Monthly Archives: May 2020

Pentecost: Doctrine not absolute, does not replace the Holy Spirit – Jesuit Chief

May 30, 2020 By in The Catholic Church, Tradition, Uncategorized Tags: , , 35 Comments

As we mark the Feast of Pentecost, 31 May, we need to pray extremely hard for the Pope and entire Hierarchy at this time of huge crisis in the Church. Evidence of this crisis abounds. Scandalously, for example, a Lifesitenews report dated February 22, 2017 quoted the Head of the Jesuit Order questioning the truth of the Gospel itself, claiming that we may put our own interpretation on the words of Christ – always, of course, with the “discernment” of the Holy Spirit: Doctrine is a word that I don’t like very much.

Things have not improved since 2017, but have become steadily worse. The protestantising of the faithful through the new Mass succeeded to the point where, as the Jesuit Superior reveals, the Protestant belief that we may interpret Christ’s words for ourselves is all but “settled science” in the minds of contemporary Catholics.

So, let’s pray for the Pope and Bishops today, in a special way, as we mark the coming of the Holy Spirit to give courage to the infant Church – but not, as many preachers will mistakenly claim, to mark “the birthday of the Church“.    Some perfectly sound priests use that phrase or sentiment to mark Pentecost, but it is misleading and can lead to the Protestant claim that the Church only began at Pentecost – the rest is down to human beings, misinterpretation of Scripture and the rest.  That’s false.  Our Lord established His Church on earth, when He gave the keys to Peter and set up His hierarchical community (cf Mk 3:14-15 / Matt 16:18). It was at Pentecost, however, that the Church was openly revealed: When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church…and so that the Church can fulfil her mission endowed with the gifts of her Founder … (cf Catechism of the Catholic Church, #765 ff). 

Below, the hymn in honour of the  Holy Spirit, popular especially at Pentecost.  As ever on any devotional thread, feel free to post your own favourite hymns and prayers, and to discuss any relevant issues relating to the Feast. 

Finally, note:  31st May is traditionally the Feast of the Queenship of Our Lady, so, given that she was present at that first Pentecost with the apostles, let us renew our pleas to her to intercede for us, to obtain special graces for Pope Francis and the entire Hierarchy on the occasion of the Feast of Pentecost, 2020.  Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, pray for us. 

Coronavirus & Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Distrust the Government, Avoid Mass Media, Fight the Lies…

May 28, 2020 By in Morals, Politicians, Politics, Uncategorized 80 Comments

Comment: 

From Dr Coleman’s website:

Sunday Times bestselling author Vernon Coleman has written over 100 books which have sold over two million copies in the UK alone. His UK publishers include: PAN, Penguin, Corgi, Arrow, Star, Mandarin, Macmillan, Century, Thames and Hudson, and Sidgwick and Jackson. His books have been translated into 25 languages and sell in over 50 countries. His novels include Mrs Caldicot’s Cabbage War (which has been turned into a film starring Pauline Collins, Peter Capaldi and John Alderton), Mrs Caldicot’s Knickerbocker Glory, The Man Who Inherited a Golf Course, The Village Cricket Tour, Deadline, Paris in my Springtime and It’s Never Too Late? His books on cats include Alice’s Diary, Alice’s Adventures, Cat Fables, Cat Tales and We Love Cats. His medical bestsellers include Bodypower, Mindpower, Food for Thought, How To Stop Your Doctor Killing You, Superbody and Coleman’s Laws. The global bestseller Bodypower was voted one of the top 100 books by British readers. His books on politics include England Our England, Living In A Fascist Country, Gordon is a Moron, The OFPIS File, What Happens Next? Oil Apocalypse, and 2020. He has also written The 100 Greatest Englishmen and Englishwomen and the Bilbury series of books. He has also written a series of diaries which started with The Diary of a Disgruntled Man. All are available as ebooks on Amazon.

Many of Vernon Coleman’s books have been in bestseller lists around the world. Early Top Ten bestsellers included, Bodypower (Sunday Times 3.4.83), (Daily Mail 18.3.83), (Bookseller 16.4.83) and Life Without Tranquilisers (Sunday Times 24.3.85).

Vernon Coleman’s books have been serialised in newspapers and magazines all over the world and many have been turned into television and radio series. He was the Television Doctor on British television and the first agony uncle on the BBC.

Dr Coleman is a general practitioner principal and a former Professor of Holistic Medical Sciences at the International Open University in Sri Lanka. He has an honorary DSc. He has given evidence to the House of Commons and the House of Lords.  Click here to visit website

Editor writes: 

We’ve been saying on this blog since the get-go, that the Governments of the UK  & alleged experts have been using language to manipulate, and thus control, our behaviour at this time. Why are more people refusing to recognise it?  Even when pointed out, many reject it as indicative of a “conspiracy theory” mentality. Why?

Note: some may consider that we have drifted into the area of politics in our coverage of the  lockdown, but that is far from the case.  We have drifted, if you like, into recognising the fact that the Fatima prophecies of the spread of Communism (until Russia is consecrated) with all the suffering that will bring, is now upon us, and we make no apology for that. We are sleep-walking into totalitarian government, whether that will be immediate or not, remains to be seen.  We’ve shown our Governments that we are very obedient, ready to obey even unjust laws out of fear, and so, we cannot emerge from this lockdown (if we are permitted to emerge this time) without the danger of finding ourselves under authoritarian government at some point in the not-too-far-distant future.
Some people realise that something very dark is going on, but they can’t explain why they feel so concerned. Fatima, both helps to understand what is going on, and gives us hope that it will end well – because Our Lady promised that, once Russia is consecrated, it will convert and there will be a period of peace in the world.  “In the end” she said “my Immaculate Heart will triumph”. 

Charity & Coronavirus Lockdown: Should Dominic Cummings Resign? 

May 27, 2020 By in Morals, Politicians, Politics, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , 92 Comments

On Tuesday night it emerged Durham police have started their investigation into Dominic Cummings’ alleged breach of lockdown rules.

Officers interviewed a witness and have access to number plate recognition software which could track the movement of the aide’s car when he travelled to Durham, the Mirror and Guardian reported.

It came as questions emerged over the account Mr Cummings gave during his Downing Street press conference. To read more click here

Comment: 

What should we, as Christians, think about Dominic Cummings’ behaviour?  Was he right to interpret the lockdown rules in order to drive his family to his parental home in Durham, or not?  Either way, what is the truly Christian and charitable attitude towards him?  “Forgive and forget”?  The problem with that is, he didn’t ask for forgiveness – he doesn’t think he did anything wrong.  So, what, then, should be the truly charitable response.  Forget it and let him get on with his job, or join the calls for his resignation or sacking, in a spirit of “tough love” – i.e. perhaps, in this case, true charity. And in a related matter, should those of us who were not in favour of the lockdown anyway, still stick to the rules or is there room for “interpretation” now?   

Important Note:  do not reveal anything of your own behaviour regarding “interpreting” the lockdown rules or mention anything about any family members of friends who may have interpreted them creatively – we have enemies  reading this blog, avidly, looking for any excuse to report us to this or that “authority” so please keep all comments general, with your opinion expressed as robustly as you please – always within the House Rules, of course.  Please and thank  you!  

Pope Francis Entrusts China -“That Great Country” – to Our Lady…

May 25, 2020 By in Asia, china, hierarchy, Pope Francis, Uncategorized Tags: , , 38 Comments

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis Sunday entrusted China to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and asked people to pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the most populated country in the world.

“Dear Catholic brothers and sisters in China, I wish to assure you that the universal Church, of which you are an integral part, shares your hopes and supports you in trials,” Pope Francis said May 24 after the Regina Caeli prayer.

“It accompanies you with prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that the light and beauty of the Gospel, the power of God for the salvation of whoever believes, can shine in you,” the pope said.

Pope Francis imparted a special Apostolic Blessing upon China for the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. The Marian shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai, which is dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians, remains closed on this feast after the Diocese of Shanghai suspended all pilgrimages for the month of May to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“We entrust the pastors and faithful of the Catholic Church in that great country to the guidance and protection of our Heavenly Mother, so that they may be strong in faith and firm in fraternal union, joyful witnesses and promoters of charity and fraternal hope, and good citizens,” Pope Francis said.

“May Our Lady always guard you!” he added.

In his Regina Caeli address, the pope reflected on the words of Jesus recorded in Gospel of Matthew for the feast of the Ascension of the Lord: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

China is home to more than 10 million Catholics, with six million registered as members of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, according to official statistics.

The Holy See and the Chinese government signed a provisional agreement in 2018 on the appointment of bishops in the state-sponsored Church, the terms of which have still not been publicly released. In the wake of the deal, previously excommunicated bishops of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which is overseen by the Communist Party, were received into full communion with the Vatican.

A report published in 2020 by the U.S. China Commission found that Chinese Catholics suffered “increasing persecution” after the Vatican-China deal. It said the government was “demolishing churches, removing crosses, and continuing to detain underground clergy.” Priests and bishops have reportedly been detained or have gone into hiding.

Earlier this week, the Vatican revealed that Catholics in China were able to use the most popular Chinese state-monitored social media platform, WeChat, to livestream Pope Francis’ daily Mass during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is unclear whether Catholics in China were also able to watch the livestream of this Sunday Marian prayer for their country on WeChat due to the heavy censorship of all Chinese online media.

Pope Benedict XVI established the custom of praying for China on the Marian feast of Our Lady Help of Christians in 2007, and composed a prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan for the occasion.

Pope Francis entrusted to the intercession of Mary Help of Christians all Christian disciples and people of good will who are working for peace, dialogue between nations, service to the poor, and the custody of creation.

The pope also marked the fifth anniversary of publication of his environmental encyclical, Laudato si’. He said that he wrote Laudato si’ to “draw attention to the cry of the Earth and the poor.”

Pope Francis spoke during his Regina Caeli address via livestream video recorded in the library of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. However, for the first time in more than 10 weeks, people were allowed to be present in St. Peter’s Square when the pope appeared in the window to give a blessing.
Each person who entered the square was required to wear a face mask and security enforced social distancing for the people gathered outside of St. Peter’s Basilica, which reopened to the public on May 18.

After more than 5 million people around the world have been documented with COVID-19, the pope asked Our Lady Help of Christians to intercede “for the victory of humanity over every disease of the body, heart, and soul.”

“The feast of Ascension tells us that Jesus, although he ascended into Heaven to dwell gloriously on the right hand of the Father, is still and always among us for us to derive strength, perseverance, and our joy,” Pope Francis said.  Click here to read report at source...  [emphasis added].

Comment: 

One commentator-  publishing at the above source – writes: 

Pope Francis just sold out the entire Catholic Church in China to the atheist communist government and betrayed all those Chinese Catholics who were Tortured, Imprisoned and Martyred and are now still suffering even more. No other Pope since Jesus died on the Cross ever sold out the Catholic Church like PF did!  Something must be wrong with him for what he has done to the Catholic Church since becoming Pope…

Scots Priest Responds To Minnesota Bishops’ Decision To Re-open Churches…

May 23, 2020 By in hierarchy, Scotland, Uncategorized, United States of America Tags: , , , , , , , , , 78 Comments

Editor writes …

We are blessed in Scotland to have a few sound, traditional-leaning priests, including some who offer the traditional Latin Mass, across the Scottish dioceses.  One of these priests has written to the Bishops in Minnesota to thank them for their decision to re-open the churches in their dioceses in defiance of a state order.   Father is willing to have his name published – in fact, he was initially emphatic that I should do so – but I decided to withhold his name for reasons of prudence, not least because lay people who have approached the Scottish Bishops with pleas to re-open the churches, have not exactly received a sympathetic hearing. This from a reliable source: “I’ve heard, via several sources, that anyone who publicly, via social media, e-mail, letter or otherwise, dares to question the actions and decisions of the Scottish Bishops, gets subtly or at times aggressively pressured into keeping quiet. I understand that many hundreds of people have been in touch to express their deep concerns and to ask for an immediate reopening of Churches.
Thus, better not to risk any episcopal retribution just yet. The day is coming, fast enough, when we will all have to be prepared to stand up and be counted, with not even a courtesy nod to human respect.  For now, though, we give thanks that we do have some priests who are doing their best to keep the Faith alive at this trying time, and at least one who is prepared to speak out. Below, Father’s letter to the Bishops in Minnesota…

Letter from Scots Priest… 

Dear Archbishop Bernard and all Bishops in Minnesota,

Thank you, God Bless you, may the Holy Ghost continue to guide you and lead you for the benefit of the Body of Christ in Minnesota, and I believe, the world, for the feeding of the “sheep”, with the Sacraments/return to public celebration, and so again enabling souls to be nourished by the primary means of their salvation, the Sacraments.

Sadly, most of the shepherds have run from the gate with this wolf/fear driven deceit of the world, and gone along with the powers of the world. By doing so they are treating the Catholic Church and its members as an institution rather than the Body of Christ.

Sorry to be critical, but these Bishops have have failed in their duty to declare themselves for Christ in the presence of men, and so look after their flock.

The re-opening of your Catholic churches in the way you are doing is what is needed, is truly for the benefit of your flocks and, I hope and pray the world, and hopefully will bring other Bishops back to the Truth of how they should be shepherding their flocks.

God Bless you all.
Will be keeping you in my daily prayers.
[Name etc] 

Comments invited…  

Tell Nicola Sturgeon that we want our freedom back NOW! Sign Petition… 

May 21, 2020 By in china, communism, Politics, Russia, Scotland, Scottish Goverment, Uncategorized, United Kingdom Tags: , , , , 90 Comments

Comment:

Today, 21 May, the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon told us all, very solemnly, that she had decided to give us back our civil liberties, bit by bit, as she sees fit, when she thinks it’s all in our best interests.  No thanks.  We are adults.  We’ll decide for ourselves if and when we want to stay in our homes, visit our families and friends and we’ll also decide what we want to buy – not just what she deems “essentials” (food and medicines).

We’ve had enough.  Martin Blackshaw,  one of our bloggers (Athanasius),  has organised a petition demanding an early restoration of our personal rights and freedoms, entitled Lift the lockdown, which opens with the following observations: 

It has become very evident recently that the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has chosen to politicise the Covid-19 virus by refusing to co-operate with the UK government in its efforts to begin lifting restrictions on “lockdown” for at least many more weeks, possibly months. There is also a strange rhetoric emanating from Holyrood about a “new normal” in our lives, rhetoric that should worry all who value freedom and human rights, not to mention the economy.  At the time of writing, deaths in Scotland from suspected Covid-19 stand at around 2,200 from a population of around 5.5 million, a figure that can hardly be construed as the plague upon us requiring the severest of measures never before witnessed in the history of our nation.  Click here to sign the petition, and please spread it far and wide.

Then share your thoughts – IS the rhetoric emanating from Holyrood about a “new normal” in our lives, sinister?  Should it worry us all?  Obviously by “worry” we understand – as Catholics – that we are in the constant care of Divine Providence, but in a purely human sense, should we be concerned that we may, like the poor Chinese and citizens of other totalitarian nations, emerge from this unprecedented lockdown without our personal freedoms fully restored?  Is that what is mean by the “new normal” – less personal freedom?  Fewer civil liberties? 

*********************************************

Ascension Thursday: “I am with you always…” Pray for the Church, Urgently!

May 21, 2020 By in bible, Bishops, Blessed Sacrament, Canon Law, Dogma of Infallibility, hierarchy, Papacy, Pope Francis, Uncategorized Tags: , , , 34 Comments

Comment: 

Our Lord’s final words on this earth were an exhortation to go out into the whole world, bringing souls into the Church, and a promise to be with His Church “…always, even to the consummation of the world.”  (Matt 28:20)

But who believes that any more?  Where are the bishops and priests today who believe they have a duty to seek converts to the Faith? Who actually believes that Christ’s promise to be with His Church always still holds good, given that the widespread apostasy (notably the manifest loss of faith in key dogmas such as the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament) is hiding in plain sight… How can we claim that Christ is still “with His  Church”?  

If so, why are bishops and priests so keen to spread false religions?  If you haven’t signed this petition to stop the public broadcast of the Muslim Call to Prayer,  please do so now, because this will not be a temporary measure for  Ramadan in Lockdown – this will remain as a permanent feature of life in those particular London boroughs and will likely spread from there to other parts of the UK.   No doubt about it. 

There’s no need to ask  whether or not Catholic clergy approve this – that’s a given.  Otherwise, what’s with all the ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue over years now? 

So, today, on this important Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven, let us pray especially for Holy Mother Church, so betrayed in our times by faithless religious leaders, even to the very top of the Church.  On this important Feast, then, we offer the following prayers for the Church and the Pope…

Almighty and Everlasting God, have mercy on Thy servant Francis our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving kindness, in the way of eternal salvation, that with Thy help he may ever desire that which is pleasing to Thee and accomplish it with all his strength. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER TO SAINT GREGORY VII, POPE AND CONFESSOR

O invincible defender of Holy Church’s freedom, Saint Gregory of great renown, by that firmness thou didst show in maintaining the Church’s rights against all her enemies, stretch forth from Heaven thy mighty arm, we beseech thee, to comfort her and defend her in the fearful battle she must ever wage with the powers of darkness. Do thou, in an especial manner, give strength in this dread conflict to the venerable Pontiff who has fallen heir not only to thy throne, but likewise to the fearlessness of thy mighty heart; obtain for him the joy of beholding his holy endeavors crowned by the triumph of the Church and the return of the lost sheep into the right path. Grant, finally, that all may understand how vain it is to strive against that faith which has always conquered and is destined always to conquer: “this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.” This is the prayer that we raise to thee with one accord; and we are confident, that, after thou hast heard our prayers on earth, thou wilt one day call us to stand with thee in Heaven, before the eternal High Priest, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.

Note:  although we are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass at this time, live-streamed Masses can be found if you search on YouTube.   

Coronavirus Cure: Should Catholics Refuse Forced or Unethical Vaccine?

May 19, 2020 By in Abortion, bible, Bishops, Crime and Punishment, Morals, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , 37 Comments

Comment: 

A reader emailed over the weekend to express concerns about the possibility of a vaccine being produced using material from aborted babies, and she included the following extract from an email reply from an SSPX priest, to an enquiry about this subject [note: she was not the immediate recipient of the email from the priest, but a friend forwarded it to her, and she sent it on to me…]:

“…Voluntarily using a vaccine made from aborted babies is a material, remote cooperation in an abortion. The principle of double effect shows that this is a grave sin…”    [A priest of the Society of St Pius X – SSPX]

On those grounds, then, that we would be co-operating in abortion, Catholics should, surely, refuse the vaccine if it has been made using material from aborted babies. 

There are other issues, too, arising from the possibility of the Government requiring or forcing us to have the vaccine…

The following extract from The New American examines this issue. While referring to America, its thesis is also applicable to the UK:

Conditioning, Then Control

A first step toward implementing a vaccine-based ID scheme is conditioning people to accept the idea that they will need to prove their vaccination and health status before being allowed by government to engage in any activities that, heretofore, were exercised without restriction by a free people. This is perfect for the age of COVID-19, when mainstream media organs and government “experts” have worked overtime to instill extreme levels of fear into the American people, forcing them into what amounts to house arrest to fight the “war” on the virus. Now, to regain freedom, it has been suggested that people will need to prove that they have gained immunity to the virus. To this end, Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and a key member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, admitted that the federal government is considering forcing citizens to use coronavirus immunity cards.
“You know, that’s possible,” Fauci told CNN. “I mean, it’s one of those things that we talk about when we want to make sure that we know who the vulnerable people are and [are] not,” he continued. “This is something that’s being discussed. I think it might actually have some merit, under certain circumstances.”   Click here to read entire article 

Share your thoughts about whether or not you would (a) accept a vaccine made from material taken from aborted babies, despite clear Catholic teaching about the immorality of doing so and (b) whether or not you would refuse a forced vaccine – that is, if the Government requires us to take the vaccine and/or decides to link having the vaccine with our freedom to engage in previously unrestricted activities.  

Finally, if there are statements from any UK bishops – or from Pope  Francis – on the concerns surrounding the ethics of a Coronavirus vaccine, please let us know in the comments below.  So far, the US Bishop in the video above seems to be the only one expressing concerns on the record – in other words, he seems to be the only Bishop proclaiming Catholic morality in the matter of the proposed vaccination programme.  If that changes, let’s record it for posterity.  Not that posterity has ever done anything for us 😀 

Are We Morally Bound To Obey Coronavirus Restrictions / Laws? 

May 18, 2020 By in Canon Law, china, communism, Conscience, Crime and Punishment, Morals, Politics, Science, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , 43 Comments

Comment:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on the duty of citizens towards the authorities in civil society:

The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” “We must obey God rather than men”:
When citizens are under the oppression of a public authority which oversteps its competence, they should still not refuse to give or to do what is objectively demanded of them by the common good; but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the limits of the natural law and the Law of the Gospel.  (# 2242)

The question here, therefore, is this:  are the Governments of the UK overstepping their authority by requiring us to accept some very serious restrictions on our personal liberty, in the name of “saving lives” – when by all accounts, the majority of those who become infected with Covid-19 recover from it? A relative of mine believes he had the virus back in January;  he was sure it was simply flu, but because it was the worst-ever flu attack he’d ever experienced, he decided to visit his doctor.  He said the doctor asked him “a strange question” – had he been in China recently!  The answer was “no” and that is where that conversation ended.  This relative – who is very elderly, in his 80s – made a full recovery.  

There is concern, therefore, that perhaps the lockdown restrictions are not only unnecessary (who quarantines the healthy?) but also too stringently enforced. The full force of the law…Really?  People stopped in the street, or pulled over in their car by the police, and asked to explain why they are outside of their home, destination etc.  Do we have to answer? Should we pay any fines imposed?  Is this a conscience issue, or would we be doing wrong to flout the State?  

Protesting the lockdown: at least the re-education camps won’t be overcrowded! 

May 16, 2020 By in Uncategorized 57 Comments

Protestors at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park
At last there is news today of hundreds of protesters in London objecting to the “new abnormal” and carrying signs  such as “this is not about a virus, it’s about control”. Click here to read the report… Not everyone is so easily fooled, then.  On social media, however, the reaction was predictable, with the protesters labelled “insane”.  None of the commentators seemed to realise the irony, probably because they don’t know, or have forgotten that this is the same tactic used by totalitarian regimes to quell dissent:  “insanity” sees off the temptation to protest, with the few who persist being sent off to “re-education” camps to get them thinking in tune with Government policy.  Since the lockdown began, most people have been programmed and conditioned to accept that “Government Knows Best” and so the unthinking condemnation of the protesters was really predictable after all these weeks of brainwashing.  It made me think of my telephone conversation only last night, when a long-lost cousin contacted me out of the blue to check on my well-being.  More on that shortly. Firstly, though, another telephone call to provide a little light relief – this one made me laugh heartily…

So, where was I?  Oh yes, my beloved cousin rang for a chat and, after a short walk down Memory Lane, we discussed the lockdown – and came to entirely different conclusions.  Without raising our voices or falling out, we ended up agreeing to disagree, as the saying goes – a popular saying brought into play when you know that a punch will see the cops at your door 😀  My cousin is an offline relative, so he won’t know that he’s featuring on this blog  – at least I hope not, because he’s got other cousins who are legal eagles 😀 

On every point, more or less, we disagreed.  He’s lapsed, so the Fatima relevance is lost on him – as it is lost, actually, on many, if not most, practising Catholics; goodness only knows why they think Our Lady came to warn about the spread of Communism if it were not going to happen, and now that it is happening, not to recognise it, but that’s life, I suppose… Nowt so queer as folk, as they say in Yorkshire.  Like the majority of the UK population, my aforementioned and highly esteemed cousin is of the opinion that the Government knows best, and it is our duty to behave and do what we’re told.  We had a fairly lengthy conversation, and finished with a couple of jokes, including this one which I’d never heard before, so I’ll finish with this… “The virus arrived in  Glasgow and spread all over the place, to every part of Glasgow; Springburn, Balornock, Cathcart, Rutherglen, Barmulloch…” and lots of other places, with one exception:  Bearsden.  Why not Bearsden? (where all the posh folk live) … Because it hadn’t been invited!  And on that cheerful note, we hung up. 

Comment: 

Share your experiences of conversations about the lockdown with others, neighbours, friends and family – are they all of one mind, or do any of them dissent from the “new normal”?  And please pray for my cousin – he’s not concerned about “being saved”, so let us, we, ourselves, be concerned for him…     

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!