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. 

 

Pride, Greed, Wrath...

How many more days must go by before the authorities of this world wake up. The continuous destruction by radical leftest groups in the name of 'justice', 'equal rights' and whatever other words of mumbo jumbo you want to use to justify their actions is unprecedented in this country. Where are the police when mobs are tearing down the statues? Where are the leaders of this country, the Bernie Sanders ilk, Republicans, Democrats whoever, the Black leaders of the great country, where are they now? No unified cry to stop the destruction and the violence. No Church leaders, from the top down saying anything more than a whimper. Rioting cowards dressed in black, hiding themselves while they spew their nonsense and destroy public and private property. (Ranting now.) Not too hard to figure out. The Wuhan Cold to soften us up and scare us into cowardice, then bring on the destruction in the name of a man killed by bad police actions. Peaceful marches mixed with violent acts, so the world can't tell them apart anymore, the good from the bad. Modernism and liberalism coming to its grandest fruition. The falling away of the world from our Lord and His Kingship, no, not even that, that's too grand for these poor people, just forgetting basic Catholic teaching, which has been lost on this world for the last 100+ years, this is one of the real reasons society is crashing and literally, going to he--. As one Catholic commentator said, the leftists and the ungodly are bold and smart, and we Catholics, in our trying to be good, are dumb. And the shutting down of our Chapels and Churches have taken away our armor and our weapons. Father's Day has passed, and as Fathers and Catholic men we will be called upon to do even more, to make even more sacrifices. But the one weapon they could not take away from us is our Rosary Beads. Let us continue to pray to our Blessed Mother, who will triumph over the devil who is wielding much power right now. Let us all do our part by praying constantly and living good clean Catholic lives to show the world that there is only one road to heaven, and that is through the Kingship of Christ. 

The evil designs of men.

A husband dies alone, in a nursing home, from the Wuhan Virus, as his wife of 62 years watches through a nursing home window. This really bothers me. I'm sorry, but this is not right. 'What God joins together, no man shall put apart...' 

Our goal.

I can only credit this post to the fact that I'm getting older (65 in April) and not to any type of insight of mine. I'm home here, on my own for a few days, my wife off helping my daughter and son-in-law pack and get ready to move into their first home that they own. Exciting times!  So like I said I'm home alone, me and the cat and the woodstove. (I like both; me, usually not so much.) When I'm home alone it's mostly silent here. For awhile I'll put Pandora on, play some tunes that I like while supper is heating up (Helen takes good care of me before she leaves in the food dept.) but then it goes off. Silence is golden. I'll sit, have a cold beer, check social media (yes, I do...) and dang, end up not liking at least 3/4 of anything I see. I check out the sites I have on my side bar, good Catholic sites, but I'm mostly disheartened by what I see. This blogosphere is not all cracked up as they say it is. To me, it's become a wasteland off biting thoughts, men and women competing for what I really don't know. An audience? Money? Both? With Lent coming up I'm seriously thinking of giving up social media, at least for Lent. Forever, I don't know, I'm weak, but everything from religion to politics to the environment is just getting to be too much. I can see how single young men and women (and older of both) would want to leave this world behind and enter the monastic religious life although I'll admit I don't know of many who do. I'm very happily married, thank you Lord to a woman who has the same spiritual goals as I have, and our job is to get each other to heaven, and if possible our children and their families too. But for some of these young people it must be very, very hard to stay focused on Jesus Christ and the Final Goal. At 64+ I can be pulled in different directions, and thank God for my spouse who helps to keep me on the narrow path, even if she doesn't know it. 
This is the time we were given by God to live in, and very difficult times they are. The most difficult? I don't know about that, but we are given a chance, here and now to work out our salvation in glorious terms. If we do well, God will reward us; if we fail, well, we know the consequences. There is no choice. The darkness and evil of this world at this time is almost overwhelming, but we must not ever give in to it. I believe the devil hates a smile, hates joy, hates to see us overcoming the obstacles that he has put ion our path. Right, now, the world is in our way, this is what we must overcome, the same as always. Those of us who are married, our paths are set, the way is true, our goal, heaven, for our spouses and our family. For the single men and women listen to your heart, consult your priests and if possible, enter the religious life. We need you. The world needs you. Let us not let Rome bring us to despair, for we know what has to be done. 

(This past Sunday) Feast of the Holy Family.

To all fathers of families, Joseph is verily the best model of paternal vigilance and care. In the most holy Virgin Mother of God, mothers may find an excellent example of love, modesty, resignation of spirit, and the perfecting of faith. And in Jesus, who was subject to his parents, the children of the family have a divine pattern of obedience which they can admire, reverence, and imitate. Those who are of noble birth may learn, from this Family of royal blood, how to live simply in times of prosperity, and how to retain their dignity in times of distress. The rich may learn that moral worth is to be more highly esteemed than wealth. Artisans, and all such as are bitterly grieved by the narrow and slender means of their families, if they would but consider the sublime holiness of the members of this domestic fellowship, cannot fail to find some cause for rejoicing in their lot, rather than for being merely dissatisfied with it. In common with the Holy Family, they have to work, and to provide for the daily wants of life. Joseph had to engage in trade, in order to live; even the divine hands laboured at an artisan's calling. It is not to be wondered at, that the wealthiest men, if truly wise, have been willing to cast away their riches, and to embrace a life of poverty with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. - From the Apostolic Letters of Pope Leo XIII, Breve « Neminem fugit » 14 junii 1892

Vigil of the Nativity.

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. And so on...

Why was the Lord conceived of an espoused virgin rather than of a free? First, for the sake of the genealogy of Mary, which we have obtained by that of Joseph. Secondly, because she was thus saved from being stoned by the Jews as an adulteress. Thirdly, that Himself and His mother might have a guardian on their journey into Egypt. To these, Ignatius, the martyr of Antioch, has added a fourth reason namely, that the birth might take place unknown to the devil, who would naturally suppose that Mary had conceived by Joseph.

Before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. She was found, that is, by Joseph, but by no one else. He had already almost an husband's privilege to know all that concerned her. Before they came together. This doth not imply that they ever did come together the Scripture merely showeth the absolute fact that up to this time they had not done so.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. If any man be joined to a fornicatress they become one body; and according to the law they that are privy to a crime are thereby guilty. How then can it be that Joseph is described as a just man, at the very time he was compounding the criminality of his espoused? It must have been that he knew her to be pure, and yet understood not the mystery of her pregnancy, but, while he wondered at that which had happened, was willing to hold his peace. - 

Homily by St. Jerome, Priest at Bethlehem.

Advent

Posts have been few and far between, for various reasons, non more than, by the time night falls, so am I. Any thoughts or ideas I had at 9:00 am or 2:00 pm are long gone, so another evening slips by. I've tried and have been quite frankly fairly successful in letting my anger go (most of the time) concerning Rome, our so-called Pope, Bishops, Cardinals and the like. Liberals and modernists are useless to me. The media I try to ignore as much as possible. In the end, all of the mentioned above, in any order you like, are all distractions that just take away my inner eye that should be focused on God and my salvation. And when I say 'my salvation' I don't me just me in a selfish sort of way; no, I'm taking about the big pictures: wife, children, family and friends. The souls in purgatory. The Pope, priests. The list can go on and on, and some days it does. One great consolation is this beautiful time of year, as we wait in holy expectation for our Lord. Advent. Joy that comes from deep inside, almost like we are ourselves are giving birth to Him who can only come from the Blessed Virgin. Even on the coldest of December nights the thought of the Manger or the trip by donkey to Bethlehem, or the shepherds in the field will always bring a warmth respite from the darkness of these days. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate heart of Mary, pray for us.

St. Joseph, watch over us.