Author Archives: monks4christ

A Journey of Renewal

‘The Lord of the Rings’: A Catholic journey

C.S. Lewis likened the tale ( Lord of the Rings ) to “lightning from a clear sky … with beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron.

Would it be fair to say that, in our times, the powers of the world appear ever on the rise, hope is rather scarce, those who discern patiently and exercise responsibility are few and far between, and the meek continue to be trampled underfoot? Has not a prevailing sense of gloom fallen upon our world? Do we not yearn for a happiness we have forgotten or not yet known?

As Lewis noted in his friend J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, in “The Lord of the Rings” we are plunged into a darkening world with characters submerged in anguish. But their anguish is of those who desire more than the inevitable doom thrust upon them. They set out on a journey against all odds. And yet, when we have seen them through all their travels and travails across 576,459 words, we, like them, “return to our own life not relaxed but fortified,” as Lewis wrote.

This is the anguish — the heartbreak — that leads to renewal. It is the renewal of one’s own heart. The match that lights that flame is the vision and the witness of those who have hoped great hopes and journeyed great journeys.

Our Sunday Visitor . WEB

All Souls Day

A first essential setting for learning hope is prayer. When no one listens to me any more, God still listens to me. When I can no longer talk to anyone or call upon anyone, I can always talk to God. When there is no longer anyone to help me deal with a need or expectation that goes beyond the human capacity for hope, he can help me. When I have been plunged into complete solitude … if I pray I am never totally alone.

This early Jewish idea of an intermediate state ( Purgatory ) includes the view that these souls are not simply in a sort of temporary custody but, as the parable of the rich man illustrates … are experiencing a provisional form of bliss. There is also the idea that this state can involve purification and healing which mature the soul for communion with God.

Pope Benedict XVI

At the Tombstone

On Saturday after being consecrated to St. Joseph, and after Mass celebration we drove down to Tombstone ( Arizona ) to evangelize. We set up in front of the Tombstone Visitor Center and had our Rosaries, Medals, Pamphlets ready. Many people took our Rosary and our Medals and we got to speak to many fallen-away Catholics.

One lady was so happy to see us, she wanted to take almost all of our pamphlets and a few Rosaries and all the Medals – Miraculous and St. Michael. A mother and daughter spoke to us and the mother was a practicing Catholic and her daughter wasn’t. Ed told the daughter St. Augustine’s quote: “We came from you O Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Ed told her that everything in life – money, jobs, cars, homes, clothes, people – nothing will make you permanently happy until you get a relationship with God. They last a short time but they all go away.

Robert spoke with a young gentleman and got in a deep discussion with him and was giving him brochures and medals and telling him about the joy of Catholicism. We prayed over a young lady and asked the Lord to heal her daughter and we also spoke to two young ladies, whose husbands were deployed in the military. They were both from Sierra Vista so Ed gave him his card and asked them to listen to the MP3s on the back of the card to learn about our Faith. They were very excited about listening to it. And we spoke to a middle aged lady who loved what we gave her so much, she asked if she could hug each of us!

Praised be Jesus Christ! We handed out approximately 125 rosaries, about 100 pamphlets and about 150 Medals. Overall a very fruitful day.

Saint Paul Street Evangelization