Getting things done.

 This is the beginning of a fairly busy week here at the ranch. This morning was bloodwork and tinkle in a cup for this Thursday's once a year physical. Not really looking forward to it, even though at my age and physical health it's usually just a question-and-answer thing. How do you feel, anything you need to have done, etc... I think I'll bring up the issue of my really bad left knee, which I'm sure need replacing. I guess I'll have to move forward with that. One funny anecdote from a couple of visits back; the nurse was taking some pre-doctor notes and she sprang me with the question "Do you know what day it is?", then "What is the date?" I knew what day it was, but I wasn't 100% sure on the date! I'm retired, who cares what the date is! I was a little teed-off but I let it go. Anyway, I'll have him look me over and we'll see where the chips fall. 

On the spiritual front, Ash Wednesday is this week and being a SSPX Mission Chapel, unfortunately no Mass on Wednesday. We do have a FSSP Church downstate in Nashua, St. Stanislaus, and we decided to head down that way. They have a Low Mass at 12:10 with distribution of Ashes before Mass. The plan is to leave early and go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's before Mass instead of after. We usually go to these two stores once a month and do our big shopping there. Organic and non-GMO is what we really try to stick to, and it seems to be helping us. Between those three destinations, that should take up most of our Wednesday. Friday I'm Motor Vehicle bound, re-new my license and handicap placard. Iay have to take an eye test, but no problem with that. 'Must remember what day it is...'

Today is the Feast of Blessed Veridiana, Virgin, Franciscan Third Order Secular. She died in 1242, and her story always stirs up in my mind the incredible lengths that the Blesseds and Saints would go to leave this world while still in it. I'll leave you with this, after she returned from pilgrimages to Compostella and Rome: 

Upon her return home, Veridiana had an anchorage built hard by the chapel of St Anthony in Florence. The cell is preserved to this day. It is ten feet long and three and a half feet wide. For furniture there is only a ledge, a foot wide, projecting from the stone wall and serving as a seat. A small window in the cell opens upon the chapel. Through it she could attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion as well as the necessary bodily nourishment. Blessed Veridiana was only twenty-six years old when, with a crucifix in her arms and escorted by her spiritual director and a great number of people, she entered the narrow cell and permitted the door to be immediately walled up. In this voluntary retirement she spent the remaining thirty-four years of her life as an anchoress in prayer and severe penance. In summer her bed was the bare earth; in winter she lay on a board with a block of wood serving as a pillow. Her food consisted of bread and water and herbs. Her only living associates were two large snakes which crept in and out of her cell, with whom she shared her food and her dwelling, in the spirit of penance, for many years. About the year 1222, when St Francis was preaching penance in the vicinity of Florence, he also went to visit the poor anchoress, gave her the habit of the Third Order and many beautiful lessons on the proper way to live a contemplative life.

Quinquagesima Sunday.

 Our Lord takes the time to proclaim to His apostles exactly what is going to happen to Him; delivered, scourged and put to death. They apparently understand none of it. Their ears are still closed. They heard this told to them by Our Lord Himself, we, on the other hand, have not heard it by Him, but we've heard this Gospel reading many, many times, contemplated it and prayed about it, but are our ears closed most of the time, our hearts cold when it comes to these revelations?  We cannot tarry, we cannot linger over these worldly goods that can take up our time and thinking. The Church provides us with this, the Season of Lent, to help bring us back into the fold, so to speak. Let us not waste another moment.

Opinion

Yesterday was an off day to hanging around the homestead and doing chores. We took a ride to Marden's in Sanborn, Maine, just because. Between the cold and the snow and the ice here in NH we decided we needed a break. No, not down south type of a winter break, just getting out of the house a pickup a few things. I brought my stand-up walker which enable's me to get around pretty easy, although by the time we arrived home my legs were pretty cooked. Still, it was a great day, capped off by late lunch at Lord's Clam Box, one of favorite places for eating out. The food agrees with Helen, so that's where we go. 

If you've never been to Marden's ("I should have bought it when I saw it!"), I can only describe it as a Ocean State Job Lot kind of place, only with tons more clothes, a giant section of fabric, etc, tools food, you name it. And cheaper in price than Ocean State. I ended up with a hat, a shoehorn, a shirt, tiebacks, a new blade for the chop saw and I can't remember what else. A good day of shopping.

And so not to miss the elephant in the room, I'll keep this brief. The SSPX should consecrate the bishops, according to plan, come what may. As far as I'm concerned, The Society won't be and never has been, in formal schism. How can these heretics in Rome, proclaim that anyone could be in schism, when they themselves are in schism? Nevertheless, if the 'Pope' does declare them to be in schism unfortunately I believe the Society will lose some priests and seminarians, although I don't really know where they will go. It's a sad situation, but this has been coming to a head for many years and as far as I'm concerned, the Papacy is in the wrong and always has been. 

St. John Vianney and St. Pope Pius X, pray for all involved!

Listening...

 Some things I think I know, but getting caught up in the excitement of a New Hampshire winter, (shoveling, snow blowing, feeding the wood stove), I tend to forget things. In light of this, let me explain. Helen and I enjoy most of the Winter Olympics sports. The opening and closing ceremonies, forget about them, generally. So, we've had the tv on during the day, something we rarely ever do, just to watch the Olympics. And you tend to get into the mindset of the time, Olympic Time, so to speak. Where am I going with this? I'm thinking that I'd sort of forgotten how easily the media can manipulate us, get us to watch and think about just what it deems important. Kidnappings, sports, etc. Today, I remembered that there is still a war going on in Ukraine. The Russians are still bad (hardly any Russians competing) and the Israelis are still doing shady things in Palestine, but nobody hears about them lately, not unless one looks hard. That's why today I took to heart the Wednesday's reading, on how God has slowly revealed Himself to us, first to Adam and Eve, then to Noah, Abraham and Moses, then to all the prophets. Only little by little does He reveal himself to men, and only by His Son. I'm paraphrasing this a bit, Fr. Troadaec does a much better job explaining this. What was brought back to my light, through the fog of tv/media hustle, is that Our Lord is the only one we really must listen to, in reading, prayer and through the sacraments. 

I'll continue to watch the Olympics, but with some sacred reading and my Rosary close by. Oh, Our Lady of Lourdes, intercede and pray for us!

Precautionary snow removal.

 Last fall Helen and I (mostly Helen, if truth be told), built a small, roofed area back behind the garage. Helen kept it pretty simple so consequently the pitch of the roof was just slanted enough for the rain to run off but flat enough for Helen to get up there to shingle it. This roofed area has come in handy, housing all sorts of stuff that last year may have spent the winter 'outdoors'. Well, I looked at it the other day now after a few snowstorms, and there was at least a foot of snow on it. Ugh. I thought about breaking out the roof rake, but I knew I'd never get away with slipping over there and pulling at least some of the snow down without getting a stern and perhaps vocal "What the heck are you doing??" from those involved. Well today, I found my chance. Helen was off to Ten-Hut, The Dollar General, the air temp was a balmy 27° and I felt pretty strong. I had to shovel my way just to get in front of the roofed area, but then I was able to get about 3/4 of the deep snow off the roof. This is because we have an Alberta Clipper sailing through tonight (4-6'') and I just wanted the roof to make it through this winter. Done and back in here in front of the keyboard, without getting caught, giving you my exploits. All good. 

St. Scholastica, pray for us!

(Pics below of last Fall's action). 

More Lenten reading.

 Helen is reading this for Lent. She started it now and it is very powerful, in the lines of The Liturgical Year. Father holds nothing back in his instruction. Well worth the read. 

For us, we had Monday morning Mass, something we haven't had in a while, on the feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria. Eight o' clock morning Mass is not easy for me to do, even getting up at 4:30. I complain because we don't have daily mass, then when we do, I sometimes grumble.

Go figure.

First Saturday

 At the beginning of this year Helen and I decided to try to make the 5 First Saturday Masses. For us, this is not an easy task. We usually go to the SSPX entirely, and living up here in NH means that unless our priest is spending the weekend here, Mass on Saturday is out of the question. St. Joseph's Oratory in Portland only offers Sunday Mass and the Fraternity is located in Nashua, which is 1 1/2 hours away. Fr. Hewko and the Marian Corps is over an hour away, plus he's a sedavacantist and a Society Basher, so we stay clear of him. That leaves us with finding the best Novus Ordo parish around, which for us is Holy 
Rosary in Rochester. Fr. Gilbert, on First Saturday, does a full-blown Mass, with all the bells and whistles, including Benediction. It was a good alternative for us. Two months in a row, and with snow falling this morning. And a bonus, confession after. It's obviously not the best situation, but it worked out well. You can tell Fr. Gilbert has a great love for Our Holy Mother. 

Stay warm, everyone, another cold blow is about to arrive. 

St. Romuald, pray for us!

 

The life I deserve (one way or another...)

 Went out this morning to bring in wood for the stove, with the thought in mind that this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing today. Our state in life dictates what we do, how we do it and when. The thought of our state of life has come up in my readings again and this time, after so many times perhaps the thought has taken a small root. I'm seeing our state in life as a small anchor, not as a way of holding us in one place but as a binding force, something that prevents us from wandering too far from our purpose. It also helps me to remember my limitations, which I've acquired many of. I try to do good with what I've got, at this point. And for now, in the cold of NH, when it's time to bring in more wood I try to do it cheerfully, and without hesitation. Spiritual reading, helping Helen and the family where I can, bringing out the dog and bringing in wood. 

The life I've been given and surely deserve, one way or the other. 

Bossuet

This will be my Lenten, reading, again. I always read Praying with the Saints, Angelus Press. Right now, its Winter. Fr. Troadec is very good at giving one a nice history of each Saint in a page and a half, with good meditations to go along with it. Bishop Bossuet is different, more of an intellectual hard hitter from the 17th century. Always a good change for me. 

Have been meditating on the coming clash between the SSPX and Rome. The first unsettling part for me is that the Pope himself will not meet with Fr. Pagliarani. Why, one wonders? Perhaps the Vatican just can't come to grips with the head of the Society shaking hands with the Holy Father? Would the ramifications be just too much in that single photo shoot? Time will tell, even though I have a feeling this meeting with The Tucho will never take place. Just sayin'...  
 

Preparations

 Well, I'm back.

I haven't really gone anywhere, I've just been away from this page for a year, because, as usual, I don't have much to say that's worthy of saying, but the time has come to begin again. The season of Lent is fast approaching, and my guilt at not having a very fulfilling Advent because of a lack of preparation has been gnawing at me. In my older age I've become lazy, bad physical health notwithstanding. I owe it to myself to be more disciplined in my day, in my thoughts and in my spiritual life.  But he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more. (Luke 12:48.) Well, that is probably me. God has given me so many good things, the things that make me happy, make me smile, make my life keep moving forward, all well and good, but I also see now that the trials and sufferings that I have on a daily basis are also wonderful gifts, perhaps the greatest gifts of all from God, for I believe that those sufferings are my penance for those lost years. Every day, in one book or another, I read about the Saints. I read how most suffered, for some longs years, others, dying young. I am not a saint, but I hope, before the end, I become one. I hope that when the end comes, I can go singing to the gallows, fairly confident that I have run the race. But, BUT, if I don't try to take this life to the next level, because I know God wants me to and St. Francis is up there staring down, waiting for me to show him what I'm worth, why I was called to be a Franciscan, then all is lost.

I jest, in many ways when I write, using dumb metaphors when I should be more serious... (singing to the gallows, up there staring down,). Perhaps because I see down the road and it scares me to death. There is no time to let one's guard down and Lent is a great time to dust off the armor and begin the battle. In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. Ephesians 6:16

And so, I begin again.

Virtues at 13°

 Outside I go, into the cold of 13° just to get a chore or two done. Winter is a funny season for me, one minute I don't mind the cold, next I want no part of it. I guess it's the wind that really puts a damper on things. Today, not so much. This winter has been cold, consequently we've gone through more wood than last year, which has had me loading the stove less frequently, thus, in a way I've been able to practice the virtue of frugality! Now let me say straight out, I'm not a great practitioner of the virtues, even though I good priest I know would always drill it into us to practice them whenever we had a chance. He used the example of driving in a car, especially an interstate, when you're stuck behind a 'slowpoke', that this is a perfect time to practice the virtue of patience. Unfortunately, I'm still working on that one...

While out, the wind chimes ring their individual songs, all different, but still always the same. I like them like that. And the winter birds that visit our feeders are living proof (to me), of the Hand of God in everything. To be, what appears completely happy while living in 0° And lately I've been thinking of St. Francis, and how he was so aware of his surroundings, the material world and the spiritual world. Why can't I be just a little bit better at that? I do believe that Francis was a chosen vessel, chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ, and the amount of grace that was given to him, and moreover, how much he accepted, how much he absorbed, is probably well beyond what I could even handle. In a way our state of life dictates how we see life, but not how we should see life. Our job, as people who are always trying to stay on the narrow path, is to constantly practice the virtues, no matter how bad we do it or ignore doing it. Think of the virtues first thing in the morning, in the dark, holding your Rosary, perhaps with the first flames from the wood stove filling the room. And at the end of the day, in the dark and fighting off sleep, think of the virtues that you practiced (or tried to) today. Either way, Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord will be pleased.  

Searching for Silence.

 Much happens, yet much remains the same. No big revelation there. But when you're living it, seeing it go by slowly like a winter in New Hampshire, you feel it, inside and out. The sameness of one's life, when you get to a certain point of age and physical stagnation, your thoughts can turn to many different things, with only some of them leading you forward. Take prayer life and social media. They do not go together. I try to make them both work, giving time to each one, but social media, or really any kind of media, is a big distraction for me. It is so easy to scroll, scroll, scroll. Harder to go out to the garage when it's 25 and putter. It's cold! And let's face it, I don't have much to say that's very interesting. Heck, I don't find many people very interesting anymore. Personally, I think the world is in a bad spot when it comes to FB, YouTube, etc. People can talk themselves into thinking that one is getting smarter by watching and even contributing to this stuff. The answer is no, and we all know it. Joy comes to us in fits and starts, and evil hides it's face all the time, even when he shows it to us. Push it away, turn your face from it, even if you have to sit in silence, by yourself and turn off the inner noise. Even if nothing comes of it, even if the silence is broken, still, the turn was there, even for a moment. 

 Nov. 12.

Today begins the Fast of St. Martin of Tours, a type of pre-Advent fast that had it's history going back to the year 480 but more verified in the year 582, during the Council of Macon. Regardless, St. Francis had a deep devotion to St. Martin and took this fast very seriously, and so I, as a third order Franciscan will also. As I get older my dietary needs don't allow for the hardcore fasting that my wife and I used to do, so this year it will take on a more contemplative nature. Books I have, the focus on staying strong until Christmas Da
y is always the challenge. I hope to post a bit more throughout, but I'm terrible with that. 

8 out of 10.

 I'll be 69 in April, and I'm slowly (or quickly!) coming to grips with the fact that I really may have to have something more done than just taking Advil or Tylenol or Turmeric. Shoulders, knees, hips and back are cooked. Tomorrow I'm going to pain management to have my hip looked at. I've been diagnosed with adult hip dysplasia and the pain, at times is unbelievable. I've spent most of my late adult life living with pain, but this is tough. Even with the good thought of giving this pain to Our Lord, for Him to do with what He will with it, I guess when I actually cannot walk, then it's time to seek relief. I'll try the shot first, and if that doesn't give me long term relief (which it won't) I'll have to consider an operation.   

End of January

 End of January,

but winter has been scarce

here in New Hampshire.

One cold stretch 

yet double digits held sway

and today the 40's reign.

Retired, yes, but still 

one waits for rest

that never comes,

the days are full.

Age and death 

watch over me, as I do them, 

as we count the days

'till planting time.

Thanksgiving Eve.

 Thanksgiving Eve, and New Hampshire gets three inches of snow overnight but since we're retired, we don't get up at 4:00 am to snow blow the driveway before it turns to rain. No sir, we go out at 8:00 am, and snow blow the slush, which the EGO did very well, with H at the controls, much better than the Ariens. After that we went our separate ways until we rendezvoused at 2:00 back home for lunch. H called me (I was home) and we were able to pray our Franciscan Office with her in the car and me home. Unfortunately, this does happen, but we always get the Office in, every day. 

Many things to occupy the mind today, but with our son coming up for the holiday, well, that's something special. Off to our daughter and our son-in-law's for Turkey-Time tomorrow. H is making special cookies for the kids since they probably won't touch the pecan or squash pie. (Ages 4,2 and 1...)

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

St. Cecilia, pray for us.

Road Beyond Sixty.

 Argh, I haven't posted in a very, very long time, for reasons vague and unclear, but probably mostly out of laziness. That and the fact that I feel inadequate when writing anything! My strong point is reading out loud, which I love to do and, I've been told, I'm good at. It doesn't mean anything, no money is made from it, I just enjoy it. Especially reading to my wife or the grandkids. 

I was thinking of changing the name of this blog to Road Beyond Sixty, because that's where I find myself now. We all change with age, and I find myself a slightly different man now than back when this whole blogging thing started. Spiritually, mentally I think I've held my ground, but physically, yikes, age can most certainly extract its toll. I like to say I'm good from the neck up (I stole that line).  I try not to whine about my aches and pains (like I am now) but I do have them, some are border-line debilitating, and some are just a nuisance. I just try to keep going on. 

I'm not going to keep yakking for no reason today, I'm just trying to see if posting on a more regular basis is something I'll enjoy doing. I don't know what the subject matter will be, I'm leaving that up to the Holy Spirit; if He says write something about Nascar, I will, the Synod of Sin, I'll try, my Franciscan life I'll give it a shot. Expect anything at no certain time. 

Ah, that's enough for one day...

Just a mini-rant, or felling sorry for myself, or both.

 Let's face it, it IS hard to find anything to smile much about in this secular world lately, actually it's down right terrifying to even just get up and go forward to one's job every day. At times I would just rather have blinders on so as not to see or hear the madness that's in our face. Between the scandal of the election and the constant drumbeat to get tested, tested, tested there's almost no where to hide. Here in CT where liberalism is king and the Guv is out to get us all, it's basically keep your head down and stick with your own kind, and by that I mean Traditional Catholics. The world becomes much clearer and much anxiety is lifted when one spends time speaking of Our Mother, or Our Lord Jesus Christ or the Saint of the Day, etc. with like-minded people. The rest of the time, well, the challenge is real, and for me the challenge is not to lose my cool when discussing the usual daily conversational tidbits, namely wuhan, masks, President Trump and rigged elections, executive orders, etc. I know I'm not right most times when it comes to some topics, but dang, can't most people I come in contact with see clearly? Almost everyone I work with has only a vague idea of the absolute strength and primacy of God, and some not at all. Some are Muslims, some Hindus, a lot of lapsed Catholics but most of them are under the wuhan/mask sway and take the uptick in number of positive cases registered as actual sick people. This clouds their thinking, I know it does. Every day I say that I will not discuss these topics any more, I'm just going to tell them to do your own homework, don't take what I say for the truth, but I fail every day. I'm over 65, and don't need this extra stress I put on myself. 

So what to do? Thank God for God, Family, Duty, that's for sure!

But, then again I can't tell you what to do, but I've already started listening to my Advent station on Pandora, for one. I guess I can since being a Third Order Franciscan our Advent Fast has already started. So very soothing, especially at work. But seriously, I've got to ask our Lord for the virtue of (more) Patience, to not let all of these issues weigh on me and try to eat me up. I wish I could go to Mass every morning before work, but even people who are be able to go to Mass aren't able to most days, the times being what they are. And unfortunately the Latin Mass is not everywhere. But thank you for letting me write this and vent, I feel better than I did an hour ago. It's Friday, the feast of St. Felix of Valois, a great Saint (aren't they all?) who died a very beautiful natural death (check it out). 

Tomorrow being Saturday, I will be at Holy Mass.

   

The Coming Storm

                                                                                                                                

  Be aware, my friends, and this is no secret, but be aware that the liberal news media, all Democratic politicians (and unfortunately many Republicans) basically anyone who is opposed to President Trump will try to blame him for EVERTHING that is wrong or has gone wrong in the last four years. The most outlandish lies will be perpetrated against him and he will SEEM to have been abandoned by everyone. Don't fall for it. Do your homework and know your facts: This is the attempted destruction of the United States (and the world) as we know it. Be ready for complete chaos unless President Trump wins in an utter landslide, and even then the Democrats will not go down without a fight, and I mean an ugly street brawl. 

What can we do...

For starters, anyone with their head in the sand, get it out! Do your homework and keep your eyes and ears open. Reject the scams of BLM, Antifa, etc. completely.

Fast, do mortifications and pray that Rosary, adding the intention for our Country and our President. Pray for the enlightenment of all Americans to the peril of liberalism and modernism, and that the party of death will only bring us death. Everyone has faults, we all know that, and Christ's Rule over this land will not take place with Donald Trump, but he is our best bet to holding the vicious wolves at bay (I hope) for the next four years. 

Get out and vote, and vote Red. Your life may depend on it.  

Trying to find a happy thought.

The more the world slips closer to insanity and imbecillism (my word), the more completely obvious it is that salvation of souls and of the secular world also,will only come with hearts and minds turning towards God fully and completely, all the time, not just when it is convenient for each individual. The stupidness of hanging your hat or backing any anti-Christian form of thought, individual or group is so easily understood through the use of right reason that for us who do understand it has become very very painful to watch. This seems to be a hard onslaught by satan who never misses an opportunity to send souls to hell. If God wishes to He could instantly turn this around, but probably would like (A) for us to turn it around ourselves or (B) to punish us. A, we must do, and pray for his forgiveness and to give us strength.