Day 8 – Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Elitism

In an interview with Carl E. Olson, Dr. Angelo Codevilla, author of the book, The Ruling Class, said:

“The ruling class are society’s ‘ins.’ This class comprises persons in government, those who depend for their livelihoods on government, and whose socio-economic prospects and hopes are founded on government. Thus, it includes most people in the educational establishment, the media, and large corporations. Its leading elements and its major voting constituencies are the Democratic party. But it transcends political parties because any number of Republicans aspire to its privileges and share its priorities.

 

Above all, the ruling class defines itself by a set of attitudes, foremost of which is contempt for those outside itself. This contempt stems from the rather uniform education that the ruling class’s members absorbed from universities and which they developed by living in their subculture. Believing themselves intelligent apostles of scientific truth, they regard others as dumb and in the grip of religious obscurantism. Religion is the greatest of the divides between the ruling class and those it deems its inferiors. Whereas they believe themselves morally good and psychologically sound, they regard others as suffering from psychological dysfunctions and phobias – effectively as bad people. The ruling class does not believe that those outside itself have the right or capacity to conduct their own lives.”

The rest of us, often described as the “country class” or, as the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate called us, “deplorables,” comprise most of our country. Nevertheless, the secular religion of the ruling class has captured virtually all the sources of influence: the media, Hollywood, TV, universities, public schools, etc. At the same time, unfortunately, many religious leaders seem to be tripping over themselves with shameless attempts to ingratiate themselves with this secular religion’s high priests.

In today’s culture, this elitism has seemed to take control, as speech or conduct contrary to the agenda of the elites is suppressed with threats:  threats against reputation, employment, property, and even one’s physical safety. Let’s call it what it is: They are bullies. Operating from moral relativism, which proclaims the end always justifies the means, everything – EVERYTHING! – is on the table for accomplishing the elites’ goal of gaining complete power and control.

Elitism is the temptation of every human being, and we have all recognized it as early as our childhood days when the so-called “cool kids” on the playground would exert their superiority, often by ridiculing those they deemed as “beneath” them. The temptation is to compromise, surrender, or even join ranks with these elites of our day. No! Jesus calls us to be the “mighty influencers” of our culture, to be “disrupters.” We are called not to promote the selfish “establishment” and their power-hungry and godless agenda, but to promote the virtues, morals, values, and ethics of God’s kingdom.

The influence of the elites is strong and, in many ways, we have grown weak. More than any other time, WE NEED EACH OTHER! We need to become UNIFIED! We need to do all we can to spend as much time as possible with others who are striving to GET STRONG in the virtues of God’s Kingdom. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Parishes were always meant to be these epicenters of unity and strength. Parishes simply must work to be the best possible “spiritual gymnasiums” they can be, where those who attend are encouraged, challenged, and instructed in all the ways to become “strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Parishes must be places where we find fellow Catholics who “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

I’m sure you are, like me, long past tired of the ruling class’s mob claiming the moral high ground with their demonically influenced secular religion. It’s high time for all of us to become a force to be reckoned with, UNITED in our resolve to GET STRONG in God’s mighty power!

Prayer of Reparation

My Lord and my God, we have allowed the temptation of the devil to move our hearts toward elitism. We have allowed works of evil to foment within us a heart needing approval. We have been divided and weak in our lack of resolve to seek the unity and spiritual strength to resist the elites of our culture today. In our fear and silent self-protection, we have allowed the ancient foe to advance. We turn to You Lord, in our shame, and beg Your forgiveness for our lack of resolve. We beg for the grace of Your strength and power to grant us the resolve to turn back the falsehoods of the enemy by freely and openly speaking Your truth with love to a waiting world. We know, Lord, if You will it, it will be done. Trusting in You, we offer our prayer to You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Exorcism

Lord God of heaven and earth, in Your power and goodness, You created all things. You set a path for us to walk on and a way to an eternal relationship. By the strength of Your arm and Word of Your mouth, cast from Your Holy Church every fearful deceit of the devil. Drive from us manifestations of the demonic that oppress us and beckon us to elitism and division. Still the lying tongue of the devil and his forces so that we may act freely and faithfully in imitation of You. Send Your holy angels to cast out all influence that the demonic entities in charge of elitism have planted in Your Church. Free us, our families, our parish, our diocese, and our country from all trickery and deceit perpetrated by the devil and his hellish legions. Trusting in Your goodness Lord, we know if You will it, it will be done, in unity with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

__ Prayer for Freedom from the Devil
__ Daily reflection and prayers
__ Litany of the day
__ Pray a Rosary
__ Divine Mercy Chaplet
__ Spiritual or corporal work of mercy
__ Fast/abstain (according to level)
__ Exercise (according to level/ability)
__ Refrain from conventional media (only 1 hr. of social)
__ Examination of conscience (confession 1x this week)