May my Lord take my life, may he teach me all shame... !

(Journey in a Broken World)

Poem by Marc Aupiais (Copyright Marc Aupiais. All Rights Reserved!)



May My lord take my life, may he teach me my shame
May I dine with the poor, the rich and sinners, be hated by my very own name,


May my lord take my life, may he make me forget,
May he make me neglect every horror, with which I’m beset.

May he choose my wife, and decide on my offspring,
May he torture or bless me, may I treat it the same:

May my Lord take my hope, and drown it in death,
Death to self, as I should mortify by living, by loving beyond all pain,

May my lord take my life, may he look at my sight,
And make me blind to all He does not accept,

May my Lord take my life, and give me to torture,
May I die of hunger, know every thirst, may I be sent to prison for his dear sake!

May my Lord take my life, take every choice,
And worse, be quiet, and force me to choose.

May he take my noise and make it to silence, and when I’m in need,
May He never aid me, ‘cept to teach and heal, to correct,

May my Lord take my hearing, so I cannot hear man,
May he take my clothing so I know cold and shame,

May my Lord teach me humility, there’s heaven to gain,
May I be tortured, in mind, body, soul.

May every evil be practiced against me.

May My Lord take my life, for whatever he choose,

But as it is, I use my hope, my wealth, and my protection,
That I may give him my life- to do with what He will.

That the lord took my life, this I know for sure,
Yet for every friend lost, a thousand more,

For my imprisonment in hades, shall I not gain heaven?
For my cold, I warm the angels, for my lack- my contentment gives me patience,

If I truly gave God my life, perhaps he’d need less-
Less to try me, less to hurt,

For the righteous can take pain in blessings, and joy in pain,

To truly submit, we must renounce all ungodly shame,

I, to be a true Christian, must be more than His name!


May I share his death and his shame...

Vatican- politics worthless without Christ- Christ must feature in voting

(Scripturelink Voters Guide; Zenit News Service)


Article by Marc Aupiais


Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state yesterday stated that secularism, which is in his opinion void of values, politics, and all such things must only be means by which the values of God are implemented within the world, stating that without Christ- states quickly learn to ignore the greater good.

He identified the recent financial crisis, the "credit crunch" in the developed would as evidence of what happens when societies aim for the short-term above what is beneficial over the long term.

Some sources claim that the recent crisis would have been entirely avoided if a 1992 bill sponsored by political presidential candidate- McCain had been successful- the entire financial crisis in America would not have occured.

A voice from within the bishops, recently gave the US government five principles on which to fix the crisis. (c.f. Zenit News 29/09/08).

Overcoming sin- and the natural which has been twisted into evil by evil!

(Journey in a Broken World; Chastity South Africa; South African Catholic)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Often- when evil tries to overcome me- I have a method which works- I try to see what desire has been twisted by evil against me. Pure evil doesn't exist- it only has power in twisting good.

Now- when it is pride- we realize the true emotion twisted is love of God, and care of self, and self esteem in proportion- realizing this- we endorse the true desires- and when evil is weak enough, or rather- when the good still is fighting- then this rids us of the evil, which somehow withers and dies.

We need firstly to change the evil desire into the good one- to straighten the broken tree's stem, to fix a broken spinal cord, through forcing the broken back into the place it is meant to exist!

Now, sometimes this does not work- and so we sit- trying to wait out the evil of sin- and fight strong desires, as though we were fighting a disease. Unfortunately, of human force alone, such force not always works- we tire quickly and are met again when weaker- which is why often sacraments are such power- and the realization that we can wait it out... in this, however we tire- and often start asking God in prayer- why we cannot have the evil wish we desire, even ask for lifting of the moral obligation- for some excuse to be doing good. Evil has no substance, except in that which is good.

In this- we feel almost electric power, and irritation enter us- as we either give into it, and find we are weaker the next skirmish, or else- try our hardest, and find we have already fallen- or manage to get through it, desperately praying- knowing it will come back again, having weakened us sufficiently.

At this point- we realize that the true desire- ours for whatever it is has ceased to be, or if it hasn't- we perhaps have tried very hard to feed the true desire which has been twisted, and justly we have tried to fight the other- and as yet have not succeeded. Now- if we resist, we are given the grace to do so- but surely- how do we win..?

The desire below is natural- it is ours, is it not- but this other desire- where does it come from, is it not the mutation of the desire we truly have, or had- is it not alien, foreign..?

We are fighting a desire, which is not natural, for sin is insanity, and is not ours- it is alien- so why should we at all be obligated to follow something that is neither sane, nor ours. We calmly must determine not to follow it- to say no to it- and to lower ourselves in our souls. We then begin to pray about this foreign desire within- to saints such as Philomena- and give our bodies over to them to cure, all the while determined to attend the next possible confession.

We realize the desire is not ours- and so we ignore it- like an aggressive tyrant without any power. It is not ours, it is not of our self... it is foreign, and we reject it utterly.

In this- we acknowledge not only the foreignness of this desire- but also the natural desire below, which has been mutated, and we determine to live in better balance with this and to admit it as truth, as truth will set you free. Of course- if our world-view is wrong, if we believe that those things forbidden by Mother Church are natural- then we might as well not even attempt to fight- we must win through submittal to morality and to truth- as the natural means.

Only evil tries to justify that actings of man which are not natural, nor sane.

Good attempts to cure them, or to manage them so as to stop evil triumphing.
That which is moral- is the boundary and fullness of that which is natural.

Pope appeals youth- Don't destroy planet- Ecotourism helps the most needy- Papal Summer Residence- Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo

(Social justice South Africa; c.f. Vatican Information Service (VIS); Agenzia Fides)

Article by Marc Aupiais

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI- on the 27th of September stated, at World Tourism Day 2008, at the Papal summer residence in- Castelgandolfo- that correct management of the environment is not only moral but beneficial, and necessary. He noted something he called "social tourism"(VIS 27/09/08)(Agenzia Fides 29/9/2008), and that environmental responsibility is not only part of a healthy economy- but beneficial to those who practice it prudently.

Bishop gives admirable speech- to gay audience that invited him

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa; c.f. Creative Minority Report; Cal Catholic Daily)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Sacramento Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto recently was keynote speaker at a gay and lesbian catholics conference in America- where he was expected by many to do what some American bishops have done on issues ranging from salvation, to the mass, to abortion- and endorse the heretical* view of the group....

Instead- and I will quote his words of wisdom, and disapproval of the sin these poor persons where they manifested a heretical* view of marriage and were perhaps are separated from the Ecclesiam by-

"[Cal Catholic Daily] But there was noting ambiguous about Bishop Soto’s remarks to the group. “Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals, but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distracts them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all,” Bishop Soto said. “For this reason, it is sinful. Married love is a beautiful, heroic expression of faithful, life-giving, life-creating love. It should not be accommodated and manipulated for those who would believe that they can and have a right to mimic its unique expression."

At least five members of the audience walked out during the bishop’s address. When he finished speaking, there was general silence -- with only a very small number applauding.

The chairman of the conference then announced that the bishop would answer questions at a reception that would be held in another room. That led to widespread expressions of disapproval from members of the audience, who said they wanted to be able to express their responses immediately. It was agreed that those who wanted to speak would line up. The bishop was told twice by the chairman that he was free to leave if he wanted -- or to stay and listen. Bishop Soto stayed and sat quietly listening to every response.

A series of about eight speakers came to the microphone to express their unhappiness with what the bishop had said -- and what they felt he had not said. One woman said, in essence, "We know what the Church says. What we wanted you to talk about is the value of our lived experience as lesbian women and gay men."

Two speakers -- one man and one woman -- thanked the bishop for his address and voiced their agreement with what he had to say.

While the audience members were responding to the bishop’s remarks, a board member of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries came up to one of the tables in the room and said, "On behalf of the board, I apologize. We had no idea Bishop Soto was going to say what he said.""

http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2008/09/soto-voce.html








*Official church definition- one who rejects a doctrine they are obligated to believe

Indian Bishops on Persecution- AsiaNews.IT

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa; AsiaNews.it)

The Following article is used with permission. While most of our articles are freely distributable by those supporting our causes- so far as this distribution is not for prophet, or is reqested in writing- the following may not be distributed without prior permission from AsiaNews.it, who have permitted us to place this here.

" 09/26/2008 17:31
INDIA
Indian bishops make demands in relation to anti-Christian violence
by Card. Varkey Vithayathil
For the first time the Bishops’ Conference of India formally accuses Hindutva groups, demanding justice from central and state governments. Its goal is to preserve India’s civilisation of tolerance and guarantee the good works by Christians in favour of the poor and the outcasts and for social reconciliation.

Bangalore (AsiaNews) – Here is the statement signed by Card Varkey Vithayathil on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India concerning anti-Christian violence, released today:
Shocked and grieved by the incidents of extreme violence unleashed against the Christian community recently in various parts of our Country, the members of the Standing Committee (Executive Body) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India express their utter disappointment at the apathy and inaction of the Governments at the Centre and in the States.

Tragic events

Innocent people were murdered, women were molested, churches and religious places were desecrated, pulled down and burnt; houses of Christians were destroyed in Kandhamal and several other districts of Orissa. The State Government kept giving an assurance that things were normal and security arrangements were perfect. Yet when representations were made, it pleaded inability to control the mobs that vandalized church property assailed religious personnel and Christian population. It was evident that the perpetrators of these hideous deeds were trained agents of radical Hindutva activists who were acting under instructions and executing a master plan of destruction. Even as the Christian community in India was still agonizing under these most painful events, attacks and vandalism spread to Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh

It is India's ancient civilization that is being humiliated and the values such as Ahimsa, Truth, Tolerance, and Respect for Religions that She has jealously preserved for centuries that are being dragged to the dust. It is India's fair name that has been tarnished and her secular and democratic image seriously damaged before the international community. These recent horrors in various parts of our country have disgraced the high ideals and principles that our wise men and saints upheld and the vision that our Founding Fathers cherished.

We appreciate the initiative of the Government of India in sending a fact-finding team to study the situation in Karnataka. At the same time we express our disappointment because no corresponding action has been taken until now in the State of Orissa, where the violence and destruction were of much greater magnitude.

Our demands

We make the following demands:

– That stronger and stringent action be taken against all kinds of anti-social and anti-religious elements that violate human rights and terrorize innocent people;

– That culprits should be brought to book and legal action be taken against them;

– That adequate compensation be immediately given to the affected people and institutions;

– That CBI inquiry be immediately ordered to investigate the Orissa incidents and their nexus to attacks on Christian communities in other States;

– That a ban be imposed on fundamentalist groups that train "terrorists" under the banner of Hindutva or any other name;

– That the leaders who act on a communal agenda, or who inspire organized violence against persons of another community, or who use religion for political purposes be restrained.

– That in the event of people taking the law into their own hands, the police be instructed to act in accordance with the demands of law and order, with justice and without prejudice.

The teaching of the church

We are convinced that the allegations of forced conversions by Christian communities is merely a strategy developed by vested interests in order to prevent Christian services of health, education, poverty alleviation and development on behalf of deprived communities. Conversion by force, allurements or deception goes against the teaching of the Catholic Church: "The Church strictly forbids forcing anyone to embrace the Faith, or alluring or enticing people by worrisome wiles. By the same token, she also strongly insists on this right that no one should be frightened away from the Faith by unjust vexations on the part of others” (Vatican Council II). Further Church Law prescribes: "No one is ever permitted to coerce persons to embrace the Catholic faith against their conscience."

It is truly humiliating to the poor to claim that they easily yield to the temptation of converting to any religion for some material advantage. In fact, the poor who choose Christianity forfeit so many benefits guaranteed by the Constitution. Some have even sacrificed their lives for refusing to reconvert.

The Catholic Church respects other religions and holds what is true and holy in them as a precious heritage of humanity. Her teaching in this matter is clear. "The Catholic Church regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teaching which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men." She exhorts all her children "prudently and lovingly, through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions and in witness of Christian faith and life, to acknowledge, preserve and promote the spiritual and moral goods, found among these people, as well as their values in their society and culture." (Vatican Council II)

We perceive that the Hindutva opposition to Christian activities derives from the fear that many of the deprived communities may be so empowered as to assert their own rights and resist exploitation. No matter how great the threat that may confront us, we cannot renounce the heritage of love and justice that Jesus left us. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (Gospel of Luke 4:18). When Jesus went about healing the sick, associating with outcasts and assisting the poor, those works were not allurements but the concrete realization of God's plan for humankind: to build a society founded on love, justice and social harmony. The Church therefore is walking in the footsteps of her Master when she exerts herself to the utmost for the benefit of humanity, especially those who are poor and marginalized.

Our constitutional rights

Every citizen and community of our Country has an inalienable right to freedom of conscience and religious liberty. The Indian Constitution, article 25 § 1, upholds that "all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion." It is this right of every citizen to embrace the religion which best satisfies his/her quest for God and for fulfilment. This constitutes an essential part of Human Rights. We belong to a civilization that attaches great importance to this right.

Christian response

Ultimately, Christian response to harassment and persecution may be expressed in one word: forgiveness, and this while we seek to have our rights safeguarded and justice done. If however, some choose to consider the sufferance of the Christian community as a weakness, they are seriously mistaken. We wish to remind everyone that we are citizens of this great country. We too have had a share in shaping this civilization and continue to contribute a great deal to the growth and development of this nation. The Catholic Church in India has always played an active role in promoting inter-religious dialogue and inter-religious harmony. It is with absolute resolve to live in harmony and in happy collaboration with everyone around us, that we seek to serve God and our Nation.

We are heartened by persons of Hindu society and of other communities who have come forward to condemn the evil deeds of a fringe group of fundamentalist activists and to help the victims of violence in many ways. We are grateful that the majority of the people of our Country recognize the small Christian minority as a peace-loving community, ever eager to render service to people of all social strata and religious affiliations, especially those who are poor and needy.

We express our solidarity with the hapless suffering victims of violence, especially those in Orissa who have been rendered homeless, who are forced to flee into forests, who still languish in relief camps and who are being still cruelly threatened to give up their Christian faith, and in their name we appeal to the Governments concerned to take appropriate and effective action without any further delay and to bring relief and justice to them.

We invite everyone to join in prayer for our great nation, for leaders of the Governments and for Civil Authorities, for all those who have suffered in the recent violence and also for those who were the cause of our sufferings. May God bless our country and lead us on the way of peace and justice.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil

President CBCI"
http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13331

Peter and the sheet! What infallibility means- literally speaking!

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa; c.f. Karl Keating Newsletter sept 23)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Saint Peter is Famous for being told to eat unclean food on a sheet- by God- and being told he was wrong to call it unclean.

The notable thing is not that God calls all unclean- or clean- he doesn't- acts 15 proves this- but that he shall determine that- not Peter- but Peter's authority in this is instantly accepted by all the important Christians he speaks with on this.

Karls point, unlike my own- is not on Peter though- but his belief that Cornellius has a more important conversion than that of Saint Paul- as he opened the way for us Gentiles to receive Christ! The fulfillment of Isaac's prophesy- when he appears to lie to Abraham about being firstborn!

We have to support the right media, and show the world the truth as is!

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa)
commentary by Marc Aupiais

So often- we see it- things we know as true- portrayed otherwise- and more- people mimic what they see and hear.

With so much bad- it is learnt of others- with so much good- we must refine it.

The weapon we are given is dynamic- but stable- to the untrained- it is deadly and like a whip or many martial weapons- it can hurt us more than it hurts others if not wielded adequately.

The Catholic is a master of truth- or rather- a conduit for Her power-

When we see any form of media- what is said has slight hinting- which alters us if we allow alteration- our social conscience is molded by what we see- and we sense this if we view different media with different persons- not only is truth objective- but the viewer is oft influenced by experience- and ideals of others.

To influence for good- we must fight for truth in every nook and cranny- and through every inch of time- we must secretly conquer the enemy-

Christians must become the creative minority they were born to become-

the Spartan Warriors- who are like calm masters of form- who control themselves first- and let their form be molded by intuitive truth- and the urge for reality- we must open ourselves to sorrow and joy- so that in both- hope is blown into existence in this storm of our existence.

What is instilled in the home- is so powerful- and we must fight this battle to our last breath- what is instilled by others also has impact- yet in even the nuances of speech- of medias- we must fight for the value of life- and of existence and of seeing reality as it is.

Those who fight the small battles for truth- often are able to fight titanic monstrosities- all the while swirling truth about as a hidden weapon- and springing like a tiger, or wild animal- with that energy below the visible boundary- so as to teach truth- and dispel falsity and false world-view.

Our world-view is the front on which our soul is won- this is what we mean when we say faith saves- the correct view of reality- is paramount to navigating this ocean we find ourselves barely visible against- as we sail the impossibility of the hurricane of life.

We must protect this- and mold it- so as to better channel the saints triumphant- and our God- Reality (a Translation of the Tetragrammaton)- who is truth himself, whose strands we rely on to lift us and move us in our floating dance of truth!

Heresy watch- how to spot bad doctrine- even from bishops, and why sometimes the heirachi errs!

(Scripturelink Catholic Watchdog South Africa)Now, we know that the magisterium of the church speaks from God- but that the individual bishops do not divinely preach the faith- but rather are trained to be good judges of heresy.

Unfortunately- many bishops- the heirs of Arius, and Eusebus- choose to front ideas not from inside the church- but from their culture and society.

Politics makes this worse- people are told to attend protestant churches, or not to put their moral code on others- or not to judge in any circumstance- or to forgive without justice or repentance-

So, how do we attempt to save our beloved church from such-

from an environment where Orthodoxy is often punished,
and separatist groups sometimes grow faster than the church?

The answer firstly is to focus on yourself!


If the litergy is abused- make sure this is in no way your sin.
If you read something from a church authority- judge it according to what you are accustomed to hearing from a bishop, and try to find what the source of this information is.

Is it the infallible Magisterium, or a bishop's personal opinion.

Opinion is oft unfortunately disguised as dogma- books like the "Modern Catholic Encyclopedia", carrying imprimatur often attack the teachings of the magisterium- this particular book's one author attacks the divinity of Christ.

Another popular book to be sold by Catholic bookstores is "a concise history of the church", it claims to be more conserative- but its statements about confession fall under the anathemas of Trent, and it often misrepresents information.

Other heirachical structures say that all religions are equal- and we must not judge or preach to those of other faiths- or must keep away from making laws in accordance with our morality.

Simply put- those things which come from the Traditions we are told in the bible to always hold to, those who hold to what we heard in the start- are those who are not pruned off of the vine, which is Christ.

When listening to a priest, confessor, bishop, diocesan official-

Be realistic- they are as likely to fall into heresy as any person here-
They are better trained at times, though often Seminary can be the source of their problems- rather - look into the backing of what they say- see where in the magisterium and tradition their words corrolate-

If you cannot find a correlation, but only a rough meaning they wrongly believe to be the "spirit" of works, like the spirit of a crowd, then discount their statement, and look into what the truth is- further- try to aid your fellows in this truth.

Unfortunately two things often occur- firstly, the best of speakers are misquoted, or misunderstood- or speak in a specific context.

Secondly- some bishops and priests and deacons and laymen believe they have a grasp of Catholicism, but without the true Reality of it within- and so front what their culture tells them to, or what that more radical teacher at seminary said.

With both- discussion of your scandal (harm caused by another's sin on a fellow) at this- may either clarify the issue, or save your fellows from the heresy of but one small section of the church- acting in isolation from truth.

Now- a small amount of good in an evil organization has an evil effect- in justifying and maintaining the evil, but a small amount of evil in a good organization- while it should be cleaved off- does not always affect the working of the whole- and it is God who works in the Divine Magisterium, and in the Sacraments- the mortal state of the worker of these- is not needed to be safe for them to work.

As even the Early church said- the feet are not to be the head of the church-
yet, the bishops will have to answer for how they pruned the flock of God.

It is those guilty of sin, or who are silent about this- who partake fully in it.

Admittadly the Church, in western society- has in some places a deadly cancer-

But organizations like Opus Dei, and like internet apolostates, and the Vatican website- are there- but we must not rely on others solely to grow us- we must ourselves research the truth, even as the inspiring Catechism of Baltemore- tells us to!

-Marc Aupiais