Hell

https://americaneedsfatima.org/The-Last-Things/never-withhold-a-sin-during-confession.html

What happens when prayer warriors are confronted by radical liberals

What happens when prayer warriors are confronted by radical liberals

 (A battlefield report of the 40 Days For Life Rally and March in Washington, D.C.)

On February 11, 2017, 40 Days For Life organized a nationwide peaceful prayer rally and march. It was one of the most contested prayer rallies any of us could recall.

Members of the Institute of Sedes Sapientiae, a 3 year college level TFP study course, and students and staff from St. Louis de Montfort Academy joined 40 Days For Life in Washington, D.C. Thanks to radical liberals, it was anything but peaceful. They tried to block us at practically every intersection. They pushed and shoved us. They pursued us. They shouted and screamed at us. They had one intention, to prevent us from reaching the Planned Parenthood facility.

We started in front of the U.S. Supreme Court with a short prayer. At around 9:15 we began the 1.7 miles march to the Planned Parenthood facility on 4th and Florida St. NE.

We numbered around 80. They numbered around 80. We had a marching band. They had their slogans. We filled the air with chants of God Bless America and Hail Holy Queen. They filled the air with shouts of “Pro-life is a lie. They don’t care if women die.”

They tried to block us from marching to the facility at least nine times. The first time was soon after we started marching. They rushed ahead of us in order to block the sidewalk we intended to march on. As the two groups approached, there was a lot of uncertainty. The liberals were convinced they had us checkmated but we kept marching forward. We looked at the police. They kept telling us to march forward. The tension was so intense and the suspense so dramatic, it seemed scripted by a novelist. But this was pure unscripted fury versus conviction, morality versus fallacy. At the very moment of collision, the police intervened and let us march on the street. That was the first blockade we evaded. Eight more were yet to come.

We continued on undeterred. Our band was called Holy Choirs of Angels band. It was aptly named and fit the event well. It was truly angelic to hear the harmonies of the fifes, pipes, brass and drum corps play patriotic tunes like God Bless America and Catholic hymns like Immaculate Mary. This was in stark contrast to the cackles and screams coming from the liberal activists.

The second clash came all too soon. This time the pro-abortionists repeated the same play that has deterred so many morning commuters nationwide who found their local highways and beltways suddenly blockaded with arm-locked protesters. In the minds, the liberals may have been puzzled why we were still marching. Why didn’t the blockade tactic work? It work the first time around. After all, liberals have been using this tactic with much success since 2014 when it came to the forefront of liberal awareness perhaps made popularized by the Ferguson riots.

So, there they were, arm-locked and three deep. And, there we were, marching to the tunes played by the band. As we approached, we were uncertain of the outcome. Not only were they blocking the sidewalks, they were blocking the road! It seemed like they had done it. They stopped our advance. They have prevented the practice of our freedom. They have silenced our voices.

However, before the impending clash, the Capital police made an heroic effort to open a narrow lane for us. That was all we needed. We slipped through their barricade harrowed on all sides but barely skipping a step. This was the gesture that gave us confidence that Our Lady had sent guardian angels to protect us.

This clash was more than a clash of causes. It was a clash of convictions, methods, spirits, and faiths. It was a clash of law-abiding citizens and law-breaking brigands. One pro-abortion woman tried blocking TFP Student Action director, Mr. John Ritchie. As Mr. Ritchie marched, this woman jumped in front of him. Apparently she expected to either stop Mr. Ritchie or to provoke him to anger. He simply walked around her. She kept jumping in front of him attempting to slow him down or stop him. We quickly wisened up to her tactic and engaged her in a discussion. We asked her why she was preventing us from exercising free speech. She claimed she was doing no such thing. We pointed out that she was doing exactly that by blocking Mr. Ritchie. Her convictions were visibly shaken so we pushed the point home. She eventually walked away.

Another woman decided to walk in front of the lead banner with her pro-abortion sign. By doing so, it would seem that she and her friend were leading the march and made it look like a march of pro-abortionists. We employed the previous line of argument on her. We accused her of trying to censor our free speech by blocking us. Unwillingly, she let her boyfriend pull her away from the lead banner.

The liberals tried blocking us in the next intersection. A patrol car came to lead the march. The D.C. police hoped this would make it easier to break to blockade. No such luck. They locked arms and refused to move. Again, the police’s heroic effort made an opening for us and through the blockade we went. It became evident that the liberals were becoming more violent against us, ripping our signs and our banners. One man attacked Mr. John Ritchie and ripped part of his clothing off him. Many were in a shoving match with the police. The police had to struggle harder to make the opening for us.

The tension was very high. The chance of violence was reaching a boiling point. The band director, Mr. Gregory Escaro, shouted a prayer to saints and the band responded with spirited voices. Far from being cowered, the pro-life marchers prayed with a militant conviction. “St. Michael,” Mr. Escaro shouted. “Pray for us,” our marchers responded. “Our Lady of Victory! Pray for us.” “Advance? Always! Retreat? Never.” Our prayers filled the streets of Washington with militantly pious invocations.

Not surprisingly it woke up the neighborhood and drew them out to their front door or balcony. They watched this heated exchange between the liberals and pro-lifers stunned, perhaps not entirely sure how this is happening in their own neighborhood. Some residents heckled us but some residents cheered our merry band of pro-lifers. Some even came up to us to shake our hands.

It must be mentioned how brave the participants of the 40 Days For Life are carrying the lead banner. They were the first into the fray and the first into the breech. Of note are Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Larry Cirigniano, Pastor Patrick Mahoney, and others.

The most intense confrontation was when they decided to sit down on the ground, arm-locked, covering from the sidewalk on the right to the sidewalk on the left and four deep. This time it seemed impenetrable. To pass through, either we would need to step over them, inviting so much trouble, or, be dragged off as one mass by the police, forcing a potential lawsuit. If they were intent to stop us at the onset, at this point they were even more committed. To blockade us sitting down arm-locked was their final weapon against us and they deployed it with the conviction of radicals. These are not your typical liberals. These are seasoned radicals employing tactics straight out of Saul Alynski’s Rules For Radicals. They had deployed one of their most powerful weapons. This weapon is used time and again by liberals to make themselves as the persecuted underdogs. It seemed like our road finally had ended, stopped only a few blocks away from the abortion facility. So far, the liberals denied us the right to have a peaceful and prayerful march. Will they deny us a peaceful and prayerful rally in front of the abortion mill?

Once again, Our Lady intervened. A few marchers went ahead and were inspired to pepper the leaders of the blockade with questions. In the meantime, Our Lady inspired the guardian angels she sent us to find the weak link in the human chain. While the liberal leaders were distracted, the police, with commendable effort, managed to open a very narrow lane for us. Once again the police broke through the blockade and once again we passed through. It would be imprecise to say we went through that unsavory crowd of liberals unmolested. The pro-abortionists struggled with the police chanting angrily; “What will we do? We fight back!” The police had to push back the angry crowd who refused to be denied a fifth time. They wanted to stop us and law-abiding or not, they intended to demonstrate the power of the liberal movement. Yet, we passed through.

We marched on. They tried to stop us a 6th, 7th, 8th or more times but at each confrontation Our Lady, through the cops, found a way to let us pass through. At each instance, the liberal’s commitment to stop us only grew, yet, we still passed through.

It was perhaps the most important lesson we learned on that day. When everything indicated that we reached the end of the road, suddenly Our Lady intervened. What seemed to have been a dead end turned out to be only a lie of the devil. Satan only pretends to be all-powerful. Sometimes we let him trick us into believing him. However, if we confide in Our Lady, she will always find a way through.

When we reached our much contested destination, the Capitol police separated the pro-abortionists from us. We held our rally in peace. We heard many testimonies. We said our prayers. About half way through, the pro-abortionists gave up and abandoned their corner. About half way through, they stopped chanting their slogans. In the end, it was just the pro-lifers singing a hymn to Our Lady, asking her to intervene to defund Planned Parenthood and to shut down the abortion clinic in Washington, D.C. and all the abortion clinics nationwide and worldwide.

Christmas And The Spirit of Chivalry

Christmas and New Year's Greeting From TFP Call To Chivalry - Great Lakes

We are now past midway through Christmastide. Many have made their New Year's resolution already and others are still deciding. Hopefully, these considerations will help you decide on one or perhaps add to what you already have.

The first And Most Iconic Christmas Greeting

The modern world's focus on Christmas is the joyful celebrations, the feasting, the family gathering, the shopping, and the decorations. None of these are evil in and of themselves. However they are secondary concerns. The primary concern for Christmas is revealed by the angels who appeared to the shepherds at the birth of Our Lord; "Glory to God in the highest and peace to men of good will." This greeting was proclaimed by a multitude of heavenly host, meaning battalions of heavenly army.

Many forget that when the bible says "host" it doesn't simply mean "a lot of" something. "A lot of" is the multitude part. Then what does host mean. The original word in Latin is sabaoth which is derived from Greek, which root word is tsebah which means "those who wage war."

Warrior Angels or Delicate Angelic Creatures?

Modern man has forgotten that the angels are warrior creatures. From the first instance of their creation until now, one main thing has defined them. This one thing is contained in the very prayer attributed to them by St. John in the book of the Apocalypse (Protestants call it Revelation). The same prayer that they say repeatedly to God as their main canticle. It is a prayer priests repeat at Holy Mass. This prayer is "Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of Hosts (read heavenly armies)." This one thing that defines them is that their perpetual prayer to God is to God as the God of the heavenly armies.

Why Is A Heavenly Army Necessary?

One of the reasons for this is so that man realizes the constant danger we face in this valley of tears. Sin and vice run rampant in our world no longer checked by good customs, traditions and Christian family bonds. We are in a constant state of war with the "principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places."

From this viewpoint, the Christmas greeting of the angels acquires a different meaning. They were trying to console men of good will, people who are engaged in this very spiritual battle on Earth. They were letting us know that the heavenly armies are aware of our struggles against the devil and his armies. In other words, they were letting us know that backup has arrived.

Backup has arrived! A multitude of Heavenly Armies waging on the world, the devil and the flesh.

Primarily, this backup came in the form of an infant. Secondarily, it came in the form of a new era of grace granted to mankind where the angels will be more active. (More on this on another post.)

Jesus became man to redeem mankind, to preach against sin and to announce a way of salvation.

A Christmas Greeting From the Man Who Inspired the Call To Chivalry Camps

In the spirit of the heavenly hosts who announced the coming of our backup in the spiritual warfare against the devil, his armies and the world of sin, we offer this excerpt of a Christmas greeting written by Prof. Plinio Correa de Oliveira, the very man who inspired the TFP Call To Chivalry Camps. This was published in December of 1946.

Whatever your New Year's resolution is, we hope it reflects the sentiment of this greeting. To be "men" of good will and to bring true peace on Earth, we must continue on Earth the war waged by the angels in Heaven. Only then will there be true peace on Earth. Only then will God be glorified on Earth as He is in Heaven. Only then will Our Lord Jesus Christ finally be proclaimed as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

May the spirit of chivalry born from the angelic choirs fill your year with great a desire to serve Holy Mother Church and help reestablish Christian civilization.

From Where Is The Spirit of Chivalry Born?

It is common knowledge that society is falling apart and along with it the institution of the family.

Because of this many boys grow up in very disadvantaged circumstances. This is normally used an excuse by many liberals of why young people turn to drugs, gangs and impurity

This is not always the case and there are many out there who do not let the negative things in their lives weigh them down. Instead they rise above all the negativity and sometimes reach the enviable heights of heroism.

Such is the case with Christopher Adlesberger pictured below.

From the blog http://www.modernamericanheroes.com/2010/09/09/i-am-going-to-be-the-best/

His parents divorced when he was only three. He practically grew up with his grandparents. Yet this didn't define his character. Growing up he displayed the raw characteristics of chivalry. He was known to defend kids from bullies. He helped his grandfather before he died and cared for his grandmother until he joined the Marines. He would also do random acts of kindness like mowing the neighbors lawn without being asked or without asking for money.

From this raw material, he grew into something more. The spirit of heroism is not born from vice or sin but from the deep enclaves of virtue in the soul of a person. This is clearly the case with Christopher who received the Navy Cross, the second highest award in the country, for the following citation.

From the blog http://www.modernamericanheroes.com/2010/09/09/i-am-going-to-be-the-best/

He didn't die from that heroic act. Having been injured from it didn't cause him to hesitate when he felt needed to again risk his life for others.

From the blog http://www.modernamericanheroes.com/2010/09/09/i-am-going-to-be-the-best/

Christopher died at that last assault but the nation will never forget, not only his service and sacrifice, but above all the bravery, courage and sense of heroism that leads men to "lay down their lives for their friends."

The essence of heroism is the principle Our Lord Jesus Christ stated that "No greater proof of love than for a man to lay his life down for a friend." (John 15:13) If this principle is true in regard to friends and family and even truer in regard to the nation, then how much more true in regard to God.

This is where the spirit of chivalry is born from.

Sword Lessons At Our Institute Seat of Wisdom

The TFP Call To Chivalry Camp is part of the youth outreach program of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property. We are an organization of lay Catholics dedicated to fighting the moral evils of our time and to defend the values of Christian civilization in United States. We also have sister organizations in other countries.

We run many other programs and activities including the America Needs Fatima campaign.

We run and staff St. Louis de Montfort Academy, a boarding school for boys grades 7 - 12.

We have a three year college level study course called Institute of Seat of Wisdom designed to teach a young man how to defend Catholic principles in the public square. The courses include Catholic history, philosophy, culture, and so on.

One of the extra curricular activities they do is sword lessons and fencing lessons.

Is it necessary for a knight today to know swordfighting? It is a question asked by many. And, truthfully, a true knight would arm himself against the most pernicious enemy of his time. Since in the heart of the knight is the desire to serve the Church. It is reasonable that the modern knight would be best armed against the current enemies of Holy Mother Church and Christendom.

True, when fighting radical muslims, it may come to physical weapons. However, the greatest threat the Church faces and the one that has done the most damage is modernism, liberalism and secularism. In this respect, a true knight is not one who simply prances around in a horse armed with shield, lance and sword. If he doesn't address the main errors that afflict Christian civilization then he is reduced to showmanship. He may even have all the ribbons of honors but he no longer possess the spirit of chivalry.

A young man who understands this and is prepared to fight the enemy on whatever battlefield would benefit a lot from learning swordsmanship. When done in the right spirit, it will serve as a platform to learn spiritual disciplines necessary in debate and discussion. Above all, it helps reconnect our souls to the virtues practice by the knights of old like honor, dignity, integrity.

Here's a quick video of the last sword lesson we had.

Our instructor is Mr. Roark Mitzell, an weapons instructor for over 40 years. He is the founder and director of The Sword Guild of York. He has enriched our programs with his knowledge and instruction.

Most of the young men studying at our Institute Seat of Wisdom have gone through our Academy or our Summer Camps. The tuition, lodging and food are free but we screen our students thoroughly. It's not for the general public but if a young man has ever wondered what it is like to be a modern day knight, this is probably as close as it gets.

Chivalry for us is not just a man with a horse and a sword. We see chivalry in its highest expression, which is medieval chivalry. The knights then were less amorous, romantic and sentimental. They were warriors at the service of Holy Mother Church and Christendom.

If you know any young man who would be interested in trying out a few weeks of study at our Institute, please let them get in touch with us. Simply send an email to the address attached to this blog.

Invitation to the Fall 2016 TFP Call To Chivalry Camp - Arkansas

This is a video from last year's Fall Call To Chivalry Camp in Arkansas. The camp is held in The White Buffalo Resort owned and operated by the Olwell family. It is a popular fishing resort. It is right at the junction of two rivers, the White River and the Buffalo River, and both are stocked with trout.



This is a father and son camp. It is for boys 12 to 18 with some exceptions. Fathers and older brothers are invited to come and will have a parallel program with age-appropriate inspirational talks.



This Call To Chivalry Camp is from November 18 to November 23. There will be a van leaving from the Milwaukee/Chicago area and can give rides to anyone interested. The van will be leaving early on Friday and will be back by late afternoon on Wednesday.



There are currently only two more spots left. The cost for the camp is $200 per peson.



Please email me for more information at rexteodosio@gmail.com.

Knighthood And Damsels In Distress

Chivalry comes in different forms including helping a damsel in distress.

It is inherent to the spirit of Chivalry to help women, the orphans, the elderly, the widows and the defenseless. It is inherent but not its primary and sole purpose.

Already in the lores of St. George, recounted in the famous medieval collection of Catholic stories, The Golden Legend, a maiden in distress is saved by the saint who is usually portrayed as a knight. Maidens in distress being rescued by a hero, preferably, a knight in shining armor, has been a popular theme in literature.

This aspect of chivalry became imbalanced during the Renaissance when knights abandoned their higher purpose for romantic endeavors. The institution of knighthood born of the love of God and His Church thus became deformed. The tales of Don Quixote by Cervantes portrays this. The book is a sarcastic fiction of a doddering knight seeking the good favor of his Lady Dulcinea.

Not only found in fiction but even in real life a Renaissance knight's quest for the favor of a lady was common. So common that St. Ignatius of Loyola, the very founder of the Jesuit order, confessed how, before his personal conversion, he dedicated himself to the pursuit of the favor of a lady.

From the Renaissance to our days, there has been a persistent promotion of this imbalanced expression of chivalry. This was one of the blows to the spirit of chivalry. Because of this, knighthood became identified as amorous, romantic and sentimental. It became a distant cry from the spirit of all the historical personages that forged its very identity: Charlemagne and his peers, especially Roland and Oliver, King St. Louis IX, King St. Ferdinand of Castille and Leon, Baldwin the Leper King, El Cid and so many others.

However that may be, it is always a mistake to throw the baby out with the bathwater. In our case, a young man who wishes to be chivalrous does not need to abandon rescuing damsels in distress in order to correct the imbalances of the Renaissance knights. To rescue the damsel in distress is still a valid expression of chivalry.

This is the case with Matthew Garcia, a senior in Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, TX. He saw a literal damsel in distress and came to her rescue.

As reported by News 4 San Antonio, 9 year old Addie Rodriguez was part of a cheerleading squad when suddenly the fathers joined their daughters in the field and lifted up their respective girls onto their shoulders. This is when Addie found herself in distress. Her father was in training in Travis Air Force Base 1,700 miles away in California. She was the only girl without her dad to lift her up.  More than ever she missed her dad. Seeing the other girls with their dads, the contrast was too much. She began to cry. It was a heart breaking scene. Everyone, including the mother, watched helplessly not knowing what to do. This is an honest to goodness damsel in distress.

Enter our knight in shining armor. Matthew Garcia rushed down the bleachers, leaped over two fences and ran to Addie's side. He knelt right next to her, asked if she was okay and offered to let her sit on his shoulder if she wanted to. She did. Addie was saved from distress.

It is in the nature of the spirit of chivalry to be selfless, caring, and self-sacrificing. This stands in stark contrast to many youth today who are selfish, narcissistic and self-indulgent.

This is proof that, despite the corrupting influence of the modern world, chivalry is not dead. It still lives in the hearts of many young men.

It would be wrong to reduce chivalry simply to the act of rescuing damsels in distress. The highest finality of chivalry must never be forgotten or relegated to the secondary plane. Love of others is good in itself but love of others because of love of God is superior. The more a true knight is consumed by love of God, Holy Mother Church and Christendom, the more he becomes like Christ crucified. For, branded in the heart of every knight is the cross of the crusader.

Either this remains at the core of the spirit of chivalry or it is doomed to be corrupted and deformed by sentimentality and romanticism.

But, for today, hats of to Matthew Garcia. You are a gentleman with the heart of a knight.