Bloody but still standing: Facebook Follies and an Imaginary Conversation

I just extricated myself from a circular firing squad at Patrick Archbold's Facebook page where I am considered a "Neo-pelagian who prefers sentimentality to the truth".  I'm still kind of laughing considering my history of getting into trouble over the "tone" of my newsletter and blog for being too rigid in proclaiming the truths of the faith.

But setting that aside for the moment, it all began over a discussion of the Christmas song, Mary, Did You Know? I confess that I know the song implies that Mary did not know (and, of course she did) and that the song reflects the Protestants' disbelief in the Immaculate Conception, in the lines, "Mary did you know...that the child that you delivered would soon deliver you." (And, of course, Jesus delivered Mary at her conception). But, really, the song was written by a Protestant Christian who is recognizing Mary's central role in the Nativity. Is there nothing here to celebrate?

"The West is Crumbling...." Enlist in the Battle for Souls!

Revelation 12: The battle between the Woman clothed with the sun with twelve stars for her crown and the dragon 

Msgr. Charles Pope is a prophetic voice for our times. I was reading his article on the Book of Revelation this morning and came to this statement:

The West is crumbling and decadence abounds. Confusion about basic reality is so widespread that our current cultural situation can credibly be described as a lunatic asylum. Even within the Church, voices that should speak out prophetically are silenced by fear and infected by worldliness. There is among Church leaders, clergy, and laity a widespread softness and a feeling that the risk of speaking out is too great.

What rational, faithful Catholic can argue with this? And yet his message is not one of "despair and die" but rather one of hope. Understand the signs of the times and fight the good fight: