A TIME WILL COME

Buried behind a growing mountain of toys in my living is a short book case. It's not a fantastic, it's just there. It has three shelves. The top two are easily accessible, filled with an assortment of learning material for my kids. The bottom shelf, at least half of it, is the new home for part of my own burgeoning book collection.

Once you get past the building blocks in front, the plastic knick-knacks, and assorted stuffed animals, you'll find great minds from antiquity like Plato and Cicero. There are some saints mixed in with some poetry and politics. The thickest work, by far, is my Denzinger. The Sources of Catholic Dogma was one of my favourite reads from the past year.

As a notoriously slow reader, I was desperately trying to finish the book so I could move on to another read. But that was the part of the problem: I was going through it too fast. The Catholic faith is not something you skim through. That hit home to me in one of the passages in the Denzinger that talked about how Jesus Christ speaks to us through all aspects of His Church. So whether we're talking about Sacred Scripture, the Magisterium, or even the Liturgical calendar, if we look to the Church, she can help us discern the will of God.

I wish I could find that passage to point to right now, but it's getting late. I was thinking about the Church's Liturgical calendar when I came across this video:

From Youtube: Christsforgiveness

It's about a street preacher in Toronto who was arrested and charged with with disturbing the peace. David Lynn is, arguably, a controversial figure. He's caused a commotion before over similar antics. In a nutshell: he preaches against sin on street corners. In this case, he was speaking out against the sin of homosexual acts, which is in line with Catholic teaching. (I don't believe Mr. Lynn is Catholic.) 

The arrest is interesting, given that it's June, which means "Pride Month" in Ontario. The video is also some compelling footage. Here's what happens when you present the Gospel.

It reminds me about a quote from St. Anthony the Great: 

“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us.'”

This is one of those times. The saint's point, I believe, can be applied to many points in the history of man - just look at the French Revolution. This quote, however, applies rather fittingly to our own culture.

June wasn't always "pride" month. It was, and still is, the month dedicated to our Lord's Sacred Heart. Instead of giving time to a celebration of the deadliest of sins, let us live according to the liturgical calendar of our Holy Mother Church. Let us honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ, have mercy on us. 

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. 

Christ, graciously hear us. 

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. 

(Repeat have mercy on us. after each line)

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 

God the Holy Spirit, 

Holy Trinity, one God, 

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, 

Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in 

the Virgin Mother's womb, 

Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the

Word of God, 

Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, 

Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, 

Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, 

Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, 

Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, 

Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, 

Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, 

Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, 

Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, 

Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, 

Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures 

of wisdom and knowledge, 

Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, 

Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, 

Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, 

Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, 

Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, 

Heart of Jesus, rich to all who call upon You, 

Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, 

Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our offenses, 

Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with reproaches, 

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our iniquities, 

Heart of Jesus, obedient even unto death, 

Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, 

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, 

Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, 

Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, 

Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, 

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in You, 

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You, 

Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, 

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, 

Spare us, O Lord. 

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, 

Graciously hear us, O Lord. 

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, 

Have mercy on us. 

Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, 

Make our hearts like unto Thine. 

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy most beloved Son and upon the praises and satisfaction which He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and to those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy great goodness, grant forgiveness in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee forever and ever. Amen.