The Decline of Gravitas in a Culture of Whiny Child Adults

This morning at Mass, our pastor read a letter from Fr. Davide Pagliarani to the lay faithful about the current situation between the SSPX and the Vatican. It offered consolation and encouragement, something the laity certainly haven't received from our father in Rome sad to say. It also manifested a virtue that one seldom hears about today -- gravitas, a seriousness and dignity, not to mention respect and concern for the laity. It was inspiring to listen to it. It's not published online yet, but no doubt will be by the time I return from my retreat. I'll post it then.

The Mental Health Trap

Do you think everyone needs counseling? Some people do -- especially counselors. After all, that's their bread and butter. So it's refreshing to see a professional psychiatrist, Dr. Roger McFillin, say this:

Why Focusing on Your "Mental Health" Is Harmful

The Age of Unreason and Unruly Passions!

We live in an age of unreason. Even our language reflects it. People often express their "thoughts" by saying, "I feel that...." In fact, I once watched a street interview where a young woman said that only feelings are real. Gosh, what a statement! If you feel angry enough to murder someone, should you do it?

God gave us feelings. Why? From my perspective, feelings are an important part of being human. Think of a mother with her newborn nestled in her arms asleep. She is overwhelmed with feelings of love. Those feelings inspire her to nurture and protect that innocent bundle she's cuddling. Often feelings of attraction lead us to a dating situation. If our feelings take over, fornication or adultery may be the next step. If reason controls those feelings, the next step will be a journey of exploration. Who is this person that attracts me? Do we share the same faith, the same values? What obstacles are there to the relationship growing from attraction into love, courtship, and marriage? 

Sunday Meditation: The Relationship Between Feelings and Sin

I've been reading selections from St. Claude de la Colombiere's writings: letters, retreat notes, diary entries, etc. He often writes about the correct approach to feelings and how to deal with them. In our age, when so many people have tossed reason to the wind and act mostly on their feelings, St. Claude's wisdom is much needed.

Feelings and Their Proper Role in Our Lives

This week has been interesting with regard to my spiritual reading. Everything I pick up has been about feelings and their proper place. Looking at the statue of the Sacred Heart at our chapel on Sunday, stirred feelings of gratitude and love for Jesus and awe over His love for us. Beauty has a way of doing that. Feelings are a significant part of our makeup. Having said that, it's important to keep them in their proper role.

 Yesterday, I read this in The Imitation of Christ:

Thought for the Day from St. Dominic

My Confirmation patron is St. Dominic. What a wise and holy man. And how much we could use him today. We live in a culture of feelings. If a woman feels like a man, she insists she really is one. If a man feels like a woman, he insists he is one. But feelings will never make a woman fancy on the outside or a man fancy on the inside as Mr. Rogers would put it. Nope! Feelings can’t change biology. They can, however, change a person in an instant from a rational being making sensible decisions, to an out-of-control puppet ruled by his feelings.

Sometimes you just gotta laugh at the ridiculousness of the liberal mind....

....that gushes over the courage and inspiration of Bruce Jenner for letting out his inner woman....

but excoriates Rachel Dolezal for "pretending" to be black.

How come a man pretending to be a woman is brave and garners all kinds of positive, no, idolizing press, but a woman pretending to be black is described as "faking" and "lying?" Hey, isn't it all about feelings today? Bruce Jenner is a man who "feeeeeeels" like a woman. Chastity Bono is a woman who "feeeeeels" like a man. Why can't Rachel Dolezal be a white woman who "feeeeeels" black.

Why can't I be whatever I "feeeeel?" I think I'll let out my inner president. I "feeeeel" like the first woman president. Soooooo.....Get out of my house, Obama!

Now here's the reality of feelings. Live in the real world. "I'm a boy, she's a girl and this is the world....The feeling may be fleeting, here one second and then it's gone, gone, gone."

Sunday Meditation: You Can't Emote Your Way to Christ!

A guest meditation today from my sister Carol. Thanks for the reminder, Sis! 

If you think feeling and emoting are the way to Christ...well..that is a major error.
Feelings for the most part are very untrustworthy..Please note that fact..feelings are not always trustworthy....I can feel like bopping someone in the nose but I am not to act on that because one is supposed to "put one's brain into gear" and control the action that would be taken on that feeling if left to go unchecked...