We Should Avoid Triggering Snowflakes Who Oppose the Holy Spirit … Malarkey!
Recent events revolving around Fr. James Altman led me to the whole idea of “manner and tone” (See today’s sermon, below). In today’s first reading, St. Paul exhorts us to discipline ourselves and “run so as to win!” In other words, the Christian life is hard and challenging: it is a “striving” to be the best version of ourselves we can possibly be. NO, it is NOT about PARTICIPATION TROPHIES!
St. Paul comes from a military background. His writings reflect that. He is not reserved in his “tone and manner.” No, he is more like a drill sergeant, who gets in our face and TELLS IT LIKE IT IS. Jesus was no different, as he turned to the hierarchy of his day with: “YOU BROOD OF VIPERS!” And, “WOE TO YOU …”
And, let’s not forget last Sunday’s first reading …
“Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die, ”
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself. EZ 33:7-9
Today, the hierarchy cautions priests to “watch our manner and tone” … to not be too abrasive, because we might “trigger snowflakes.” And, if those said “snowflakes” complain, the passionate priests must be silenced. The highest virtue of today’s hierarchy is “placate the spoiled brat wicked” … those who water-down and even stand against Church teaching; those who are offended by “militarithtic” (yes, I meant to spell it that way) language.
“We belong to the Church Militant; and she is militant because on earth the powers of darkness are ever restless to encompass her destruction.” – Venerable Pius XII
In recent years, we have seen Satan engage the world as never before. In all of human history we have never witnessed evil promoted so effectively while virtue and character and morals are roundly mocked and rejected (cancel culture). Meanwhile, it could be said that the Mystical Body — the Church — has never been so unprepared for and unengaged in the challenging mission of spiritual warfare. It is obvious that Satan’s forces are well trained and well organized while ours are clearly not.
At the very beginnings of our great nation, Sir Edmund Burke is said to have warned,
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Yes, we are being called upon to fight the mother of all wars against powerful evil spirits in the heavenly realm, but we are sure to meet our demise unless we discover these battles cannot be won without first acquiring God’s strength and mighty power, and courage to “warn the wicked.”
Here’s what the former military “man” wrote. Today, St. Paul, along with Jesus and John the Baptist, would be silenced by the hierarchy for their “manner and tone.”
“Draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above. You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground” (Eph 6:10-12).
