Modern Catholic Living

Being a Catholic in today's world is not an easy thing.  Wherever you go in the world, it seems the Church is suffering persecution.  In the middle-east, especially Iraq and Syria, but also Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Pakistan, Christians are persecuted even to the point of death.  Being of an Islamic background and committing "apostasy" for coming to believe in Jesus for who He really is (the Son of God, not some kind of illusion and lie like the Quran claims He is) is punishable by death.  And middle-eastern nations are not the only nations persecuting us.  Muslim nations all over the world, from Asia to Africa, Indonesia to Tunisia, the four corners of the earth even, are persecuting the Church.  And I'm not singling out Muslims.  Muslims are not the only ones who hate Catholic-Christians, and not all Muslims hate Christians.  A large majority of Muslims are peaceful with their Christian brothers and sisters, but many Muslim "pharisees" who sit in judgement under Sharia are not so merciful.

And Christianity is not just being persecuted in the Muslim world.  Christianity is being persecuted in the secular world as well.  Our great nation, the United States of America, hates Christianity.  Oh sure, all the founding fathers were either Christians, or Theistic-Deistic believers in religious freedom, but Christianity is no longer welcome in our great nation.  And the false form of "Christianity" which 75% of Americans claim to be, is not Christianity at all.  Christianity is living in the world, but not being of the world.  Christianity is both living the Gospel, AND preaching the Gospel.  Christianity is taking up your cross DAILY, putting all things under Christ, and bringing all thoughts into Captivity of Christ.  Only 22% of Americans "Christians" are Catholic.  I feel like I'm being too statistical, but these numbers mean something.

These numbers mean that those of us who are trying to live a truly devout life, are a small minority.  We are, I really believe.  And like many minorities, with that comes discrimination, misunderstanding, and persecution.  And no great wonder!  For what did they do to Jesus?  The Great Prophet Isaiah, looking nearly 800 years into the future through the Mighty Spirit of God, proclaims "Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted.

 But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed."

So there you have it.  He was despised, He was looked on even as a leper.  But He did it to bear our infirmities and carry our sorrows.  So what should we think of when the world persecutes us?  Has God abandoned us?  I trough not.  Jesus said we'd have persecution in this world.  He said we'd be hated by many, and what did He tell us to think when it happens?  "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for so persecuted they the prophets that came before you".  So there you have it.  When we hear of Christian priests being beheaded in Iraq, first we should pray for them, then we should thank God for His Holy Priests.  Thank God for blessing His Priests with the utmost honor, the honor of being baptized in blood for Christ, the honor of receiving a martyrs crown, the honor of being brought directly into His Presence for giving their lives a witness for His Holy Name.

Should we falter when we are persecuted?  Shall we disdain the name of the Lord our God?  Not if we are Christians, we shalt not.  I pray God to give all of you, my brothers and sisters, the strength to literally stick out our necks and do what St. Paul the Apostle did.  Pour ourselves out as a libation to the Great God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  I pray the Lord Jesus to strengthen us as He strengthened St. Pope Peter the Apostle, when St. Peter stretched out his arms and was brought where he would not, but had to, in order to fulfill the will of God.  I pray the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, so that we, like King Jesus and St. Stephen the Archdeacon and Protomartry, may have the love and forgiveness, the grace and the mercy, to pray for and bless our persecutors, even as they are crucifying, stoning, beheading, flaying, shooting, or whatever other grizzly execution method they can use on our bodies they can come up with.  I pray we may NEVER fear those who can kill the body, but then can do no more.  I pray we may uphold the Saviors Word, that we should NOT fear those who kill the body, but that we should fear Him, who after the body is dead, can kill the SOUL in HELL.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Have mercy on us!

Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison!

St. Pope Peter the Apostle, pray for us!

St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us!

St. Stephen the Protomarty, pray for us!

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us!

St. Mother Mary, Queen of Saints and Heaven, pray for us!

Lord have mercy,

Maranatha, Maranatha, Maranatha!

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

The Spirit and the bride saith: come Lord Jesus!  Come Quickly!

Alleluiah!

Amen and Amen!