Covid Culture and the Age of Separation

[Edited since posting.]

There are numerous theories as to why they want us in our homes so badly. I have not heard anyone else point out that we are simultaneously being concentrated and separated. It is true, venturing out is no longer for the faint-hearted. But I am beginning to see the whole thing as a game. This perspective changes everything and is very therapeutic. Games are frustrating and fun. With the right attitude, maybe we can actually cope with this emerging chaotic world and preserve our sanity…

“With God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

I needed to shop for several things and my favorite department store was having a big sale this weekend. I spent 2 days shopping and was rather exhausted after the experience…

The fitting rooms were closed, so they expected you to buy clothes simply to take them home and try them on…then come back and hold up the 6-foot distanced line with all your returns and exchanges. How much more sanitary is it for people to take the clothes home and throw them all over their beds? What a great new system! At one point, I started to overheat in my winter coat (menopause) and wondered where I could stash it while I shopped. I thought, “The closed fitting room!” I explained to a female employee I was not feeling well and asked if I could do that. She said “No” and walked away. I wanted to yell, “I see you’ve never had a hot flash!” I then asked a cashier if I could stick my coat by the register and she was very accommodating. She was young and I could have been her mother. I learned something: always ask a young person. Okay, I’m starting to get the rules of this game! Another great thing I found out was that the handicapped stall in the women’s room was taped up to prevent people from trying on clothes in there. So if you’re in a wheelchair or have a baby in a stroller, you’ll need to go down one level on the elevator (which is nowhere near the restroom), out of the store and all the way to the mall restrooms, which are down a long hallway. Wow, this mall’s got it goin on!

Out in the mall, all the chairs have been removed. They were vinyl, which would have been easy to wipe down. There is no place to rest or sit and have a snack. Starbucks won’t let you sit either, so you can get your Egg Bites and eat them standing up at one of the charging stations. Okay, let’s play the game! Figure out where you can sit. Some restrooms still have chairs and there are always SHOE DEPARTMENTS! K-Ching! 50 points! It is very sad, the mall used to be populated with many lonely people, some elderly, who would sit in the chairs and just hang out. I guess they’re all at home now, living like recluses and getting depressed, which is probably great for their health. So much for “safe and healthy.” The connection between the mind and body, which has been well established, has been completely dismissed. We are now just bodies with no connection to anything higher, with no other needs.

I have been wearing a clear mask, which allows me to breathe better and smile at people. I was behind a father and his 2 children on line. I smiled at the kids and said, “I can smile!” I could see big smiles on their faces, even through the masks. The father turned around, looked at me coldly and looked away. Just trying to give your children a sense of hope and normalcy. Sorry! (Okay, I admit it was weird.) One older man commented on the clear mask and said he liked it. We got into a great conversation. He said he finds the mask uncomfortable, dehumanizing and wonders about ill effects. So wonderful when you meet another true human being who can still think and feel!

The fear of “covid” has permeated every aspect of our culture and everyday lives. My husband tried to food shop yesterday, but turned around as soon as he saw the lines outside…the Super Bowl plus an impending snowstorm…forget about it.

A culture designed around a disease will itself be diseased.

When we speak of this “Age of Separation,” it means many things. It seems a great chasm between good and evil is forming, a polarization as never before. The forced physical separation between individuals results in psychological separation as well (there’s a reason why hugs are so powerful). Homicide rates this past year have skyrocketed. That is no surprise, when you’ve created fear between people and the inability to connect…and when you’ve stressed them to the breaking point. “Safe and healthy” is classic Orwellian doublespeak. All the humanity, compassion and understanding is leaving our society. What will replace it?

Welcome to the New World Order!

Easy Edible Sprouts in Your Kitchen!

Find out how these alfalfa seeds got from this ^ to this…

Stay tuned!

2021 March For Life Wrap-Up

*** Text “March” to 73075 ***

You can “march” all year long by texting the word “march” to the number above. You will be given very easy (basically one click) ways to contact your legislators about pro-life issues. The messages are pre-written-there is no way for it to be easier! You will also become educated on every piece of pro-life legislation on the federal level, which this new administration will try to influence. If you prefer, there is also an email option. Do it today before they start changing our laws!

Watch 2021 March For Life

The virtual March for Life this year was exceptionally done. This was an unprecedented project, since the first March of 20,000 people in 1974, only one year after the “Roe vs Wade” decision. The president, Jeanne Mancini, and her team pulled it together and did a remarkable job. The footage is about 2 1/2 hours. The first half is a series of short, pre-recorded talks from pro-life leaders around the country. The second half contains live interviews and coverage of the March. This is a great “documentary” for young people, which can be used for catechism classes or youth groups. It is not boring at all, the time goes by effortlessly and is quite inspiring. One of the highlights was the talk given by Tim Tebow, keynote speaker of this year’s Rose Dinner Gala, athlete, humanitarian and himself a “miracle baby.”

March For Life Website

Click on the link above for news, March merchandise, “Take Action” button, donations and more.

Every faithful Catholic must fight this fight for life and against evil is his own way. Why is the world undergoing such a chastisement? Why is God allowing it? None of this will end until humanity repents and turns back to God and His Law of Love.

February: Month of the Passion of Our Lord

We are keeping track of where we are in the Liturgical Year. As of the last day of January, we have moved from “Season After Epiphany” to “Season After Septuagesima,” or simply “Septuagesima.” This is the brief time before Lent, when the vestments turn purple and we begin to contemplate the Mystery of the Redemption: The Cycle of Easter has begun! During Septuagesima, we prepare for Lent so we are not caught on Ash Wednesday with no plan. This year, roughly one year into a changed world, it is more important than ever, to be prepared for Lent and to give God our very best. We must do all we can to secure mercy for the world and Holy Church at this hour. In many places last Easter, the churches were closed (including New York, where I live) and people could not receive Our Blessed Lord on this greatest of all solemnities. Let us celebrate a worthy Lent this year, that we may joyfully attend Holy Mass on Easter this year!

It is also important though, to remain positive and not to stress ourselves too much. We are all traumatized from the past year and concerned about the state of the world. We must practice good self-care and stress reduction. So there needs to be a balance between our penitential practices and remembering the joy of life. The most important thing is love. Love for God, for self and for neighbor. When in doubt, just love!

Traditionally in Lent, meat is eaten at only one meal and of course, no meat on Fridays. Being that February is devoted to the Passion of Our Lord, we may wish to think about how we may integrate this into our Lenten activities. We also have the Ember Days this month-further opportunity for prayer and penance.

On the 2nd of the month, we celebrate the Presentation of Our Lord, a topic we dealt with in Lesson 4 of our Prepper Rosary Program. On Shrove Tuesday, we adore the Holy Face of Jesus, a wonderful contemplation as Lent is about to begin. This month also honors 2 Doctors of the Church, Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette, St. Apollonia and Francisco & Jacinto Marto, 2 of the Fatima children who died young. Following is a sampling of the feasts of February. Septuagesima* and Lenten blessings to all!

2/2-PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD, traditionally also known as the PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY and Candlemas

2/3-St. Blaise, Blessing of Throats

2/5-First Friday / St. Agatha, Martyr honored in Canon of Mass

2/6-First Saturday / St. Titus, Companion of St. Paul

2/7-Sexagesima Sunday

2/8-St. Josephine Bakhita, 20th Century Saint

2/9-St. Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor, “Doctor of the Incarnation,” “Seal of the Fathers” / St. Apollonia, Martyr, Patroness of Dentistry

2/11-OUR LADY OF LOURDES

2/14-Quinquagesima Sunday / St. Valentine, Martyr, Patron of lovers, epileptics and beekeepers / Sts. Cyril & Methodius

2/16-HOLY FACE OF JESUS, Shrove Tuesday

2/17-ASH WEDNESDAY, fast & abstinence

2/18-St. Bernadette, Seer of Lourdes

2/20-Francisco & Jacinta Marto, Seers of Fatima, 20th Century Saints

2/21-St. Peter Damian, Doctor, “Monitor of the Popes” (new)

2/22-Chair of St. Peter

2/23-St. Polycarp, Martyr / St. Peter Damian (trad)

2/24-Ember Wednesday in Lent / St. Matthias, Apostle who replaced Judas, Martyr

2/26-Ember Friday in Lent

2/27-Ember Saturday in Lent

* I’ve typed this word so many times over the years, I just don’t care anymore! Of course, the spell check does not know of such things. Please don’t contact me to tell me I spelled it wrong:)

Image courtesy http://www.jesusdivinemercy.com

2021 March For Life...This Friday!

Washington DC *** January 29th

For most of us it will be virtual ~ Let’s get numbers like never before!

Watch the Rally & March ~ You must RSVP! From the website:

“The March for Life Rally and march to the Supreme Court will be broadcast online for you to join virtually. We invite you to join us online for the broadcast by RSVPing at https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/. On January 29th, you will receive a link in your email inbox containing the link to watch the March for Life Rally and march.”

Virtual Rose Dinner Gala Register

“Advocate for Life at Capitol Hill 101” ~ Online One-Hour Lobbying Training Session ~ Thurs, 1/28 Register

FAQS PAGE

STATE MARCHES

(some are scheduled for the Spring)

Update

From our spiffed-up “Contact/Email List” page (see button above):

Contact Nomen Christi Apostolate at: director@nomenchristi.org

Please feel free to contact us and share your thoughts or suggestions. Comments may be shared on our blog-a first name and location would be helpful.

subscriber Email List

Please contact us above with “Email List” in the subject box. For those in the New York area, please let us know you are local and you will receive appropriate emails dealing with local issues or events. If you have met CF Mathews personally, please give us your name and church or organization you attend or are affiliated with.

We generally send links to important posts on the blog or timely issues. You will also be notified about Program details when they occur, whether local or online. We send only occasionally, though if there is a lot going on at once, you may receive a few in a row. We never share contact information and all email recipients are kept confidential. This email account has no affiliation with “Squarespace,” further protecting your privacy. Thank you for your interest!

Feast of Saint Francis de Sales

What consoling words these are by St. Francis de Sales…

Your Cross

The Everlasting God, has in His wisdom, foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you, as a gift from His inmost Heart. This cross He now sends you, He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms, and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large, and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from Heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful Love of God.

48th Anniversary of Roe vs Wade

This is an actual picture of a miscarried baby. You can see the head is only as big as the mother’s thumb.

Let us remember all pro-life intentions in our prayers (how about the Rosary?) and offerings today. None of this present suffering will change if the whole world does not repent. Spread the message of repentance!

Please consider emailing your political representatives or Governor, expressing your concern for all human life (you may want to add any comments about church lockdowns). For those in New York, here is Governor Cuomo’s Email (please ignore the mind-control at the top of the page).

+++ Lord, have mercy +++

Lesson 4, Part 2B-Prepper Rosary Program

Matthew 6:31 & The Sermon on the Mount

We will deal further with the 3 ideas presented in the last Lesson…

1) Always use common sense combined with prayer.

We need to be careful when interpreting Holy Scripture. The Protestants somehow can read "For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed,” (John 6:56) and still think Holy Communion is merely a symbol. The Jews can somehow read the entire Old Testament and fail to notice how Christ fulfilled every prophecy about the Messiah. We too, can interpret wrongly, if not properly prepared. We need to proceed with prayer and a proper knowledge of the Faith. Being in a state of grace, as should always be our primary concern, will help us as well. If you have not been confirmed for some reason, this is important, to receive all the wisdom of the Holy Ghost. If we are confused, consulting with a good priest or good resource would be in order. It is also important to be well-versed in Scripture as a whole, so all things can be seen in proper context and relation…also, each verse must be carefully taken in its own context.

“Common Sense” is hard to explain these days, in an age where it has completely lost meaning. Several decades ago, there was still a vestige of it, but today it seems utterly lost. However, among the holy, it seems to still exist. Common sense springs forth from the Essence of God Himself. It appeals to an inner-knowing that the world and all its wiles cannot override. It possesses simplicity, reason and balance. It is not a thing that can be taught or over-thought. It is simply there within each of us. Particularly, at this confusing time, we have no other recourse than to appeal to common sense and inner-knowing.

Matthew 6:31 is an important verse from The Sermon on the Mount which contains great wisdom. We must take care to interpret it with the balance of common sense. We are told not to worry about our physical needs. The operative word here is “worry” (“solicitous”). That does not mean do not care for our own physical needs and for those in our care. It is in fact our duty to do so, which brings us to the next point…

2) Do what you can within reason. Beyond this, trust in God.

“Within reason.” This will mean different things to different people, depending on their circumstances. What does “within reason” mean to you? We are familiar with blizzards, blackouts, floods, hurricanes and fires. Now, with the advancement of the New World Order takeover (I am not mentioning covid, because that is the distraction-every twobit magician knows this trick), we are becoming familiar with supply shortages, lockdowns, quarantines and riots. If things continue to escalate, it is not unreasonable to assume access may continue to decrease and self-sufficiency will become more important. Preppers and “truthers” have been predicting these times for years. Only you can answer this question for yourself: What does “within reason” mean to you?” What is your own situation? What are your own responsibilities?

Another point that needs to be said, is that we have been living in unprecedented times for the past century. Normal self-sufficient practices are largely gone from western culture. So something like Matthew 6:31 needs to be taken in that light. In addition, some people have a special calling to a preparedness ministry. These people should not be criticized or judged. In that hour, after the tsunami has hit, those judgers will be thankful they have a safe place to go with their children.

So…do what you can and always trust in God and His Providence. That doesn’t mean bad things can’t still happen to you. “For after all these things do the heathens seek.” We have a fear-obsessed culture which focuses only on this life and physical well-being. When people say to me these days, “Be safe,” I now say to them, “Life is not about being safe.” We must accept that our efforts may at times fail and retain "the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding." (Philippians 4:7)

3) Avoid extremes.

On one end of the scale is living only in the moment, careless of what tomorrow may bring. The other end is a “Doomsday Prepper” compound, complete with mini-army, booby-traps and underground bunker with a deluxe stereo system. There has got to be a happy medium of sanity, holiness, responsibility and trust in God. This is what we are trying to accomplish here at Nomen Christi Apostolate-to find this balance and encourage resilient communities of love and peace which strive to bring back “The Authentic Life,” life as our Creator intended it. This life is inherently safer and self-reliant.

+ + +

“Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.” This is one of the most consoling messages of Our Lord and one we should recite frequently to ourselves. In practicality, this means to focus on the work of the day with peace and simplicity. There are times to address the overarching reality, the Big Plan, but for the most part, our lives involve the “mundane” activities. The key that many never understand, is that some of our greatest intuitions and moments of growth come at these times-because the essence of life is within these little things. There is a blessed peace contained in these moments if they are approached with complete acceptance. God will take care of the Big Plan. We especially must trust in this, at a time when unthinkable things are happening in the Church, such as the suspension of Mass obligation. He’s got this. We are His children, purchased by His Son’s very Blood. "I will not leave you orphans." (John 14:18)

“Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This is another quote which should be committed to memory and often meditated upon. How can we expect God’s protection in this chaotic life without first being right with Him? Our Lord is illustrating the primary importance of spiritual well-being, for nothing else matters if you have lost your soul. This does not mean that if you are holy, no hardship will come to you, but it suggests that you will have some measure of protection or at least consolation in your sufferings. Take care of your soul and the rest will fall into place.

+ + +

The Sermon on the Mount is the most famous sermon in all history and the longest recorded in the Gospels, spanning Chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew. Our Lord begins by teaching the 8 Beatitudes* and then tells us “You are the light of the world.” We must be detached from the world in order to properly transform it. He then teaches His revolutionary transformations of the Old Law. Now that God’s Son has come into the world, perfection can be attained…”Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” “The Lord’s Prayer” is taught and then He goes on to the text we have been discussing. Actually, the full verse comprises Matthew 6:19-34, and contains some of the most poetic language of the Gospels:

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?”

The Sermon concludes with a series of additional admonitions. We can now see the teaching we are focusing on in its context within The Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord is giving us a number of lessons on how to live life, both with respect to God and to man. He is showing us that an evolution is now occurring. God’s revelation of Himself to man has entered its next chapter and greater perfection will be expected. This is understandable, given the great gift of His Son, His Holy Church and the Holy Eucharist. Matthew 6:31 simply expounds upon the Sermon’s themes of detachment and trust in God. The Sermon on the Mount is deeply consoling, especially during times such as our own. These teachings transformed the world once before and can do so once again!

* From Learn Religions:

The word beatitude comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The phrase "blessed are" in each beatitude implies a current state of happiness or well-being. This expression held a powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of Christ's day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are those who possess these inward qualities." While speaking of a current "blessedness," each pronouncement also promised a future reward.

Lesson 4, Part 2A-Prepper Rosary Program

“Lesson 4” of our Prepper Rosary Program deals with the topic, “Improve Your Spiritual Life ~ The Presentation of Our Lord.” We presented the verse from Holy Scripture below, focusing on the admonition to “Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God.” We dealt briefly with the rest of the quote. Being that this particular verse is sometimes used against the idea of “preparedness,” it is important to focus more deeply on it (which we will do now and also in our next lesson, Part 2B)...

“Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.

Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.”

Matthew 6:31

Looking at the above, from the standpoint of a “Catholic Prepper,” there are 3 basic points that need to be made. I will simply ask you to meditate on these until our next lesson, which will expound upon each point-you may wish to make your own notes.

1) Always use common sense combined with prayer.

2) Do what you can within reason. Beyond this, trust in God.

3) Avoid extremes.

In addition, below is a link to our Scriptural quotes dealing with preparedness. Please review this-it exists nowhere else on the internet. I compiled it myself, through painstaking research-there is also a PDF, which is less comprehensive, since it needed to fit on one page…

…and don’t forget Noah, “The Original Prepper!”

BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR PREPAREDNESS

BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR PREPAREDNESS PDF PRINTABLE