Albert Einstein once said, “Science without religion is lame . . .” He also said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Dear Reader, when we pray the Most Holy Rosary, we are never doing the same thing. In fact, each bead promotes a deeper insight into the Holy Mysteries of Faith and Reason. When in a State-of-Grace, each “Hail Mary” pierces the heart anew. Each and every intonation that we utter produces or strengthens an attribute of True Virtue. Common Sense?
G. K. Chesterton, the apostle of common sense, smartly reveals that when a human ceases to believe in God, then he or she will believe in anything. He knew that politicians, beginning in his time, the dawn of the 20th century to our 21st century, would be progressive minded, meaning that they live in the future tense, because they know that they have done nothing but evil in their past. If we keep voting for the same malicious-minded politicians and expect a different result, then where is the common sense in that?
Dear Reader, our postmodern politicians want parents to have no power, for goodness sakes, neither in the home nor at school. However, Gilbert Keith Chesterton (RIP, 1936) teaches us that fairy tales are true; not because they tell us that the dragon exist, but because they tell us that the dragon can be defeated! Viva Cristo Rey!
In Revelations, we hear, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Dear Reader, If we are not speaking about Jesus and Mary, daily, to our children, then our words are tepid, our deeds are half-hearted, our thoughts are dispassionate, and our hearts are hardened. Nonetheless, when in a State-of-Grace, Dear Reader, each and every Holy Eucharist consumed is a New Heaven on Earth!
Our children readily believe in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the boogieman etc., and rightly so! Therefore, it is imperative that we demonstrate our Love for Our King and Our Queen. Jesus and Mary are more alive than anything or anybody else in this world! Our good children need to know and learn about the Kingdom of God!
If your children are resistant to prayer, then invite them by praying in their area of operation amidst their daily lives. Do not be imposing. Be kind, be a team player, and have fun! If you, as an adult, are resistant to prayer, then go seek out the Catholic priest waiting just for you in the Confessional. As parents, if you are not praying with or around your children, daily, then shame on you! Common Sense?
Dear Reader, In what may be considered one of the most significant plays of the 20th century by Samuel Beckett, titled, “Waiting for Godot” that performance demonstrates how our common nature as humans, our mundane lives, rich or poor, has nothing to do with common sense, whatsoever. Every one of us could be either character, estragon or vladimir, meandering along just waiting for godot.
The waiting has more to do with biding our time by the tree, than it does with our vague notion of whom exactly this godot is, and why we are waiting for him. In that play, some semblance of common sense does become apparent, the pair do discuss repentance, particularly in relation to the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus, but that aspect of their dialog is fleeting.
Anyhow, Dear Reader, once upon a time, about three months prior to when my one-hundred-year-old uncle, a fallen-away catholic, was on his deathbed, I had what would be our last of many deep conversations about God, the afterlife, the nature of human beings, and the Holy Catholic Church. In our many biannual conversations, I had always encouraged him to speak with a Catholic priest. He, very alertly, always humored me by saying he would consider it.
In that last phone conversation, I kindly beseeched him one last time. I said, “If I were wrong about the Holy Doctrine of the Catholic Church concerning the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist, then you would only be wasting about fifteen minutes of your life speaking with the Catholic priest.
“But,” I continued, “If you are mistaken, Dear uncle, about those Sacred Teachings, then tell me what the consequences are?” Unfortunately, my uncle (RIP, 2010) admitted that he could not give me an honest answer at that moment, and he said that he would get back to me. I am still waiting . . . and I am still praying!
Dear Reader, Our jury system is based on the common sense of good common people. It has worked just fine since the middle ages. Jury decisions for the most part need to be unanimous. Albeit, since 1781, our US supreme court has had only about a 30% rate for unanimous decisions.
Why is it that our well-educated justices cannot agree on the critical issues that plague our country? The solution is simple; they need to apply the common sense gifted by the Holy Spirit. Our Catholic Catechism is 100% filled with common sense!
Anyway, Dear Reader, in one of the most commonsensible endings to a life of acting and directing, Clint Eastwood plays a disgruntled Korean War vet named, Walt Kowalski, who sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski’s prized possession, a grand torino.
As the movie progresses, Walt decides that there is only one-way to save his friend from destruction. In the waning scenes, we see how Walt maneuvers. Walt prepares for his own funeral. He gets a haircut, new suit, and finally, after many years, he receives Holy Absolution from a Catholic priest.
Then comes the grand finale! Walt utters the soundest verse that one could ever script. In the last line of that last scene in his last movie, just as the hail of bullets commences, Clint prays, “Hail Mary, full of Grace.”
St George, the Dragon Slayer, defend us!
St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, guide us!
Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Stay-tuned for, “Limbo” on Thursday, August 9.
Peace & JAMLY,
hobo euie