"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein"The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite." Ecclesiastes 1:15
I've always loved the description of the United States in the National Anthem: "The land of the free and the home of the brave." These days, however, it seems we live in the land of the lockdown and the home of the stupid.
But there's hope. Rebellion is in the air thank God. The seven Minnesota bishops just announced they'll be defying government orders to keep church attendance to 20-56 - even in some churches with the capacity for a thousand (talk about stupid on steroids!) They will be offering Masses beginning May 26th in preparation for Pentecost on May 31st. They are limiting churches to 1/3 capacity with health and safety guidelines.
Business owners across the country are defying the orders. Gyms, barbershops, salons -- their owners are re-opening in the face of a real danger of losing their livelihood. Everyone's heard about the Dallas salon owner (sent to jail by a liberal judge with a six-figure guaranteed salary), but she has plenty of company -- in Pennsylvania, in Texas and Idaho and plenty of other places. It isn't just individuals defying the orders. Local governments are beginning to rebel against their tinpot god governors. Madison County in Illinois voted to declare all businesses and churches essential. Facing opposition, some governors are doubling down with SWAT teams and arrests. Heck, they let the criminals out of jail so they could fill them up with lockdown resisters! Those folks represent the most dangerous desperadoes because they threaten the power of our modern fascists. But it's hard to arrest thousands ignoring a closed beach order like happened in Virginia Beach last weekend.
The other night I was in an online conversation where a few parishioners were calling for Father to require (rather than recommend) face masks. One person suggested that those in non-compliance should be given "goldfish" for Communion. The fact that face masks for the healthy are unnecessary, particularly when healthy people are social distancing, doesn't matter. That masks can cause problems for asthmatics and others doesn't seem to matter either. They judge those of us who don't wear masks as lacking in charity.
I guess at my next confession I'll have to say, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I failed to wear a face mask at daily Mass five times. Oh...and I also picked up my grandson and gave him a big kiss violating the social distancing commandment." Hmm...is that a mortal sin or a venial sin?
The coronavirus has revealed more, perhaps, than we wanted to know about our friends and neighbors. That, for me, is the saddest thing of all. Fear turns otherwise sensible people into happy little home prisoners (as long as they have the financial means not to need to work to put food on the table).
It also makes them judges and character assassins of their fellows. They are the anointed who obey Caesar and care about their neighbors unlike those of us who don't care if we kill people by not wearing mostly useless face masks (even alone in the car).
I wish Charles Schulz was still alive. I'd love to see a discussion between Lucy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts gang about this insanity.
I wish Charles Schulz was still alive. I'd love to see a discussion between Lucy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts gang about this insanity.
We are seeing the two quotes at the beginning of this article lived out every day during the virus. Stupidity has no limit and the number of fools is infinite. Oh...and evil from tyrannical government dictators goes right along with them
God have mercy on us in these very strange and depressing times.
I wonder whether approaching the Eucharist with a lace veil over one's face would satisfy the mask mandaters. Still doesn't help the men. But it technically fulfills the "mask" requirement while also providing a powerful symbolism of "Lord, I am not worthy".
ReplyDeleteWonderfully expressed! My sentiments exactly. But I must say I am terribly angry and trying that it not get the better of me.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how St Philip Neri, the cheerful one, would handle this. Keep up the good work Mary Ann.
A leftist Democrat neighbor called the police (this has been a month ago) to report her neighbor who was WORKING IN HIS GARAGE WITH THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN!! The second time she called, the police came out and told her to stop calling them haha. Glad I live in a Republican state.
ReplyDeleteWent out to dinner last night with a friend for the first time in 2 months. Every other table was marked off, but even so, there were FAR more than 10 people present. So why the 10 person limit for churches...which are much larger than the restaurant last night?
Anyone who thinks there is not an ongoing war on Christianity has just gotten a dead wet fish slapped on their face. David Horowitz succinctly writes about it in his book "Dark Agenda - The War to Destroy Christian America."
ReplyDeleteThose quotes are helpful. Here is another, favorite of mine by Fr. Francisco de Osuna:
ReplyDelete"No amount of education can supply the brains that nature has denied."
"Strange and Depressing times " for sure.
ReplyDeleteI keep saying this is all surreal.
Masked and gloved , my husband and I got up in the dark to shop for groceries during the senior safe hour several weeks ago.
While loading up the check out belt the woman next in line standing behind both her cart and mine, passed a few pleasant comments.
Despite our masked faces and our obviously correct social distance . The cashier had a few harsh reminders for us. Immediately we extended our arms towards each other displaying the fact that there was more than six feet between us and we laughed. The cashier did not see the humor nor was SHE wearing a mask. I was annoyed and husband reminded me that a little bit of perceived power goes right to the head of some people.
People who are prepared to sacrifice freedom for the sake of security deserve neither and will lose both. The reign of Anti-Catholic Antichrist is moving along nicely. The PAC human will become the norm. Pinned and Chipped. And the far seeing eagle Saint John told us in The Apocalypse (Don’t call it Revelations) that non-conformers would not be able to buy anything unless they wear the mark of the beast. Isn’t it great that the Devil, his principalities and powers have been determined to rid the world of Roman Catholicism since Jesus Christ ascended to heaven in 33 AD. If he, the Resurrection and the life were to return in 13 years time, 2033, to judge the living and the dead what faith will he look for? Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Mormon, Adventist, Calvinist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Judaic, Islamist, Hinduist, Buddhist, Jansenist, Born Againist...
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it so re-assuring that the Catholic Church is the one that Satan wishes to destroy. He always knew his time was short. Does he suspect that Jesus Christ might return after 2000 years. He has to get his “adorable” Antichrist Saviour installed before then so as to harvest the souls of the majority of the 7 billion+ people still living. What do interfaith “Catholics” intend to do about it?
I think face masks will actually UNMASK the liberals in our parish who can't let go of their "belief" in science and get back to having " belief" in the power of God. Obviously they have very little trust in Him who saves and heals us.
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