Claude Newman was an African American man who was born on December 1, 1923 to Willie and Floretta (Young) Newman in Stuttgart, Arkansas. In 1928, Claude’s father Willie takes Claude and his older brother away from their mother for unknown reasons, and they are brought to their grandmother, Ellen Newman, of Bovina, Warren County, Mississippi.
In 1939, Claude's beloved grandmother, Ellen Newman, marries a man named Sid Cook. Soon Sid becomes sexually abusive toward Ellen, which deeply angers Claude. In 1940, Claude works as a farmhand on Ceres Plantation in Bovina, Mississippi. The plantation is owned by a wealthy landowner named U.G. Flowers, and Sid Cook was born and raised on this plantation. One biographer also has Claude getting married also in 1940 at age 17 to a young woman of the same age.
On Dec.19, 1942, Claude is apparently still very angered by Sid's abusive treatment towards his grandmother Ellen, and egged on by dominant friend named Elbert Harris, Claude lies in waiting at Sid Cook’s house (Sid Cook and Ellen Newman have since seperated). Claude shoots Sid as he enters, killing him, and takes his money, then flees to his mothers house in Arkansas, arriving on Dec 20th.
Claude is arrested and sent to prison on death row In January 1943, Claude is apprehended in Arkansas and is returned to Vicksburg, Mississippi and makes a coerced confession on Jan. 13. Despite protests of Claude’s lawyer Harry K. Murray, his confession is admitted as evidence, and he is found guilty by jury, and is initially sentenced to die in the electric chair on May 14, 1943. Later an appeal to retry the case is rejected by State Attorney General and he is rescheduled to be executed on January 20, 1944.
Claude receives the Miraculous Medal of the Blessed Virgin MaryThe majority of the information that will now be presented comes from a tape recording of a radio show interview of Father O'Leary- a priest who came to know Claude very well during Claude's imprisionment.
While Claude was in jail awaiting execution, he shared a cell-block with four other prisoners. One night, the five men were sitting around talking and eventually the conversation ran out. During this time, Claude noticed a medal on a string around one of the other prisoner's neck. Curious, he asked the other prisoner what the medal was. The young prisoner was a Catholic, but he apparently did not know (or did not want to talk) about the medal, and seemingly embarrassed, he appeared angry and suddenly took the medal off from around his own neck and threw it on the floor at Claude's feet with a curse and a cuss, telling him to "take the thing". Claude picked up the medal, and after looking it over, he placed it around his own neck, although he had no idea whose image it was on the medal; to him it was simply a trinket, but for some reason he felt attracted to it, and wanted to wear it. - See more at: http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2011/12/miraculous-story-of-claude-newman-his.html#sthash.9o93GYkC.dpuf
Link
Monday, May 25, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Five Neglects That Lead To Suffering
Bishop Sheen lists five ways we fall (thus suffer)
1. Neglect of prayer. He notes that while the Lord commands us to “watch and pray,” we sleep. Our neglect of prayer begins one piece at a time. First, we cease to fulfill the obligation (say the Office, if one is a member of the clergy). Next, our time spent in prayer declines. And finally, as though a light switch had been pushed, our prayer life goes dormant.
2. Substitution of action for prayer. In recalling how Peter severed the ear of the High Priest’s servant, Sheen reminds us of Jesus’ miracle in healing that ear and restoring to him the gift of hearing. In using this example, he warns us to be aware of falling into an “extra-active” mode of living our lives—especially one that precludes prayer. For in doing so, our actions will sometimes end in violence and the choosing of our enemies.
1. Neglect of prayer. He notes that while the Lord commands us to “watch and pray,” we sleep. Our neglect of prayer begins one piece at a time. First, we cease to fulfill the obligation (say the Office, if one is a member of the clergy). Next, our time spent in prayer declines. And finally, as though a light switch had been pushed, our prayer life goes dormant.
2. Substitution of action for prayer. In recalling how Peter severed the ear of the High Priest’s servant, Sheen reminds us of Jesus’ miracle in healing that ear and restoring to him the gift of hearing. In using this example, he warns us to be aware of falling into an “extra-active” mode of living our lives—especially one that precludes prayer. For in doing so, our actions will sometimes end in violence and the choosing of our enemies.
3. Following the Lord from far off. After denying Jesus, Peter was ultimately “dragged to the foot of the Cross.” Given the Signs of the Times that were playing out in his midst, it was clearly dangerous to follow the Lord too closely. Using this faulty wisdom, he ponders how often we follow far behind His footsteps so as to not be recognized as a close follower?
4. Focus on creature comforts. Rather than going out into the Lord’s vineyard and doing the work that needs to be done, we instead insist upon resting and warming ourselves by the fire. In walking down this road, Sheen notes that complacency sets in.
5. Focus on creature friends. Here, Bishop Sheen declares that we agree to make spiritual retreats as long as Jesus Christ is not discussed. The rationale? Our Lord places too many demands upon us, especially in regard to the way we should live our lives. Given this, it is better to leave Him in the background. However, in leaving Him there, we deny His Holy Path and instead choose creatures with similar views. Hence, we fulfill the words of St. Peter: “Truly, I do not know the man.”
But in falling, Jesus encourages us to rise again…
After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. Jesus said to the twelve, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Taking Religion out of Religion
People are leaving religion in droves because it’s not religion anymore.
It’s become a charity with meetings on Sundays, and the problem is modernism.
Modernism is the idea that the supernatural is out of date and unbelievable. The “de-mythologizers” tried to weed out all the miracles and supernatural elements from the gospels. For the last hundred years their influence has gained in seminaries and pulpits across the world.
Tales of the supernatural had to be removed. They didn’t fit with the modern world. Doctrines about devils and angels, heaven and hell had to be quietly excised from the faith because they were primitive and medieval and incredible to modern folk. Transubstantiation? A pious medieval philosophical explanation of what we all know is really symbolic. Supernatural revelation? No. Religion is all man made. Miracles? We know they don’t really happen.
Religious leaders–and I mean Catholics and Protestants alike–turned the Christian religion into an organization that does good works. Instead of the wondrous bread of heaven they were content to hand out Wonder Bread. Instead of the feeding of the five thousand they spoke about the “real miracle” being the fact that everyone shared their lunch.
All the religious talk stayed in place but it was re-interpreted. Father Wooly and Pastor Fuzzy proclaimed on Easter Day, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” but what they meant was “in some way the wonderful teachings of Jesus continued to be believed by his faithful followers. They said every Sunday that they believed in the Virgin Birth but what they meant was that “Mary was a very nice girl who was very courageous as she went through with her crisis pregnancy.” And so forth. And so on.
For Catholics? The necessity of the sacraments and a life of repentance and faith? Nah.
You only had to go to Mass if you really wanted to. Lay people who were married were just as able to be holy as priests and nuns. Confession? That’s only for people with low self esteem. Marriage? We can be flexible on that. It’s all about mercy after all.
Well, people aren’t dumb.
They concluded that if religion was really only about peace and justice and social work, then why did one have to get up early and go to church and sing dreary hymns and listen to a long, badly prepared homily by an uncomfortably over fed windbag? Why go to church anyway? If it was really only about social work, then why the early weekend pep talk with music? Why not sleep in?
The first generation to begin to make the connection were my generation–the ones born after 1955–when the rot started to set in.
Our kids got it real fast. They understood that church was both irrelevant and un necessary because they saw our generation treat it as such.
So they too drew the right conclusion. Church isn’t necessary.
You can be a good person without going to church.
You can be spiritual but not religious.
And you know what? They’re right. You can do all that without going to church.
So the reason the “nones” are deserting religion in droves is because it isn’t religion anymore.
They’re leaving religion for the same reason you would leave a supermarket that stopped selling food.
Religion, you see, is not primarily about doing good works, handing out sandwiches and bringing about peace and justice.
It is about a transaction between this world and the next. It’s about the s soul’s salvation, the fear of hell and the hope of heaven. It’s about the supernatural commerce with angels and demons, prayers to the saints and a glimpse of glory. It’s about the spiritual warfare and the supernatural realm. It’s about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the supernatural sacraments of salvation and the Great Paschal Mystery.
What will bring the “nones” back to religion?
Probably when the Christian religion in America starts to become a religion again.
Link
It’s become a charity with meetings on Sundays, and the problem is modernism.
Modernism is the idea that the supernatural is out of date and unbelievable. The “de-mythologizers” tried to weed out all the miracles and supernatural elements from the gospels. For the last hundred years their influence has gained in seminaries and pulpits across the world.
Tales of the supernatural had to be removed. They didn’t fit with the modern world. Doctrines about devils and angels, heaven and hell had to be quietly excised from the faith because they were primitive and medieval and incredible to modern folk. Transubstantiation? A pious medieval philosophical explanation of what we all know is really symbolic. Supernatural revelation? No. Religion is all man made. Miracles? We know they don’t really happen.
Religious leaders–and I mean Catholics and Protestants alike–turned the Christian religion into an organization that does good works. Instead of the wondrous bread of heaven they were content to hand out Wonder Bread. Instead of the feeding of the five thousand they spoke about the “real miracle” being the fact that everyone shared their lunch.
All the religious talk stayed in place but it was re-interpreted. Father Wooly and Pastor Fuzzy proclaimed on Easter Day, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” but what they meant was “in some way the wonderful teachings of Jesus continued to be believed by his faithful followers. They said every Sunday that they believed in the Virgin Birth but what they meant was that “Mary was a very nice girl who was very courageous as she went through with her crisis pregnancy.” And so forth. And so on.
For Catholics? The necessity of the sacraments and a life of repentance and faith? Nah.
You only had to go to Mass if you really wanted to. Lay people who were married were just as able to be holy as priests and nuns. Confession? That’s only for people with low self esteem. Marriage? We can be flexible on that. It’s all about mercy after all.
Well, people aren’t dumb.
They concluded that if religion was really only about peace and justice and social work, then why did one have to get up early and go to church and sing dreary hymns and listen to a long, badly prepared homily by an uncomfortably over fed windbag? Why go to church anyway? If it was really only about social work, then why the early weekend pep talk with music? Why not sleep in?
The first generation to begin to make the connection were my generation–the ones born after 1955–when the rot started to set in.
Our kids got it real fast. They understood that church was both irrelevant and un necessary because they saw our generation treat it as such.
So they too drew the right conclusion. Church isn’t necessary.
You can be a good person without going to church.
You can be spiritual but not religious.
And you know what? They’re right. You can do all that without going to church.
So the reason the “nones” are deserting religion in droves is because it isn’t religion anymore.
They’re leaving religion for the same reason you would leave a supermarket that stopped selling food.
Religion, you see, is not primarily about doing good works, handing out sandwiches and bringing about peace and justice.
It is about a transaction between this world and the next. It’s about the s soul’s salvation, the fear of hell and the hope of heaven. It’s about the supernatural commerce with angels and demons, prayers to the saints and a glimpse of glory. It’s about the spiritual warfare and the supernatural realm. It’s about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the supernatural sacraments of salvation and the Great Paschal Mystery.
What will bring the “nones” back to religion?
Probably when the Christian religion in America starts to become a religion again.
Link
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Tactics of the Devil
One of the key elements in any contest is to understand the tactics of your opponent and to recognize the subtleties of the strategy or moves they may employ. In the spiritual battle of life we need to develop some sophistication in recognizing, naming, and understanding the subtleties of common tactics of the Devil.
A 2011 book by Fr. Louis Cameli, The Devil You Don’t Know is of great assistance in this matter. Having read it recently, I think it would be of value to reflect on four broad categories of the Devil’s tactics that Fr. Cameli analyzes.
While the four categories are Fr. Cameli’s, the reflections here are largely my own, but surely rooted in Fr. Cameli’s excellent work, so recently read by me. I recommend the work highly to you where these categories are aptly and fully described more than my brief reflection here can do.
And thus we examine four common tactics of the devil.
I. Deception – Jesus says The devil was a murderer from the beginning he does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks according to his own nature, he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44).
The devil deceives us with many false and empty promises. Most of these relate to the lie that we will be happier and more fulfilled if we sin, or deny aspects of the truth. Whatever passing pleasures come with sin, they are in fact passing. Great and accumulated suffering eventually comes with almost all sinful activity. Yet, despite this experience, we human beings remain very gullible, we seem to love empty promises and put all sorts of false hopes of them.
The devil also deceives us by suggesting all sorts of complexities, especially in our thinking. And thus he seeks to confuse and conceal the fundamental truth about our action. Our minds are very wily and love to indulge complexity as a way of avoiding the truth and making excuses. So we, conniving with the devil, entertain endless complications by asking “But what if this….and What about that….??!” Along with the devil, we project all sorts of possible difficulties, exceptions, or potential sob stories, to avoid insisting that we or others behave well and live according to the truth.
The devil also seeks to deceive us with “wordsmithing.” And thus the dismemberment and murder of a child through abortion becomes “reproductive freedom” or “Choice.” Sodomy is called “gay” (a word which used to mean “happy”). Our luminous Faith and ancient wisdom is called “darkness” and “ignorance.” Fornication is called “cohabitation.” And the redefinition of marriage as it is been known for some 5000 years, is labeled “marriage freedom.” And thus, through exaggerations and outright false labeling, the devil deceives us, and we too easily connive by calling good, or “no big deal,” what God calls sinful.
The devil also deceives us through the sheer volume of information. Information is not the same is truth, and data can be assembled very craftily to make deceitful points. Further, certain facts and figures can be emphasized, in exclusion to other, balancing truths. And thus even information or data which is true in itself becomes a form of deception. The news media, and other sources of information, sometimes exercise their greatest power in what they do not report. And this too is a way that the devil brings deceptions upon us.
We do well to carefully assess the many ways Satan seeks to deceive us. Do not believe everything you think or hear. While we ought not be cynical, we ought to be sober, and seek to verify what we see and hear and square it with God’s revealed truth.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Slavery
Jesus used the words “captive” and “oppressed” to begin his earthly ministry, declaring that the Spirit was upon him to give liberty to those who are oppressed. There are many forms of captivity in our world today – spiritual captivity to sin, political oppression by unjust powers, and (incredibly) human slavery.
If our Lenten fasts are to bear fruit during Easter, we too must be about the Father’s business of setting captives free.
One way Catholics can respond is through making a conscious effort to confront the disturbing reality of human trafficking in our society today (also referred to as modern day slavery). Human trafficking is the fastest growing illegal industry in the world and the second largest black-market industry (behind only the illegal drug trade). Globally human trafficking generates $32 billion annually.
In our Diocese (including the San Diego and Imperial Counties), human trafficking has actually surpassed the illegal drug trade. According to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, human trafficking cases increased 600% between 2009 and 2014. The FBI has ranked San Diego as a “high-density” child trafficking area.
As Christians, an apostolic term meaning “little Christs,” the mission falls to us to implement Jesus’ mandate of setting the captives free. Involving both a physical and spiritual dimension, the journey to freedom for a trafficking survivor can often take years. Materially, it involves the cooperation of local and federal law enforcement agencies. Spiritually, the Church must get involved.
Link
If our Lenten fasts are to bear fruit during Easter, we too must be about the Father’s business of setting captives free.
One way Catholics can respond is through making a conscious effort to confront the disturbing reality of human trafficking in our society today (also referred to as modern day slavery). Human trafficking is the fastest growing illegal industry in the world and the second largest black-market industry (behind only the illegal drug trade). Globally human trafficking generates $32 billion annually.
In our Diocese (including the San Diego and Imperial Counties), human trafficking has actually surpassed the illegal drug trade. According to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, human trafficking cases increased 600% between 2009 and 2014. The FBI has ranked San Diego as a “high-density” child trafficking area.
As Christians, an apostolic term meaning “little Christs,” the mission falls to us to implement Jesus’ mandate of setting the captives free. Involving both a physical and spiritual dimension, the journey to freedom for a trafficking survivor can often take years. Materially, it involves the cooperation of local and federal law enforcement agencies. Spiritually, the Church must get involved.
Link
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