Abbey Roads

We live in very critical times.

2025-11-26T20:26:00.003-06:00

On a personal note

2025-09-26T16:04:00.001-05:00

The Visitors - John Koch

Shared with Only me

“There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business.” - William S. Burroughs, The Place of Dead Roads

I had a somewhat disturbing dream one night, not too long ago. I suppose the theme was my social anxiety - the source of which I know. It also involved my lifelong sense of not fitting in - anywhere. And not wanting to. It was a dream revisiting something that happened long ago, but in a contemporary circumstance.

Sometime in the early '70's, my friends and I dropped acid and went to a poolside party somewhere in an eastside suburb of St. Paul. It was John, Jim, Bob, Linda and Donna and me. Mary Kay was at the party, I think I knew some of the people, but I was not friends with them. They were all straight. They stared at us as we all arrived. It felt like something out of a film, maybe like The Graduate. The women I was with apparently were not getting along with another group at the party. Whatever - the atmosphere was extremely uncomfortable and I had no social skills with those kind of people. LOL! I had been living and working in Minneapolis and pretending to be normal and sophisticated. (I worked in fashion display, had lived with my boss, 13 years my senior and had to act like an adult in very difficult snobby situations.) Then my friends came to the rescue and I kind of dropped out, enjoying the drugs and sort of reinventing myself. Another pretense, I might add.

Anyway - gratefully my friends were all turned off by the pool party and we agreed to leave - primarily because they started throwing people in the pool. We left.

Long story short, my dream last night was similar. Rather than try to engage in conversation with the people who were there, I went in the house and started to clean. I was hoping to be accepted that way - or excused for doing something nice for the hosts. They came to check on me now and then and I overheard them discussing what I was doing, while speculating why I was doing it. I stepped outside, out of view, looked at all of them and realized they were all strangers to me. That they had no idea who I was or what I was about. They said nice things to me, but were not sincere. I decided to leave and I heard a woman repeating - "You shouldn't go - you're going to end up completely alone... completely alone... completely alone." My first though, 'I don't know her.'

I left. I left knowing that though I am alone, I'm not alone.

That's it, that's the dream. I considered it a reflection of current situation with my family. They seem to have an endless stream of birthdays and get togethers - for holidays - real or made up, e.g. Christmas in July. I'm always invited, I rarely go. Sometimes I have a real excuse, which they don't believe and sometimes I just don't go - no excuse. I never reveal my actual health condition or problems, so they probably think I'm good to go. Just this past week I cancelled three appointments due to personal problems, which made it inconvenient to keep them. I mentioned it on FB, which they read, writing: "Rescheduled my appointment again. Wait until you get old. Things are not that simple. God forgive me for the impatience I have shown to others - reward them, favor them for having endured me." I feel so stupid revealing such things publicly, so I end up removing posts like that.

I frequently take posts down - or rather made it for my view only. I get discouraged sometimes and attempt to express it in writing. Writing helps me think, reading it helps me make sense of it, I've always done that. It seems to help. Afterwards, I tend to remove some posts since it solved whatever I was attempting to understand. That can frustrate readers though.

Yesterday, I noted another lost day. "I missed studio time today, as well as my appointment. I hate that. Nap time came early - Gabs loves that and she makes me happy when she's comfortable. I took the garbage out for trash day though. Oh - and we prayed our rosary outside. I'm relying on Fr. Charbel to help me get my projects finished in time. The saints tell us not to worry."

Most likely not connected to that post, one of my nephews sent me a private message saying I can't come to my aunt's 100th birthday party this weekend. He's on his long weekend off work, so he isn't always clear in conversations - be it live or text. I decided to play around, with a little back and forth. He wasn't in the mood, rather it turned out to be a challenge. Long story short, he was not happy I wasn't coming to the party. About two weeks ago, one of his sisters was unhappy I didn't come to another function.

I told my nephew that I am undependable, unreliable, irresponsible and always a disappointment. His last text was, "You got that right."

At least I got something right and he can feel better about himself now.

I need God's mercy now, more than ever.

I've never been close to family. I left home in senior high and never remained close. After Darold died I tried to be closer to them We didn't really know each other. Years ago, my parents complained about me to my sister's husband, blaming me for leaving home - telling him I was queer. He was freaked, told my parents and my sister I was no longer welcome in their home and he wanted nothing to do with me. So I wasn't close to the kids. After he died, I stayed away, fearing I'd be a bad example and influence for them. So they grew up estranged from me and I from them.

It's been touch and go all along. I have no hard feelings, but I'm not sure they get it - the fact of having been shamed and banned at one time - even though I had already separated myself from the family and sought to make a new life for myself.

So. I live alone now, with my cat.

An Anecdote

2025-07-18T09:38:00.001-05:00

Note: I posted this on my FB page, but something like this belongs here as part of My Story.

In memoriam.

Today is Wm. David McKenna's birthday. He would have been 89 this year. He was my boss when I was 17. When I was 18 we were in a relationship. That was 1967. I was blamed for seducing him - he was 13 years older than myself. I lived with that. The work environment turned toxic, so I transferred to the Downtown Store - St. Paul was considered part of MPLS and not a branch - my reputation was shot, although I was too dumb to realize that at the time. We remained 'lovers' for 3 years. It wasn't a good situation. He had other young friends I wasn't aware of at the time. He was always very kind and protective to me though.

Years later I found out he was ill and got back in touch with him. Darold had worked for him at one time as well and they were good, professional friends. I was able to help him - from a distance, he lived in Seattle - get back to the Church. I called the parish he lived in and so on. He found a place there. He 'unfriended' us - though it wasn't a term back then, because we voted for Bush. LOL! Anyway, he passed away in 2004.

I have Masses said now days, especially for those people who despised me. I didn't realize for many years he and his associates didn't like me. I reflect on that sometimes and it is extremely helpful for deeper self-knowledge, while being an opportunity to grow in charity.

Anyway, thank you McKenna (that's what I always called him) and may you rest in peace. Prayers for eternal salvation.

Remember when you polished my shoes and ironed my clothes that first morning? Then breakfast with a sweet roll, eggs, bacon, toast? No one ever did that for me in my life before that. Thank you.

For the file.

2025-07-18T09:25:00.000-05:00

Note: Saving a couple things here because other social media I'm on might censor it.

LynnZ

@ZemanLynnZ

10h

"Here's Melania when Zampolli first brought her to NYC. This is the apartment in Union Square where he set her up, and her photographer roommate, Matthew Arabian. Melania knew Epstein before she knew Trump. This is Paolo Zampolli, her former escort agent & good friend of Epstein & Trump. He's the one who took Melania to Ghislaine's party where she met Trump. He's also the one who secured her Einstein visa Zampolli came from a wealthy Milanese family Took over his father’s toy company & sold it to the notorious billionaire Silvio Berlusconi, who went on to become prime minister. His other good friend & buddy, John Casablancas, told him to come to NYC and work in the modeling biz. I did just change the settings on this, having lots of outsiders sharing this and don’t need my name all over the internet feel free to copy and paste it but things are getting much more concerning as many were banned yesterday, Post like this create more friend request and I am full as well. They are trying to suppress the truth." imagine that

Contrary to media reports...

2025-05-13T10:24:00.002-05:00

Try to have a more supernatural filter.

"Contrary to Italian media reports, the Register can confirm that Cardinal Raymond Burke never received the future Pope in his apartment during the period of the general congregations, nor any other pressure to vote for him." - @EdwardPentin dispels a rumor.

I think everything is unfolding wonderfully. Personally, I think it is a mistake to speculate and/or follow rumors and gossip regarding how the pope was elected and all the gossip associated with that type of 'court intrigue', even though it can be fun. I was reading a report at Rorate Caeli that reminded me of court intrigue from another era - it didn't help I was watching Marie Antoinette with scenes depicting all the gossip and treason within the royal court prior to the Revolution. I didn't find the report at all edifying. I now avoid everything unless it is celebratory and positive.

I'm convinced Leo XIV will be the best Pope for our time, just as I consider his predecessors to be. In fact, think he will be the best of all his predecessors and yet remain his own man. I think he has already brought much peace and good will. Going forward, I'm content to see how the grace of office develops and directs his papacy.

I am so grateful to be Catholic and that we have a pope. I love the pope. When a king dies, it is said, 'the king is dead, long live the king' - signifying the continuity of the monarchy. Just so, when the pope dies, we mourn of course, but another comes to fill his place, the Chair of Peter is occupied by another.

Even in authentic apparitions, prophecies and so on - when heaven asks us to pray for the pope, normally a particular pope is not referenced or specified. At Fatima, Our Lady mentioned the reign of Pius XI, yet her call to pray for the pope referred to whomever was pope down the line.

Perhaps an illustration of that is the Dream of S. John Bosco regarding the Barque of Peter, symbolizing the Church, with the Pope at the helm. In the dream a series of popes is clearly indicated. The part of the Church/papacy under assault could well represent the Franciscan papacy, while the Pope bringing the Barque to port and uniting everyone might indicate our new Pope, whom everyone seems to like. (I've thought of that Dream at each successive papacy BTW.)

Yet paradoxically - dreams and private revelations cannot be taken literally, and normally they can't be pinned down to specifics, which can be subject to change. Thus we can understand the papacy not limited to this or that man, but rather an office, established by Christ in Peter, extended in time, to guide the Church - the faithful, the People of God to eternal salvation.

Anyway, I have great peace and joy, confidence and love for Pope Leo XIV, just as I did for Francis, Benedict, JPII, JPI, Paul VI, John XXIII, and Pius XII.

There will always be enemies of the Church, of the papacy and they are very active now. There are those who despised Pope Francis and they continue their attacks, often comparing Leo and Francis, while some are active digging up negative stories, or making them up altogether, I can't spend the rest of my life addressing such opposition and hopefully I won't.

Happy feastday of Our Lady of Fatima. Pray the rosary every day. Pray for the Holy Father who will have much to suffer.

Yes. I am very happy we have Pope Leo XIV

2025-05-09T13:02:00.003-05:00

My heart dropped at first. Because I knew he was American, but I had no idea who he was. Seeing him, his demeanor and emotion - I was pleased. I couldn't help but attribute his election to Our Lady's intercession. Due to his Augustinian roots, scholarship and devotion, I think he will have a charisma and sensibility much like Pope Benedict. Anyway, as a Catholic I'm all for him, as I have been for all his predecessors. I'm confident and unafraid and grateful.

"In his address as Pope, Leo XIV said, “Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our blessed Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. So let us pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church and for peace in the world.”"

At the beginning of May, Cardinal Burke entrusted his prayers to Our Lady of Good Counsel, praying for God's will and good counsel, inviting the faithful to join him in novena. It seems to me Our Lady answered. It's clearly due to her - Mediatrix of all Grace, especially considering May 8th is the Augustinian feast day of Our Lady of Grace, a title traditionally held by the Augustinians. Leo is part of the Augustinian Province dedicated to OL of Good Counsel and the shrine in Italy is in Augustinian custody. May 8th is also the feast of OL of the Rosary of Pompeii as well as the feast of St. Michael Archangel. People who look for signs need not look any further.

Cardinal Burke tweeted this statement yesterday:

"Please join me in thanking Our Lord for the election of Pope Leo XIV, Successor of Saint Peter, as the Shepherd of the Church throughout the world. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at La Crosse has a particularly strong bond with the Roman Pontiff, especially through its affiliation with the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I urge all pilgrims and friends of the Shrine to pray fervently for Pope Leo XIV that Our Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Peter Apostle, and Pope Saint Leo the Great, will grant him abundant wisdom, strength, and courage to do all that Our Lord is asking of Him in these tumultuous times. May God bless Pope Leo and grant him many years. Viva il Papa!"

Indeed, I am most grateful for Pope Leo XIV.

The future Pope in Peru.

Pope Francis Lying in State inside St. Peter’s Basilica

2025-04-23T08:31:00.004-05:00

I am so grateful for the papacy of Pope Francis. What a gift to the Church. I am in such peace and I feel even closer to him now. Such peace.

O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all
believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy
Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance!
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.

V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.
R. O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.

On Easter Monday 2025

2025-04-21T09:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter

2025-04-20T09:19:00.002-05:00

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.

The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;

and Christ, the undefiled, hath sinners to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!

Life's own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose;

I saw Christ's glory as He rose!

The angels there attesting; shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen:

He goes before you into Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.

Victorious King, Thy mercy show! Amen. Alleluia.

Risen Christ appears

in secret

to His Mother.

Good Friday

2025-04-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

Eleventh Station

Jesus is nailed to the cross

From the Gospel according to Luke (23:32-34)

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Nothing frightens us more than being unable to move. Yet here you are, bound, nailed, held fast. Still, you are not alone, but in the company of two others, resolved to reveal yourself even on the cross as “God with us.” Revelation never stops; it is not nailed to one place. Lord, you show us that in every situation there is a choice to be made. That is the amazing reality of our freedom. Not even on the cross are you stripped of your freedom: you decide why and for whom you are there. You are attentive to both the men crucified with you: you let slip the insults of one and you hear the plea of the other. You are even concerned for the men who crucify you: you peer into the hearts of those who “know not what they do.” You look up to the sky: you would like it clearer, yet you break through its barrier of gloom with the light of your intercession. Nailed to the cross you intercede: you “stand between” conflicting parties. And you bring them to God, because your cross tears down walls, cancels debts, quashes judgements, establishes reconciliation. You yourself are the true Jubilee. Convert us to you, Jesus; though nailed fast to the cross, you are able to do all things.

Let us pray, saying: Teach us to love

When we are strong and when we are not:		Teach us to love.
When we are bound by unjust laws or decisions:		Teach us to love.
When we are at odds with those uninterested in truth and justice:		Teach us to love.
When we are tempted to despair:		Teach us to love.
When everyone says, “There is nothing to be done:”		Teach us to love. - Pope Francis, Way of the Cross at the Colosseum

Suspended Priest James Altman Celebrates Novus Ordo In Florida

2025-04-03T22:19:00.003-05:00

After saying the Novus Ordo in not valid.

Altman wrote the following yet celebrated the Ordinary Form of Mass with Strickland, as seen in the photo accompanying this post. That tells me he either doesn't believe what he wrote or, since Altman was restricted to saying Mass in private - he celebrated illicitly in a rite he considers NOT valid.

You see the lie? Do you see how these men are indeed manufacturing scandal and leading Catholics away from the Church and establishing what may be the Anti-Church, something St. John Paul warned about? They are (unwittingly?) creating the so-called counterfeit Church they accuse Vatican II of creating, based upon their searching private revelations and locutions and an assortment of interpretations of approved apparitions.

Fr. James Altman

@FatherAltman

The TLM is DOGMATIC.

The novus ordo new world order service was concocted by a not-infallible committe of lavedar mafia Masons and protestants. Their stated objective was to remove from Catholic Sanctuaries and from The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - QUOTE- "anything that would be even a shadow of a stumbling block to [protestants]

In other words, make it just another of the 40,000+ protestant denominations. it was damned from the start AND, when half or more of priests, bishops, cardinals and Bergoglio do not believe in the Real Presence, it is NOT valid.

Quit pretending that the handful of believing priests who validly and intentionally consecrate, using proper form and matter, The Holy Eucharist, that that somehow validates the Sacrileges of the new world order service.

As Jesus said, judge it by its fruits. The reason why up to 90% of "Catholics" do not go to Holy Mass and do not believe in the Real Presence is because of the new world order service destroyed it.

Go read Exodus 25-31, how Almighty God commanded us to worship Him, and then quit pretending that the protestant new world order service is valid because the rare experience we have with a reverent priest somehow validates it.

For the record, no bishop, cardinal nor pope can deny us reasonable access to the Dogmatic TLM, nor deny anyone the right to receive Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue. End of debate.

When they protest too much, they often “project” their own fears and inclinations.

Don't follow their lead.

In another tweet Altman rebuked an author at 1 Peter 5 for calling him out, resorting to accusatory language, calling out the author and the hierarchy with typical anti-LGBTQ slurs. My response:

I'm really fed up with recalcitrant priests/bishops who continually accuse everyone they disagree with, and/or those who may have had to discipline them, as sodomites and groomers. They contradict the teaching of the Church in the process. They defend their choice of words as speaking the 'truth in charity'. It's not charitable at all. Their contempt reveals much more about their character than those they slander and calumniate. They lack meekness and have no depth of charity. Their humility is feigned. Their piety is for show. Their followers who cheer and repeat their rhetoric, are often more experienced in vice than any of those whose humanity and reputation they attempt to destroy.

They pretty much preach an anti-Gospel.

'America First' Americans

2025-03-28T21:40:00.002-05:00

Catholics and the Anti-Gospel.

Today it occurred to me the reason I don't see many people I know objecting to Trump/MAGA initiatives and policies is because they must approve of the job he is doing. He's keeping his 'promises' and doing what they want him to do. That is why they voted for him. So long as his 'get-'er-done' executive orders do the job - they don't care how it's done or who it effects. They look for the good in his intentions and accept the bad stuff that happens to others as collateral damage. They may even accompany them with thoughts and prayers for a bit, or as many said about the Jews in Germany after the Holocaust, 'they brought it on themselves'.

As 'America First' Americans - they believe they are 'entitled' to get what they want, be it acquiring another country, exploiting protected land rich in oil and minerals, getting rid of unwanted migrants and so on. They have rights and they are entitled. Yet they approve of taking away their neighbors rights and entitlements - because those folks are parasites.

Many of the same people balked and resisted Pope Francis, sometimes to his face, when he invited us to show mercy, to be kind, to befriend the strangers who come to us for help. Monsignors and bishops split hairs on the meaning of mercy and discussed how charity isn't always nice and kindness is a sentimental ploy to approve sin and perversion. (Forget about acceptance and inclusion - that's for communists.) Yet they claim Trump is chosen by God and 'not far from the Kingdom of God', and Musk and crew have done good things too. (Ask them, and some will insist Hitler did some good things too.)

An amazing thing has happened with Christian MAGA, Christian Nationalists: The rich are exalted, shown mercy and given special dispensations, while the poor are sent away empty and homeless, their condition worse than before.

Yet they can't see, they can't perceive how the very words of the Gospel are therein inverted and twisted into the Anti-Gospel.

Tracking "The errors of Russia"

2025-03-15T20:04:00.004-05:00

As they course through the years.

I've mentioned it many times before. Now I include Alexander Dugin and Putin as continuing to propagate the errors of Russia. Dugin is known as Putin's philosopher, his Rasputin. I believe the imperialist agenda of Putin and his Patriarch, influenced by Dugin, may also help explain the imperialism of Trump. After all, Bannon has been a big fan of Dugin, Evola and Guénon, favorite philosophers of the alt-right, including JD Vance.

It's all very dense, but the Fascist ties, Traditionalist ideology and anti-modernist influences are all there. Including links to Theosophy - always part of the errors of Russia.

Anyway - this involves so much reading, so much study. I hope someone more qualified will take up the study and reveal the ideology behind push towards war. I also believe the division in the Church is effected by these errors. I'm convinced this is why Pope Francis has responded as he has to the Traditionalist movement within the Church. Dugin has influenced the Orthodox Church, it's Patriarch and concept as the Third Rome very well, as has Putin.

>Dugin also read deeply in the Russian canon. The notion that Russia is more than a state or nation—that it is a holy empire with a world-saving duty—goes back at least half a millennium. “All Christian realms will come to an end and will unite into the one single realm of our sovereign, that is, into the Russian realm, according to the prophetic books,” the Russian theologian Filofei predicted in 1510. “Both Romes fell, the third endures.” The idea was brought to its highest polish in the nineteenth century, the apex of tsarist imperialism and, not coincidentally, of Russian letters. That era is the origin of Dugin’s views of the West and Ukraine, and of Putin’s recent thinking. Indeed, it can be seen as the true start of the Ukraine war.< - The Imperialist Philosopher Who Demanded the Ukraine War

I came across an Australian journalist who has added to the understanding of Alexander Dugin's influence upon Putin's war. It's late, so I'll simply post his piece I found on FB and leave it at that.

>To understand the civilisational battle confronting the world today, we need to discuss a little known 1997 book by a Russian neo-fascist and political philosopher named Alexandr Dugin, a man so closely associated with the belief systems and values of Vladimir Putin that he became colloquially known as "Putin's brain".
Dugin has spent his life warning of the evils of liberalism and democracy, and insisted that only Russia could save humanity through the advancement of Christian Russian Orthodox values.
The book provides the blueprint for how Russia could fight "the battle for the world rule of Russians". It laid out in detail how Russia needed to use information warfare, economic power, and military force, to establish a new Eurasian Empire.
It's been used a textbook in schools, indoctrinating a generation of Russians into a belief that the Russians had a God given right to rule the world from the "third Rome" (Moscow), and that notions like democracy and civil liberties were a uniquely Western invention that were bordering on satanic.
It called for Georgia, most of the Baltic States, Finland, and Central Asia to be annexed into this new empire though force, while Belarus and Moldova are expected to voluntarily join after a decades long propaganda onslaught.
He was adamant that an independent Ukraine could not exist if Russia was truly going to become a superpower, arguing that "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning, no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness, its certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics".
Western Europe, meanwhile, would become a collection of weakened vassal states, subordinate to Russia's will, and argued that to achieve this Russia could help fund and organise a collection of right wing political parties to infiltrate and erode liberal democracy from within. To achieve this, Dugin suggested finding ways to weaken the NATO alliance, culminating in the removal of US military presence in Europe.
But perhaps most disturbing is Dugin's vivid advice on how Russia could subdue the greatest impediment to Russian ambitions, the great defender of the liberal values Dugin despised... the USA.
He argued that Russia should use special services to "...introduce geopolitical disorder into internal American activity, encouraging all kinds of separatism and ethnic, social, and racial conflicts, actively supporting all dissident movements – extremist, racist, and sectarian groups, thus destabilizing internal political processes in the U.S. It would also make sense simultaneously to support isolationist tendencies in American politics'."< - Carrick Ryan

"The fundamental weaknesses of Western civilization is empathy." (Elon Musk, 2025)

2025-03-08T19:28:00.000-06:00

On the problem of empathy.

On the problem of empathy. That was the title of Edith Stein's dissertation/book, first published in 1916. Stein a German philosopher, was a Jewish woman who embraced Catholicism, entering the Discalced Carmelites not long after her baptism, where she lived a contemplative life until her arrest and murder by the Nazis in Auschwitz. For the sake of brevity I'll lift some quotes from other sources to help define Stein's theory, in order to contrast it with something Elon Musk said regarding empathy, which has garnered so much attention.

"The fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy."

- Elon Musk

As someone on X pointed out, that's very similar to Nazi propaganda. Jon Schwarz: "Elon Musk's statement on Joe Rogan that "The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit" is straight out of a 1942 Joseph Goebbel's column titled "Don't Be Too Fair!""

First of all, what does empathy mean?

>Empathy is an immediate and structural part of being human.<

>Empathy as a phenomenon of the experience of others

The term ’empathy’ was created in 1872 from the German word Einfühlung, which means ‘to feel within oneself’. Under the direction of Edmund Husserl, Edith Stein, in her doctoral thesis entitled The Problem of Empathy (1915)[1] , explored this topic from the perspective of “the phenomenology of perception”[2] . According to Stein, the relevance of this approach lies in the possibility of “penetrating into their essence”[3] the phenomena of reality, starting from their perception (sensory and intellectual), and then from their manifestation to human consciousness[4] . In other words, ‘it is a question of understanding and knowing the reality that surrounds us in all its “phenomena”‘[5] .

In the light of her studies, Stein defines empathy as ‘those fundamental inner acts that enable one person to perceive the experience of another’[6] . Or it is the “capacity to experience what the other person is experiencing”[7] . From a phenomenological point of view, empathy thus allows one to penetrate, describe, understand what is happening within oneself in the face of another’s experience[8] , in relation to the motivations, feelings and values of the other .[9]< - Fr. Mario Boies, C.Ss.R.

Stein's work and the subject matter is too dense and beyond my competence to do an entire post about the subject. Suffice it to know, empathy is what makes us human. Musk and the New Right, Catholics among them, see it as weakness. Who can forget clergy and laity reacting to Pope Francis' calls to care about others, to recognize the humanity of others? To be kind. To show mercy. They called it "the church of nice". They have become easy prey of the New Right, Trumpism/MAGA and Musk.

You who look for the Antichrist should remember what John said about that. In 1 John 2:18–19, “Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come..." Many have come, many are here. So many, even the elect may be led astray and not know it. To be sure, it is not the Pope.

I came across this as well: Hannah Arendt: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”

We see it here and especially in Ukraine. As well as Gaza - where on earth have a people been so de-humanized and literally exterminated than Gaza. With wicked plans to make the place a luxurious resort for the wealthy elite. The cold hearted exploit Gaza, Ukraine and any other country whose citizens they perceive as non-human.

Musk claims are antichrist, antichristian, transhumanist garbage.

March 8, 2025 quote regarding Putin's bombardment today:

“He’s doing what anyone else in his place would.” That is, committing crimes against humanity. There is the new U.S. in a single sentence. Trump not only understands but has empathy for the need of the aggressor to commit aggression.

The War in Ukraine and the Errors of Russia

2025-03-08T19:12:00.000-06:00

+Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God.+

[Editor's Note: I am reposting this from my FB page here, since I intended it to post on the blog for my archives. The information does not add to nor detract from the official documents of Sr. Lucia nor the Holy See regarding the events at Fatima, nor is there any link to the so-called Fatimist conspiracy theories or traditionalists with their claims of a different message/secrets and so on. Bishop Sus adds nothing to the the message either - he simply explains how the Church in Ukraine understands the relevance of Our Lady's message to the current war.]

Something Dawn Eden Goldstein wrote.

Dawn Eden Goldstein did a series of posts recently regarding Fatima. Normally Fatima isn't discussed very much online, among some academics and those who accept Magisterial definitions of the 1917 Apparitions and subsequent message. This may be due in part to a few traditional groups who reject Vatican authority and conclusions regarding details of the events. Frequently, they reject the Pope as well as Vatican II reforms, yet remain in communion with Rome.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised Dawn thought of the message of Fatima in relationship to 'the errors of Russia' in the current climate of aggression and influence Putin exerts over the West and in particular, our current President and the Administration he has set up.

Dawn was a guest at the Prayer Breakfast VP Vance spoke at last week. Her posts on X formed her response to that encounter.

> I was present at

@JDVance's speech yesterday at the

@NatCathPrBrkfst

.And I watched later as Vance belied his pious peacemaking pose by berating the president of the country that Pope Francis has repeatedly called "martyred Ukraine" (https://vaticannews.va/.../pope-on-ukraine-war-a-painful...).

>[ Specific remark from Trump War Room regarding the speech:

Feb 28

Vice President @JDVance: “When President Trump talks about the need to bring peace, whether it’s in Russia and Ukraine or in the Middle East, we have to recognize that as a policy oriented toward saving lives and carrying out one of Christ's most important Commandments.” Vance's address was on the importance of protecting religious liberty.]<

Responding to his statement explaining that he was still learning about Catholicism, although the door was open to talk with him, Dawn wrote that she would like to tell him about the Third Secret of Fatima.

I was pleasantly surprised Dawn brought that up online, especially since I feel it remains relevant in our day. I believe Pope Francis does as well, as did Pope Benedict.

Dawn posted some excerpts of the secret with links to the Holy See documentation. She quoted Sr. Lucia, one of the seers, now deceased, who decades later wrote: "The 3rd part of the secret is ...conditioned by whether we accept or not what the Message itself asks of us. ... Since we did not heed this appeal of the Message, we see that it has been fulfilled; Russia has invaded the world with her errors. ..." If we have not yet seen [the prophecy's complete fulfillment], we are going towards it little by little with great strides, if we do not reject the path of sin, hatred, revenge, injustice, violations of the rights of the human person, immorality & violence, etc. ..."

I let Dawn know I thought she was right in making the connection between Fatima and current events regarding Russian aggression and expansion, not to mention 'infiltration' in the West. (I for one believe it has been going on since the onset of the Cold War.)

Notes from an interview with an Archbishop.

That said - this is one long introduction to what a Ukranian Archbishop had to say, pointing to Fatima, suggesting we are now seeing fulfillment of aspects of what the Blessed Virgin foretold at Fatima and later, to Lucia in the Monastery.

From Bishop Stepan Sus, Curial Bishop of Kyiv-Halyč, Ukraine, Titular Bishop of Zygris:

Bishop Sus: First of all, we understand that Russia will not respect our Church. We see that from what is happening in the occupied territories. The Ukrainian Catholic Church was expelled from the territories. The priests were persecuted or imprisoned, so it means that for Russia, respect for other churches, respect for human dignity and life in a democracy do not exist. We don’t relate to Russian points of view, and so we hope that Ukraine will stay, and we will defend ourselves as much as we can. For the last few years, Russian forces moved very slowly in the Donbas area, and we lost approximately 15% of our territory. But we hope that that will be the end of this war.

Ukrainians are praying every day for peace. That’s our main intention because we understand that prayer is the weapon of Christians. We need to defend ourselves, our families and our homes, but at the same time, the most successful weapon of the faithful is prayer. We pray a national rosary on our Ukrainian Catholic television every evening at eight. It is live, with approximately 550,000 people gathering to pray. Everyone understands that it is necessary to pray and ask God for peace and pray for our soldiers, wounded soldiers and civilian people, and also pray for our migrants, people who had to leave their homes.

For us, this message of the Virgin Mary of Fatima (ie, the errors of Russia) is, of course, some sign to understand the conditions of this war. If the Virgin Mary talked about the conversion of somebody or nations, it means that this group of people can bring something dangerous, something not acceptable for us, and could be a source of evil. Our soldiers who were captured experienced torture and other terrible things. One soldier mentioned that he saw the real face of evil. I understand that today, evil has a human mask so that we can have different imaginations of evil, and sometimes the source of evil can be human beings. So that might be the vision that Mary foresaw with this war, which is caused by Russia. Russians say that they want to reestablish the Soviet Union, but from a new point of view, like the Russian world, which is dangerous because everybody knows how it was.< - Bishop Stepan Sus

I've always agreed with Sr. Lucia's statement, " If we have not yet seen [the prophecy's complete fulfillment], we are going towards it little by little with great strides." It seems to me we are there.

Sharing a comment on the new "Golden Age"

2025-01-25T12:45:00.005-06:00

This is for my archives and reference. It's pertinent to what is happening these days.

Ron Park

Fr. Seraphim Rose cautioned against the allure of the so-called "Golden Age," a concept popularized by the Theosophical Society and deeply embedded in New Age ideology. This idea gained further traction through Marilyn Ferguson's The Aquarian Conspiracy, which drew inspiration from Carl Jung's promotion of the Age of Aquarius. These movements collectively frame the Golden Age as a utopian era of spiritual enlightenment and harmony within the existing world.

Fr. Seraphim Rose, heavily influenced by René Guénon's The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times, critiqued this notion. Guénon's work, while not written from an Orthodox Christian perspective, served as a prophetic analysis of modernity's descent into materialism and spiritual deception. Guénon emphasized the importance of authentic Tradition and was highly critical of the syncretistic mysticism promoted by Helena Blavatsky and the Theosophical movement.

From an Orthodox Christian viewpoint, the "Golden Age" represents a chiliastic, utopian delusion—a counterfeit hope that aligns with the goals of the Beast and the Antichrist. This so-called Pax Mundi, sought by many as a form of "Heaven on Earth" utopia, deviates from true eschatology.

Orthodox belief does not envision an earthly paradise but looks forward to "a new heaven and a new earth," for Christ’s reign is not of this cosmos.

This is an excerpt from Heiromonk Damascene's biography of Fr. Seraphim Rose:

"The modern partisans of progress, Guénon asserted, are deluded in expecting a “golden age” to dawn within the present time cycle. “Their error,” he (Rose) wrote, “in its most extreme form, will be that of the Antichrist himself when he claims to bring the ‘golden age’ into being through the reign of the ‘counter-tradition,’ and when he even gives it an appearance of authenticity, purely deceitful and ephemeral though it be, by means of a counterfeit of the traditional idea of the Sanctum Regnum.”

Let us not forget that while Trump has restored a sense of order and growth to the American nation by countering some of the disintegration caused by the Radical Left, he is also backed by some of the most powerful technocratic oligarchs in the world. These figures, ironically, share the same ultimate goal as the World Economic Forum’s technocratic "Reset." A glance at Klaus Schwab's writings reveals that the transhumanist ideologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution align closely with the ambitions of figures like Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos. These individuals collectively control social media, e-commerce, algorithmic advertisment, drone technology, space exploration, robotics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, virtual/augmented reality, automated vehicles, and the Internet of Things.

While the technocrats initially sought to achieve their "Final Revolution" through the ideologies of wokeism, sustainability, inclusivity, and equity—leveraging their political alliances with classical liberals—they have now shifted their alignment to the Right, with Trump fully supporting them.

These forces play either side, depending on who holds the reins of power.

Be warned: as long as Trump continues to empower these technocrats and transhumanists, the very same "Beast system" they were building through the Left will still come to fruition, albeit through an authoritarian and Nationalistic guise, feeding off American Jingoism.

A Woman's World.

2024-10-27T11:47:00.005-05:00

Gold Dust Woman

I never paid much attention to what I considered the political aspect of pro-choice, knowing that I was completely against abortion, especially for convenience. That is a rather smug, dismissive POV however.

I was listening to an interview with Stevie Nicks this morning and was a bit surprised at her reasons for getting an abortion. It would have complicated her relationship with her former lovers and would have interrupted her career. Her success wouldn't exist if she had chosen birth. I've heard several other stories now since the political fight is currently focused upon women's reproductive rights - at the expense of the child in the womb. The trade off, sacrifice a human being for temporal riches, success, independence, whatever - that's rather gruesome. It's also completely pagan.

Like I said, I try not to think about it, since women claim it is their choice. Eve was never so bold, blaming instead, the serpent who tricked her. Harris had a group of doctors at one of her last rallies - they all do abortions. For me the visual was rather sci-fi-horror. (The Nazis were never so bold.) Of course it was to emphasize that doctors run the danger of getting arrested for what they do, if abortion is outlawed. So, what do they do? What is an abortion? When I see photos of the end product, I'm repulsed, a bit terrified that we can do that to yet-unborn, human beings, and I look away, never wanting to see an image like that again. Nevertheless, I know a human being has been slaughtered, legally. It's considered a human right.

Somehow, we've numbed ourselves to this reality - we've anesthetized ourselves to the truth.

"Because of the increase of evil, the love of most will grow cold"

Now it is referred to as 'complicated grief'.

2024-10-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

"My eyes sought him everywhere, but they did not see him; and I hated all places because he was not in them, because they could not say to me, 'Look, he is coming,' as they did when he was alive and absent." - St. Augustine

But who can detect all of his errors?

2024-10-13T11:48:00.003-05:00

To suffer and be despised. - St. John of the Cross

Even when we deserve it - when our lies are all found out. Not only as the result of an examination of conscience, but even when our neighbor may convict us of some hidden sin. Perhaps an 'enemy' will call us out. Only when we are 'down and they're counting - When your secrets all found out...' . might we come to recognize our hidden faults. The upside of all of this is the favor those who accuse and despise us do for our souls. I often remind myself, even though it hurts at times: If a good man reproves me, it is kindness. As well as: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. - Proverbs 27:6

From my hidden faults acquit me O Lord.

The Psalms tell the story - which is why they are so helpful for us to pray - not just recite. It is also why self-knowledge is so important for us at every stage of our life - it is a necessary part of our 'purgation' or purification.

Sin speaks to the sinner
in the depths of his heart

There is no fear of God
before his eyes.

He so flatters himself in his mind
that he knows not his guilt. - Ps. 36

"Sin speaks to the sinner in the depths of his heart ... he so flatters himself in his mind that he knows not his guilt." Like I said, we have an immense capacity for self delusion. Which is why it is so advantageous for us to allow ourselves to be taught, to be corrected, even to be despised.

It is the Holy Spirit who convinces us and the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgement.

It's important to remember that the Lord accompanies us in and through these meditations in the deepest recesses of the cell of self-knowledge, as St. Catherine might say. He was there when we knew not our sins and he is there when we uncover them, as it were. We need to understand this so as not to get discouraged, even though we can say:

My sins so overcome me,
so that I can no longer see.
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head;

my courage fails me. - Ps. 40

We need to trust in the Divine Mercy, as we struggle to 'lay aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us'. Confidence and love.

O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You, to become wholly teachable that I may learn all from You. Then, through all nights, all voids, all helplessness, I want to gaze on You always and remain in Your great light. O my beloved Star, so fascinate me that I may not withdraw from Your radiance. - Prayer of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity

But who can detect all of his errors?
From hidden faults acquit me.

From presumption restrain your servant
and let it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless,
clean from grave sin.

May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favor in your sight, O Lord,
my rescuer, my rock! - Ps. 18

An update.

2024-10-06T20:24:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to get back to writing, but I never do, save for blurbs on Facebook which I inevitably remove. The blog here requires too much time - so I tell myself.

I've let lots of commentary slip away, pretty much simply observing what goes on and reading differing opinions to somehow get to the truth of things - or the reality behind the theories and hearsay. It's kind of amazing how easy it is to just let controversie come and go, without any need to comment. Watching while several inch closer and closer to virtual schism upon schism. Most recently, a monastery of Discalced nuns transferred all their assets to a lay board of directors (how Teresian), jumped ship and signed on with the SSPX. Most likely thanks to Vigano fear mongering about Cor Orans and 'supression' of the Latin Mass. Awesomely misguided.

Although, I dare to say attitudes like that exist in my archdiocese - I'm sure. Especially since my support for Pope Francis and his reforms is so well known, not a few of my friends have suddenly gone silent and I've no contact with those I corresponded with on a regular basis, via phone or email. The religious among them have definitely stepped away, one or two making sarcastic comments about the blog. Though subtle, it was enough to discourage my continuing to document my experiences and observations - which is always a good way for me to sort things out - writing helps me think - or know what I think. One fellow implied I was attempting spiritual direction here. That has never been my intent.

I expect my criticism over the years may have hit home with a few. One priest, also a client told me he liked what I wrote but told me I was wrong about a few things - I have no doubt I misspoke on many occasions. Sadly, he never told me what I was wrong about. I know I've always had strong opinions on start-up religious orders and their peculiarities, as well as my agreement with the Pope on the need for oversight and accountability, so I try not to discuss those things publicly anylonger, hence my neglect of the blog.

I do want to say that it seems to me the so-called crisis in the Church, especially as it concerns Vatican II, the Liturgical reforms and the renewal of religious life, reminds me of Job's trial of faith. Last week the first readings at Mass were from the Book of Job. It seems to me those critics of the Pope, especially his bishops and priests, are not only acting like Job's friends, but in the meantime, they/we are missing an opportunity to follow the example of Job, when he was afflicted and everything was taken from him. How do we not see the Lord's hand in all of this? It is His Church after all.

Is there any faith left on earth?

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

I know that you can do all things,*

and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.

“Who is this who obscures counsel with ignorance?”

I have spoken but did not understand;

things too marvelous for me, which I did not know.a

“Listen, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you tell me the answers.”

By hearsay I had heard of you,

but now my eye has seen you.*

Therefore I disown what I have said,

and repent in dust and ashes. - Job 42

Schismatic

2024-07-05T08:44:00.003-05:00

Vigano's dubia got a response.

Vigano! Vigano Announces The Start of His Extrajudicial Criminal Trial for Schism.

2024-06-20T12:21:00.001-05:00

Finally!

The DDF is acting. Vigano has wreaked so much havoc and animosity among Catholics, this action is necessary. He has misled priests, bishops, cloistered nuns and traditionalist Catholics. He's contaminated the Catholic collective consciousness with his venomous attacks against the Pope, the Magisterium, Vatican II and especially the Liturgical Rites of the Church, Holy Mass in particular. This indictment arrives none too soon. Praise God.

BTW, Denying an Ecumenical Council is an act of Schism.

https://x.com/CarloMVigano/status/1803761251668914405

===============

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗺 (art. 2 SST; can. 1364 CIC)

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has informed me, with a simple email, of the initiation of an extrajudicial penal trial against me, with the accusation of having committed the crime of schism and charging me of having denied the legitimacy of “Pope Francis” of having broken communion “with Him” and of having rejected the Second Vatican Council. I have been summoned to the Palace of the Holy Office on June 20, in person or represented by a canon lawyer. I assume that the sentence has already been prepared, given that it is an extrajudicial process.

I regard the accusations against me as an honor. I believe that the very wording of the charges confirms the theses that I have repeatedly defended in my various addresses. It is no coincidence that the accusation against me concerns the questioning of the legitimacy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio and the rejection of Vatican II: the Council represents the ideological, theological, moral, and liturgical cancer of which the Bergoglian “synodal church” is the necessary metastasis.

Back to the Blog

2024-06-19T11:38:00.002-05:00

Christ showing his wounds.

I've been posting on FB long enough.

No matter what I post there, be it personal or commentary on current events in the Church and the world, I manage to upset someone or draw mockery - especially from Catholics who can be incredibly hostile and blind to goodness. So I post and add commentary, only to remove it. I still keep the posts because it's a convenient archive for when I return to blogging. That time is now.

Yesterday I remembered my dad's birthday and noted how my feelings have changed about him, as well as sorrow for my holding a grudge against him. I was documenting a kind of breakthrough in my relationship with him, yes - after all of these years. I was thinking of writing more.

Then my brother intrudes with a rebuke that I always bring up the past and tells me to stop. It was exactly the type of response I used to get from my parents, my older brother and his friends. It was how they reacted to my attempts at painting, writing - even the books I read. It was then and is now dismissive and disrespectful, despite their 'good intentions'.

It's why I moved away from home, from family, from the neighborhood. It's why I'm back here on the blog

I have a project, which will never be finished, but which I must continue to work on, to document until I'm no longer able to do so.

It’s not that you don’t love them anymore.
You’re trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.

When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven’t seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don’t start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.

- Naomi Shiab Nye

The House approves!

2024-04-20T16:38:00.001-05:00

I’m proud of America! We stand with Ukraine.

Trump, MAGA hardest hit.

My hermit life

2024-04-06T20:06:00.001-05:00

Linda's House

2024

Final notes

I've been trying to get back to writing and commentary, but as I let events and controversies pass, I've come to the conclusion my writing is all very inconsequential.

I've imagined attempting to sum up my thoughts, to finish this or that narrative, but I am perfectly content to leave all of that unfinished, incomplete, as it were.

I also no longer have much to say. So many people online are disoriented and misled. I'm appalled at how many Catholics have turned against Pope Francis, while so many in our country continue to support Trump, are pro-Putin and superstitiously anticipating ridiculous developments based upon an eclipse of the sun, associated QAnon myths and private revelations. There is no way to discuss any of that seriously.

I might add, that since Darold died, I've become even more solitary, save for family visits now and then. I've been letting things and acquaintances go, so to speak.

It's not that you don't love them anymore.

You're trying to remember something

too important to forget.

Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.

Tell them you have a new project.

It will never be finished. - Naomi Shihab Nye

So, I don't expect to be posting anything except perhaps my latest painting - and that mostly on the art blog.