthly payments. Hmmm…. what have we called governments who own homes in the past? A communist state?
In the draft text of the proposed bailout, there are these startling words:
Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency. —http://michellemalkin.com, Sept 22nd, 2008
That’s called total control.
Never before in the history of our nation has so much power and money been concentrated in the hands of one person. —Senator John McCain, www.ABCnews.com, September 22nd, 2008
Here’s what communist China, the world’s largest developing country, has to say:
Threatened by a “financial tsunami,” the world must consider building a financial order no longer dependent on the United States. —www.reuters.com, September 17th, 2008
A New World Order…?
TOWARD TOTALITARIANISM
The Federal Reserve is in fact a private institution, owned by a conglomeration of wealthy families and individuals, many who remain unknown. This is what finances the U.S. Federal Government. One hundred percent of taxpayer’s money in that country goes to the Federal Reserve to pay interest on the national debt. It is the Reserve which is the source of the proposed $700 billion to bail out Wall Street’s collapsing investment banks.
On a mainstream news network last week, American Congressman, Ron Paul, was questioned about the current economic crisis:
Glen Beck (host of CNN Headline News): It seems to me that we are ending up with bigger and even more powerful banks. We’re losing everything small, and retaining only [that which is] very big, global, and powerful. How do we ever escape the global clutches of these gigantic financial institutions, and the Fed, when we’re handing them all of the power?
Ron Paul: It’s going to be very difficult unless we have a real serious discussion here in Washington on where the mistakes were made and undo those mistakes, and devise another system. It’s going to continue that way and the big guys are going to end up owning everything… Monetary history shows that this type of a monetary system will not last, and eventually they have to sit down and devise a brand new system. The biggest question is will it be in a free society, or will it be in a totalitiarian society. And right now, we’re moving rapidly toward more government, and bigger government, and control by big banks and corporations.
Glen Beck: It is very frightening. I said at the beginning of this show… “One day America, you’re going to wake up on a Monday, and by Friday your country will not be the same” …is this that week, Congressman?
Ron Paul: No, this is the preliminary. There will be worse weeks to come because the seeds have been planted… —CNN Headline News, September 18th, 2008
Said President Woodrow Wilson:
Since I entered politics, I have chiefly had men’s views confided to me privately. Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacture, are afraid of something. They know that there is a power somewhere so organized, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so complete, so pervasive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it. —The New Freedom, 1913
SEEDS HAVE BEEN SOWN
Are we really headed toward global totalitarianism? We are if the world refuses to heed the truth, to acknowledge the laws of God which not only keep us safe, but bring true “life, liberty, and happiness.”
When natural law and the responsibility it entails are denied, this dramatically paves the way to ethical relativism at the individual level and to totalitarianism of the State at the political level. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, General Audienc e, June 16th, 2010, L’Osservatore Romano, English Edition, June 23, 2010
But that takes faith… and this is where we as Christians are being called into the battle as witnesses to Jesus Christ. To proclaim through holiness of life the power and truth of the Gospel. Souls hang in the balance, depending in part upon our “yes” or “no” to Jesus. Mother Mary has been appearing to this generation, begging us (in her gentle way) to offer our “yes” to Him. To give ourselves over to prayer, regular Confession, the Holy Eucharist, daily Scripture reading, and fasting. In these ways, we die to ourselves so that Jesus may rise in us. In these ways, we remain in Him so that He may remain in us, that we may bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of holiness: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, self-control. These are the fruits the world is thirsting for! Do not be deceived… your life, as small as you think you are, may very well be the first pebble which begins the landslide of salvation in the lives of many. Yes, those of you who have been following these writings now for many months, and you who have recently felt compelled to linger here—you are the saint whom Jesus is calling, preparing to shake the world around you.
Faith moves mountains.
Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of St. Pio’s death, one of the greatest saints of our times. His partially incorrupt remains are a landmark for this world, a sign that there is something transcendent, something far beyond the final tallies of Wall Street. That obedience to God’s Word brings the joy of everlasting life. That Jesus Christ is who He said He is: the way, the truth, and the life!
Dear St. Pio, pray for us, brother. Pray for us in this hour for which you were raised as an intercessor, example, and guide.
The partially incorrupt body of St. Pio after 40 years.
