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| Special Forces; Don't take on these guys! | |
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| Topic Started: Saturday, 2. June 2007, 17:47 (178 Views) | |
| MickCook | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 17:47 Post #1 |
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Okay, this thought just occurred to me. The British have their Special Forces, such as the Commandos, the S. A. S. and so on. The American's have the Rangers, Navy Seals and so one. The Catholic Church also has its special forces. In the physical world: The Jesuites The Redemptorists In the spiritual world: The Blessed Virgin Mary Angels Saints The weapons we have at our disposal are considerable. We have the Mass, the sacraments, prayer (including the rosary and special devotions). Our Commander in Chief is God in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. His representative on Earth is the Holy Father. Darn! Don't we have a lot going for us? I have a strong suspicion that those who attack the Church do so because they fear it. Any further reflections? |
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:) Mick The Cook Companies | |
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| Jamie | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 18:57 Post #2 |
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Having read this evening's rather gung ho postings Mick my personal reflection centres mostly around how much vino inspired them...... Of course terrorism feeds on fear - but it is human to be afraid of the unknown, to be perhaps more afraid of being maimed than killed, and to focus our fears too on the effect our deaths might have on those who depend on us..... in my case Mrs Jamie and the junior Jamies..... So while full of bravado Mick, I'm not sure how realistic all this is..... |
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| MickCook | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 19:05 Post #3 |
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I think you should have posted this under the other thread. This is about what our Church has to offer in terms of physical and spiritual well being. It is not about terrorism. If you read the other thread carefully you would have noticed that I mentioned quite strongly that fear is real and there is good reason for it. But it is our faith in Jesus Christ that provides us with a good reason for giving the terrorist a dirty great raspberry. Fear may rob us of our well being, but not our faith. No threat or use of fear has ever changed the truth in Jesus Christ. Let's return to this thread. What else does the Church have to offer in terms of our physical and spiritual well being? |
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:) Mick The Cook Companies | |
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| Em. | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 19:38 Post #4 |
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MickCook The special forces in England are not the Commandos, but the Green Berets, Deadly. |
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Divine Mercy | |
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| MickCook | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 19:57 Post #5 |
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Yep, perhaps. I'm not talking about deadly, though. Unless the Society of Jesus are now armed with M16s and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer descend from Apache helicopters into church grounds. Such an image would boggle the mind! Nope. I’m talking about the kind of things we have in our Church that help us with the challenges of life, guide us toward God and assist our spiritual well-being and growth. Any ideas? Special Spiritual Forces if you will. I'm sure some of you will have some ideas. Or are you here just to look for something to respond to in a more negative fashion? I can't believe that. |
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:) Mick The Cook Companies | |
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| Em. | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 20:03 Post #6 |
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No ideas. .. . . I live in hope that my G-d will guide me. |
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Divine Mercy | |
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| Emee | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 21:19 Post #7 |
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Ok Mick. Spiritual weapons: The Holy Spirit Prayer The Bible The Mass As well the Rosary, the Novena to the Devotion of the Divine Mercy Shrines of Our Lady Fasting and other small sacrifices Truth Care and responsibilities towards others and God's creation Faith Hope but mostly Love What is love? Well love is patient and kind. It is not self-seeking but delights in the truth. Love is eternal... |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 2. June 2007, 21:31 Post #8 |
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The Church has US. the men and women in the street, ordinary people living ordinary lives. I delayed responding while I watched a TV programme about the Victoria Cross, and some individuals who were awarded the gallantry decoration, were featured. Bill Speakman, who won the VC in Korea, said about the award "Its a bit overwhelming for an ordinary person. A retired senior officer said the men awarded the VC had a sense of focus, each one saw a task that must be done, irrespective of his own welfare. Only fifteen holders of the Victoria Cross are alive. Any one of us could have seen then in the street recently, and what would we have seen? Just another old chap, no different from any other. During my RAF days I knew lots of men who held the Distriguished Flying Cross or Medal, a few with the Distinguished Service Order, and one kind gentleman with Croix de Guerre and Congressional Medal of Honour. What has this to do with weapons for the Catholic Church? Simple. I met those men fifteen to twenty years after the end of World War II. If I had not seen their medal ribbons I would not have known they were men of courage, conviction and kindness. Not one of them was forced to fly, all aircrew were volunteers. They did that out of kindness because they cared about other peoples' lives and freedom being threatened. These were ordinary blokes. At one point it was my job to maintain their personal records. Films would let us believe they were highly charged Glory Boys, mainly from public school backgrounds. No. Many had been to secondary modern schools, and had been employed in jobs that had little prestige - factory work, clerical, shop assistants, drivers. By the time I met them they were approaching middle age, were just plain family men. Honestly they were so "ordinary" they could have blended into any crowd, just as a Saint can be unnoticed in the pew. For each one who won no medals, there were many more who did what had to be done, with no special recogniton. They were the nation's weapons. We, the laity, can see that our Church is under constant attack. We have no right to sit back and rely on others, the "full timers" ie the clergy and religious orders, to fight for the good of the Church. Can we, ordinary Catholics living ordinary lives, be, with the help of God, weapons for Holy Mother Church? |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| MickCook | Sunday, 3. June 2007, 14:46 Post #9 |
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Now you're getting the idea. Great posts Emee and Rose. :D |
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:) Mick The Cook Companies | |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 3. June 2007, 15:11 Post #10 |
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We must pray. We must also offer our gifts and talents to God. The internet is a powerful weapon, with potential for good or evil. We who have computes can use the internet to do all we can to counteract the harm done on sites that seek to damage the Church. Some of them pretend to be Catholic (for example a pagan site I saw, masquerading as Catholic). It used to be said "the housebound do what they can for the Church and parish, by praying. By using modern communications, they have the freedom to play their part on forums, by setting up prayer sites. Elderly retired clergy can provide online sermons. Independent Catholic News transmits Catholic News to people in countries where they either cannot get printed Catholic papers due to isolation, or would be imprisoned for having them. Catholic Cyberforum members do their bit, on this site. Mick and Karin have an excellent site with many Catholic links. Click here to see the site |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Karin | Sunday, 3. June 2007, 15:42 Post #11 |
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Karin
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Thank you, our Rose. Mick is just now working to renew the site and make it look a bit more refreshed! Same content, but with a new front page. And you are so right about our being able to use our computers wisely to combat all the negative things being said - and done - to undermine the good works of the Church. Those of us who end up being house bound at some time or another can use their computers (if they have one) to set up prayer chains, links, get news and stay informed. It's just like anything else, we can use something for good - or evil. And isn't it wonderful we can share our experiences with others! Even when we send photos or family letters, we are also sending God's love through our e-mails. It may not even be intentional, but our content can be filled with such strength and love, those who read the e-mails, eventually pass some of them on or share with others, will experience God in a new way...and maybe even for the first time. Weapons? We definitely have them and those of us who work for the Lord, have an arsenal of them in hand. |
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Karin Hvaljen Isus i Marija. Kraljica Mira, moli za nas. "Praised be Jesus and Mary. Queen of Peace, Pray for Us." | |
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3:44 PM Jul 11