It's been a busy few months. BUT I have few photos to document all the wonderful stuff we've done and the milestones our little students have achieved.

Morning Basket
Poetry: "Bed in Summer" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Sea Fever" by John Masefield.

Read-alouds:

 

Math

Highlights: Joseph mastering his multiplication tables, including a very decent understanding so far of double-digit multiplication. John Paul finishing his Kindergarten math book (!) and beginning work on grade 1.

Language Arts

Highlights: Joseph finished reading 50 chapter books. John Paul finished Lesson 50 in 100 Easy Lessons. Both boys have Reading 100 charts. They each had a Tim Hortons treat date with Mom for completing half their goal!

Social Studies

Highlights: Spain, Holland & Italy

Spain: Reading Anno's Spain and Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Studying famous painters and imitating Van Gogh's "Starry Night". Watching YouTube videos of the Alhambra, Gaudi's architectural masterpieces, and a Catalonian human tower. 

   

 

Holland: Reading The Winged Watchman. Learning about the importance of windmills and how the Dutch drained the land.

  

Italy: Studying famous Italian art and artists: Michelangelo, Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Raphael. Touring the Vatican, Venice, and Rome via videos and books.

  

  

Unfortunately, international cuisine nights are slightly boring because of my limited diet for Jude, but we're still trying to get a bit of a cultural experience and still enjoying our efforts.

We read Canada at War and reenacted famous WWI battles on Remembrance Day.

For Advent, we continued our traditions of the Jesse Tree, our wreath, and unwrapping a Christmas book every day to read. The kids got chocolate coins, candy canes, and books from St Nicholas. We celebrated the Immaculate Conception twice: a trip to Saskatoon for a beautiful Latin Mass and then our own parish feast day Mass. The boys have a new job caring for our refurbished candle stand at church and love lighting new candles and replacing old ones. We celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe by making a brand new icon and having a special Mexican feast. 

We're continuing to celebrate Christmas and enjoying evenings singing carols in the light of our tree before going to bed. We watched It's a Wonderful Life! with the kids. 

It truly is a wonderful life! 

Felicem Nativitatis Diem

“And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.”

Luke 2:16-17

Life. As I write, Emilie is crying because John Paul stole her little rubber ducky… again. Jude cried and fussed the entire day yesterday. There are currently Legos covering my living room floor. The kids have jumped on the couches so much that they are wrecked, if you can even find the couches in the midst of all the books, toys, and blankets covering them. Joseph just made a mouse trap, with nails pointing upward, and placed it on our staircase. Now Emilie is crying because she lost her little ducky… again. And I sit here, with my 4^th cup of coffee this morning, while picturing a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s of George Bailey shouting: “You call this a happy family? Why do we have to have all these kids?”

“Because we’re cute,” was Joseph’s reply once. That they are. But so are puppies and baby bunnies. Even baby skunks can be considered cute. Nature builds cuteness into little creatures… probably to protect them.

I may or may not exaggerate the difficulties of being a family of six now, but I could never adequately portray the blessings either. It relates well to Christmas, that time of year where we stress out over feasts, finances, and family. Rather, it is the time when God becomes man to save us from our sins. Not so much a man first, but as a little baby placed within the care of a family. The family is forever sanctified. For a family, in a sense every day is like Christmas. It is not easy, but it is purposeful, sanctifying and, above all, joyous.

“Why do we have to have all these kids?” Because God has blessed us, with every one of them.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find a little rubber ducky.

  

 

Year in Review

Jan 28 – John Paul contracts a serious mystery skin ailment which earns him a late night emergency flight to a bigger hospital. Like a champ, he miraculously returns home just two days later.

March 21 – Joseph’s hockey season finally ends. After a winter filled with too many long and snowy trips to games (often on Sundays), we decide not to put him in hockey this fall. We now feel half sane.

June 16 – Emilie turns 3. She demands blueberry cheesecake. She then eats the blueberries and pushes away the cheesecake, thus letting us know who’s going to be in charge for the next year.

July-Aug – Millette Family Vacation! Jasper! PEI! Rome! Well, we don’t actually go anywhere. It seems that 8-month pregnant women don’t feel like hiking up mountains and camping in a tent. Millette Family Staycation! We fill our time with fishing, barbecuing, gardening, and trips to the doctor.

August 28 – Mr. Jude Charles Millette enters the scene. 8lbs, 10oz. Emilie, unable to say her J’s, calls him “Dude”. He’s a pretty cool Dude indeed. Just like his…

Sept 6 – To appease Jude’s belly (nursing), Becca stops eating food. Well, at least the foods that have flavour.

Sept 8 – Jude is baptized in the traditional Latin Rite at Our Lady of Czestochowa parish in Saskatoon.

Oct 5 – The boys (sans Jude) get to see their first Rider game at Mosaic Stadium. Riders win!

Dec 25 – This Christmas Dan is finally given a new truck! Right Becca?...

Kid Quotes

Emilie, doing her schoolwork: “watch me count my ABCs.”

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John Paul: “Let’s name our baby ‘Smarty Farty!’”

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Joseph, while on a hike: “Mom… I didn’t bring my knife… I’m not as much of a man as you thought I was.”

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Cousin James (4): “I got a new shirt for my birthday!”

Not to be outdone, John Paul: Yeah. Well, I got new gitch for Christmas!

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John Paul, explaining to Emilie about some pumpkin display by the altar at church (Thanksgiving weekend): “There’s pumpkins because Halloween is coming!”
Emilie: “Mom, can you help me put my jacket on by myself?”

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Unfortunately, our town rodeo was on Good Friday…

John Paul: "Probably Jewish people are at the rodeo right now."

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Holy Saturday morning…

Dad: "What do you want for breakfast?"
Emilie: "I want a meat stick!"

Dad: “That’s my girl!”

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Emilie: “Mom, do you want some porn cops?”

Mom: “!?!... Do you mean corn pops?”

Emilie: “Yeah.”

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

(Taken from our annual family Christmas letter, written by Dan)

Favourite Books of 2019

I'm titling this "Favourite Books" because I didn't read many this year and because I may have forgotten some and because I started and didn't finish others. Dan thinks it's because I'm embarrassed at having read so little. Maybe. Does anyone else have a problem getting some few hundred pages into a book and then just stopping? Yes? This was just one of those years to start and stop books: The Fellowship of the Ring (re-read), The Hobbit (re-read), From the Ashes. I'll get back to them eventually. Some of these are also my favourites of the many read-alouds to the kids.

Sword & Serpent Trilogy 
by Dr. Taylor Marshall

I bought this novel series for Dan for Christmas last year and in the early stages of pregnancy when I felt crummy and tired, I read the whole thing in a short matter of time. Early Christianity vs. Paganism. Saints vs. Roman Emperors. The characters are realistic and intriguing. I'd like to think this is how it really went down for St George & Co. This trilogy was engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring. It's one of those that you can't wait for your kids to get old enough to read. Five stars.

A Mother's Rule of Life
by Holly Pierlot

I'm pretty sure I must seek after the magic formula for a perfectly well-organized life... at least, I like reading about such ideas, but I'm not as great at putting them into action. A Mother's Rule had lots to offer for a busy, homeschool mom. My favourite was probably creatively incorporating prayer into daily life and letting all other cares flow from it. Holly's idea of a daily schedule or "rule" was a little too confining for me, but brought greater clarity to my own life. Four stars.

Infiltration
by Dr. Taylor Marshall

Everything that's gone wrong with the Catholic Church in the last century and more, examined and analyzed. It's bad, really bad; but the scandal and horror must be exposed for healing. And Marshall leaves the reader with hope for the future and a desire to reach far back into our Catholic heritage and drink deeply from the Truth. I hope I've become a better Catholic by knowing the awful and embracing the Truth. For a deeper review, check out Dan's. Five stars.

Home Management: Plain & Simple
by Kim Brennaman

Whereas A Mother's Rule is written from a very Catholic perspective, Home Management is Christian and Christ-centered, but has a bit of a different and more approachable feel (I'm sure this is purely my quick, personal opinion). I'm not finished, but have been jumping from topic to topic and really, really like the perspective and practical advice. Something I never thought of: have kids take turns as "mom's helper" for a day; they get the coveted sit-by-mom for read-aloud, help in the kitchen. I'm hoping to make some practical changes to our routine. Five stars.

Anna Karenina 
by Leo Tolstoy

I picked up Tolstoy thinking I should really read this classic. Whew! It's a long one at over 800 pages. Morally flawed characters, especially in the area of marital infidelity, frustrate me - Anna was no different. But over time, rather than feeling disgusted and wanting to pitch the book, I've come to feel compassion for the characters and deeper insight into human frailty. There is such a lesson in reaping good or evil from your good or bad life choices. I'm still not finished, but trying to wrap this book up. Four stars.

The Temperament God Gave You 
by Art and Laraine Bennett

I carried the Temperaments book with me in the purse to all my doctors appointments this summer. While I haven't been a fan of The Four Love Languages for understanding others, I can really get the temperaments. It's been really enlightening to have ah-ha moments about different members of my family and why they react or act the way they do. I feel more equipped to deal with others strengths and weaknesses and challenge my own. I did, however, find this book a little chunky and repetitive. Four stars.



Mother Love: A Manual for Christian Mothers

Finally, a devotional recommendation. I recently got this beautiful mother's prayer book. It's traditional, filled with prayers, litanies, advice for mothers, meditations for Mass, and chapters on the vocation of motherhood and marriage. I love it! Did I mention it also has beautiful, old black and white holy images? Such a gem! Five stars.

The Mitchells Series
by Hilda van Stockum

I am a huge fan of Hilda van Stockum! I read and re-read and loved this series as a kid. It was so exciting to re-read it to my own kids and have them fall in love too. Enter the Mitchell family: fun, adventurous, mischievous. Just like ordinary kids because the author based them on her own kids! A delightful read-aloud! Five stars.

  

The Winged Watchman 
by Hilda van Stockum

Another van Stockum favourite. Set in Holland during World War II, the Winged Watchman is the windmill home and working place of 10-year-old Joris Verhagen's family. This story has all the wonderful depth of van Stockum's characters, combined with war history, Dutch living and culture, humour and deep questions. At times the content and suspense was difficult for our easily frightened John Paul, but we were able to keep going and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the read. Five stars.

Francis and Clare: Saints of Assisi
by Helen Walker Homan

Another awesome read-aloud! In a world that gets St Francis all wrong as only an environmentalist or vegetarian or animal-saver, it's refreshing to read about the real-deal holiness of a saint who imitated the life of Christ so closely. Our kids were inspired, laughed, and will remember this one! Five stars.

Bishop Schneider's Christus Vincit: Uplifting, Indispensable, Timely

Following a week of lamentable meetings by the bishops of the USCCB, it is tempting to lose one’s hope that this Church crisis will ever end. The bishops, many of whom are spiritual offspring of Theodore McCarrick (though not all), discussed a plethora of secularist liberal issues such as gun control and diocesan taxes, all the while mingling behind the security-laden walls of the four-star Marriott Waterfront hotel in Baltimore - not exactly a Carthusian monastery. The most accurate description of the meetings perhaps came the week prior, as a Crux headline read: US Bishops have their plates full during next week’s USCCB meeting. No doubt their wine glasses as well. In the meantime, trust in the American bishops to act as defenders of the Catholic faith has long since dissipated, though it seems many bishops are tone-deaf to this reality.

Now would be an appropriate time to suggest that faithful Catholics are not entirely orphans, that there is a glimmer of hope. I speak of the recently released book, Christus Vincit: Christ’s Triumph Over the Darkness of the Age – Bishop Athanasius Schneider in conversation with journalist Diane Montagna.

I had initial hesitation reading Christus Vincit. Personally, I dislike books that are formatted as interviews; such is Christus Vincit. However, this hesitation soon evaporated. Montagna and Bishop Schneider collaborate to offer an exemplary book – smooth, eloquent, and in-depth. Indeed, it is unlikely I will ever meet Bishop Schneider, and improbable I will speak at length with him. This book gives the impression of the improbable becoming a reality. It is approachable, smooth, and profound. Montagna is to be commended for her successful work.

To the actual book, Christus Vincit begins with a section on Schneider’s life and background. I found this helpful. As Schneider continues to gain prominence, or infamy, as a key player in the Catholic counter-revolution, it is valuable to learn more about the actual man.

Many stirring must-read stories were shared of Schneider’s early years in Kazakhstan. He comes from a very devout family, and was baptized three times (not really!). Due to Communist persecution, he would sometimes go over one year without attending Mass. As he got older, his family would travel a full day to attend Sunday Mass. I personally found these stories compelling, for I often complain about having to spend an entire Sunday to take my family to a reverent Mass. It seems that things turned out favorably for the Schneiders, and perhaps there is hope for my family as well.

As his personal biography is laid forth for readers, it is striking to see Schneider’s abandonment to God’s plan for his life. For instance, his religious name, Athanasius, was quite providentially chosen for him. As was his area of academic specialization: Patristics. When Schneider was chosen to become an auxiliary bishop he was deeply saddened, but didn’t decline the selection when he found out that Pope Benedict XVI personally chose him to the ecclesial office.

Following the introduction on the life of Bishop Schneider, an expansive array of subjects are then broached, such as the death penalty, contraception, China, charismatics, reverence, McCarrick, angels, Amoris Laetitia, Fatima, and more. The book at times teaches like a catechism, yet a perennial catechism that does not change with the whims of a pope. Each and every issue discussed is explained clearly, and is of great interest.

The gloves come off early, so to speak, when the book turns to the topic of Islam and Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium. The juxtaposition of Montagna presenting Pope Francis’ writings on diverse religions, and Schneider’s clear presentation of the Catholic faith, is salient. As Schneider explains the importance of Catholicism as the one true religion, and passionately dissects the arguments of those who champion false ecumenism, it is easy to see why Schneider refuses to let Pope Francis get away with the Abu Dhabi document’s claim that God wills a diversity of religions. Schneider is fierce when it comes to defending Catholicism.

As the book moves forward, Bishop Schneider’s thoughts on Vatican II are especially noteworthy, and I found balanced (though it can be argued that being “balanced” is not always the correct position). Schneider explains the problems with the Council, even going so far as to say that the current pontificate “is a logical consequence of the so-called ‘spirit of the Council’ and of the ambiguous elements in some of the Council texts” (p. 141). Schneider, while reminding readers that Vatican II is pastoral and not dogmatic, states that there are troubles with certain texts that need explanation, “or even amendments and corrections” (p. 123). Some might disagree with Schneider on this point, and say it is best to simply abrogate the entire Council. Still, it is refreshing to have a bishop examine the Council candidly and authentically.

On another point, Montagna asks Schneider if the Society of St. Pius X will ever come into full communion with Rome. He responds, “‘Full communion’ is not the correct expression in my view. They are already in communion with the Church, since they recognize the pope, mention him in the Canon, pray for him publicly, and pray for the local diocesan bishop. […] Regularized, that is better” (p. 149). A stimulating discussion ensues from this, including Schneider’s thoughts on Archbishop Lefebvre.

Regarding Fatima, a timely topic for today, Bishop Schneider presents a spiritual explanation of the third secret, such as the “big city half in ruins” being a symbol of the Church (he admits the third secret may be missing a written explanation from Our Lady). I leave it to Fatima experts to weigh in on his description of the secret, but I found it very enlightening nonetheless.

Perhaps the one critique of the book I have involves Schneider’s thoughts on the Novus Ordo Mass. He suggests, with an air of regret, that it seems improbable that the Novus Ordo Mass could ever be removed. Therefore, he argues for a step-by-step change in the Novus Ordo Mass so that it closer resembles the traditional Latin Mass. For instance, he argues the Novus Ordo Mass should eventually adopt the old calendar, readings, and so on. As I personally note the tremendous growth in the traditional Latin Mass, I see this issue differently. I have hope that the traditional Latin Mass be the Mass that Catholics increasingly turn towards, rather than simply working towards fixing the Novus Ordo Mass - a fix that perhaps would not adequately address the entire Novus Ordo paradigm. Ultimately only time will tell.

A general point evident throughout the book is that Bishop Schneider is not a punching bag for liberals to beat upon. At one point Montagna asks him about the strife he receives from various bishops. For instance, once Schneider was prohibited from saying a Pontifical Mass in a German diocese. The Vicar General wrote to the priest in charge and stated, “No, the diocese cannot give permission to Bishop Schneider to celebrate a Pontifical Mass because his presence causes division and tension. […] Dear Fr. Rector, in the future please invite to the shrine only bishops who are strong in faith.” Schneider replies ardently to this claim: “Strong in which faith? Perhaps the Protestant faith of this Vicar General? Surely not in the Catholic faith” (p. 45).

Also apparent in the book, and a fitting point to examine, is how Bishop Schneider, as a true shepherd, identifies with his Catholic flock. For instance, in regards to bishop meetings (such as the recent USCCB meetings), he explains, “To be honest, I am bored with episcopal meetings and synods. […] They are often sterile and give the impression of an enormous show of clerical vanity” (p. 113). For him, such meetings are a sign of a loss of supernatural faith, a faith all Catholic bishops expected to emanate. To illustrate, Schneider explains that once, following a beautiful Pontifical Mass, there was a picture-taking session. In one picture he was standing with a sharp looking altar boy of nine or so. Schneider relates, “Everyone took photos. Then from the crowd several parishioners shouted to the boy, ‘You will become a bishop!’ And he [the boy] was so serious and said, ‘I want to become a saint!’ […] One could have the impression that he contrasted being a saint with being a bishop!” (p. 114). Indeed, Bishop Schneider sees how the office of bishop does not guarantee staying faithful to Christ. The position is not something to boast in, but rather is burdensome.

There are so many more words that could be spoken regarding Christus Vincit. I will simply end by saying that, though it is difficult for lay people to know which current books to invest time in, Christus Vincit is a must read. It is a book for the laity who sit by with despondent anger and watch dreary USCCB meetings. It is for families in need of assurance that true Catholicism is still possible. It is for men, and boys parading as men, who need to be challenged to take on the yolk of Christ. It is for academics unfamiliar with pre-Conciliar Church teachings, once called the Catholic Faith. It is for priests, especially the ones ministering in a spirit of fear caused by their bishops. And this book is for bishops, all bishops, be they seemingly lost, obsessed with power and prestige, timidly silent, uneducated, worldly, or even, deep down, intimidated by a lowly auxiliary bishop from Kazakhstan. For this book can be summed up in two words: daring clarity.

May this book be so for the Church, and all Her faithful.

The Pan-Amazonian Synod Proves that Truth is Stranger than Fiction

Many Catholics are just now awaking from what seemed like a surreal dream, or rather hellish nightmare. The Pan-Amazonian Synod mercifully stumbled past the finish line at the end of October, and now the revolutionary attack on the Church will continue in earnest, sans grating daily press conferences and Pachamama denials.

First, a caveat. If perchance a Vatican official read this and assume I am a well-funded right-wing Catholic elitist, I am not. Though I confess, the title does have a certain appeal to me. I am just a lowly but faithful (rigid) Catholic. So spare yourself a search for my Wikipedia page.

So what exactly happened in Rome last month?

October 4^th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, was a fitting commencement. It was a personal day of fasting for the Synod, which was prophetic because had I eaten, the food might have upchucked onto my computer screen. I speak, of course, about the notorious Vatican garden video, where an amalgam of woke spiritualists, evidently not professional dancers, prostrated themselves before those carved images of naked pregnant women. Like a plague of locusts, or enlightened liturgists, the Pachamamas had arrived.

“Isn’t that against one of the Commandments?” I pondered as I watched the ceremony with revulsion. “Possibly against the First Commandment?” I further reasoned. I surprise myself with my brilliance sometimes.

The First Commandment is simple: I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any other gods besides me. It is not just an Old Testament sentiment. Ask any true exorcist how violating this Commandment can lead to demonic infestations, obsessions, and even possessions. So how could the Pachamama proceedings be so blatant?

It doesn’t matter what we might think, for we were told what to think. First, these carved images were, in fact, simply hideously naked statues of Our Lady and St. Elizabeth – which would, as a clear insult against what is spotless and holy to God, violate the First Commandment. Next, we were told these naked statues were just harmless representations of Mother Earth (but not Pachamama, which translates into English as Mother Earth). They were then placed prominently in a Catholic church - a scandalous depredation contrary to the First Commandment. Finally, we came full circle when Pope Francis clarified that the carved images were indeed Pachamama idols – that being a grave offense against the First Commandment.

Thus describes the muddled and confused human comedy of the Pan-Amazonian Synod, which will surely be remembered as one of the most embarrassing misfortunes in Church history.

Examples abound. One evening my wife and I were sitting in the living room. She was nursing our new baby, Jude. I was reading a report from the fearless reporter George Neumayr. Jude evidently was nursing as if he had been fasting all day in reparation, and needed to make up for lost time.

“Jude nurses like a pig, wouldn’t you say?” I commented to my wife.

Before she could reply, I showed her an image from the Church of Santa Maria of Traspontina in Rome, the one of a woman nursing an animal.

“Is this woman nursing a pig?” I wondered. “Or maybe a weasel?”

Apparently it was the wrong picture to show a sacrificial mother dutifully nursing her child. Mothers, especially those existing on negligible sleep, get irritated when their role of motherhood is derided. It’s all interconnected, you know.

Further Synodal incredulity came in the form of Austrian-born Bishop Erwin Krautler, one of the main spokesmen at the Synod. Krautler, when pressed by reporter Ed Pentin, admitted that a goal of the Synod was to work towards permitting female Catholic priestesses. Krautler is the same man who has bragged that, as a bishop in the Amazonian region, he never baptized a single person. Women priestesses apparently are needed in the Amazon, but to do what, we cannot say. Is it a pseudo-Amoris Laetitia situation, where woman priestess will distribute Holy Communion to the non-baptized? Or perhaps worse, are they needed in the Amazon to give Holy Communion to weasels?

Thankfully, not everything was ridiculous. The biggest splash at the Synod came from another Austrian man, Alexander Tschugguel, who helped swipe five Pachamama statues from Catholic churches and send them plummeting down into the Tiber River. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Traditional Catholics commended Tschugguel’s actions. The office of the Secretary of State at the Vatican, perhaps in spite, attacked one such Catholic by making unflattering changes to his (Dr. Taylor Marshall’s) Wikipedia webpage. Had a ten year reacted like this, he would deserve chiding. Such puerility coming from within the Vatican is beyond comprehension.

Predictably, the Synod ended on another sour note. Pope Francis triumphantly proclaimed that the Pachamamas had been recovered, and they would make an appearance at the final Mass for the Synod (which they never did). As visions of a massive Blues Brothers Pachamama search operation involving police helicopters, SWAT team members, firefighters, and army personnel flooded my mind, I looked at my wife with a smirk.

“No,” she admonished me, “don’t say what you’re thinking!”

“Well, do you want to bet that someone finds the real Pachamamas in a few weeks?”

What a tragedy we’ve come to, that one’s first reaction to words from the pope is to believe they are untrue.

It didn’t take a few weeks. All it took was a quick walk to the original sight of the Pachamama tossing to notice that one of the carved images never in fact made it into the Tiber River, nor to the Italian police office, but was still resting on the rocks. The Italian Carabinieri are not exactly the legendary Royal Canadian Mounted Police when it comes to finding their man, or Pachamama.

These are but a few of the surreal impressions we are left with following the 2019 Pan-Amazonian Synod. If Mark Twain popularized the aphorism that truth is stranger than fiction, the Synod proved it. If nothing else, the Synod was entertaining. You could even say that it was one big joke.

But a word of hope to conclude, as we are left to continue praying and fasting for the Church. Perhaps of equal importance, by the act of the tossing the Pachamamas into the Tiber River, we have been inspired to act in defense of the Church. We have our Faith, and now good works must follow.

To reinterpret Pope Francis’ words: This is good news. Thank you, Jesus.

Originally posted at www.bravestthing.com

Demonology, Exorcisms, and Hope

One of the more interesting interviews I’ve heard in a long time was done last week on the Patrick Coffin Show. You can find it HERE, or look for it as a Podcast.

The interview was with Adam Blai, a man who has spent his life working in psychology and demonology. He helps train exorcists, and currently does work with the diocese of Pittsburgh. Blai presents a solid view of the Catholic understanding of obsessions, possessions, and exorcisms. The interview is not intimidating or chilling, but rather quite hopeful. He demonstrates time and time again that Christ works best through His Church.

By all means check out the interview. If you don’t have time, here are a few notes…

Possessions are caused by some violation of the first commandment, such as seeking some power other than God. Hmmm... Pachamama rituals anyone?

To truly exorcise a possessed person is a lengthy process. On average Blai says it takes 6-24 months, and sometimes can go on for 20 years. It takes time to unravel all the layers of possession. Possession is very legalistic. If a person does an activity to invite a demon into their soul, the demon will not come out unless the activity is undone (through exorcism).

Movies such as The Exorcist sensationalize things. A real exorcism is much tamer, especially if the people in the room are experienced - the demons won’t waste their time with their usual tricks.

It is never just one demon. Often there can be between 10-100 lesser demons (Blai implied these demons were simply foot soldiers who weren’t that bright). Then there are one or two middle demons controlling the entire possession. If necessary, a high ranking demon will come onto the scene… even Satan, if called down by the priest. Note, that even Satan is under the command of the priest.

Which brings me to the role of the Catholic Church. Blai related that once a priest tried to get a possessed person to sit down, fold his arms, and be quiet. The demons mocked the priest. The priest then went and called his bishop. He asked the bishop, over the phone, for permission to do the exorcism. The bishop consented. The priest then went back into the room and commanded the possessed person to sit down, fold his arms, and be quiet. Immediately the command was obeyed. Demons are powerless in the face of apostolic authority. An exorcism is not some martial arts battle between good and evil forces. Rather, it is like a bug getting crushed by a baseball bat. Christ, working through His Church, will always win.

Which brings up an interesting point on the sacrament of Confession. Anyone involved in an exorcism must go to Confession before beginning. What is confessed is bound by the seal of the sacrament, and even demons cannot use any of this information within an exorcism. The power of Confession is binding.

Blai spoke about yoga and reiki. Both are dangerous, but Blai especially warned about reiki because of how explicitly it calls on spirits to enter a person.

Perhaps one of the more shocking things Blai said involved adultery and fornication. Having relations with someone who is not your spouse, besides being a mortal sin, can bring about possession. Because the act is so unitive, if one of the persons has demons, they can be passed on to the other person. I immediately thought of the mess of ex-Cardinal McCarrick. I can only imagine him passing on demons to his seminarians. Disgusting.

Patrick Coffin asked Blai about his thoughts on the “dare we hope all men be saved” theory. This is a debate I’ve been publicly involved with to some degree. Briefly, von Balthasar, and even Bishop Robert Barron, believe it is possible that Hell be empty of humans. Blai replied to this by saying his experience with exorcisms greatly contradicts this claim. But the main reason Blai believes this theory is wrong is simple: Jesus directly warns that many people choose Hell.

All in all, it was a noteworthy interview, yet one that left a great deal of hope. The keys of the kingdom are clearly in the hands of the Church. The Devil and his demons are powerless. How great it is to be Catholic.

Originally posted at www.BravestThing.com

Homeschool Notes: A New Year

Here we go with a new year of homeschool. Joseph is in grade 3. John Paul begins Kindergarten (we're betting it will be grade 1 by January). Emilie tells us she is in "nursery school" (something she learned from the boys).

It has been such a blessing having Dan home on paternity leave. I'm certain our transition into school would have been much more difficult and we'd be struggling a lot. Instead, Daddy has been teaching the kids arts ed. and doing a huge chunk of the general household upkeep while we do school. He's also been reading to the kids daily in French - an activity they love and he benefits from!

Morning Basket
Poetry: "Rain" & "The Land of Nod" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read-alouds:

  

Audio books:

 

Catechism
Joseph is preparing for First Communion and Confirmation this year. He has classes as often as we can make it at the Latin Mass in Saskatoon and homeschools the remainder. Also, we began using the Baltimore Catechism 1 this year.

John Paul is reading and illustrating an Old Testament Bible stories book.

Math
Joseph is learning multiplication with Math U See Gamma and using a another Math Smart book for practice on other skills. John Paul is quickly mastering basic math and already into the March month pages for Kindergarten; he has just started to feel a little challenged in the past week!

Language Arts
We're trying some new-to-us programs this year. Joseph is doing Writing with Ease and First Language Lessons from Well-Trained Mind for writing and grammar. Dictations are a little long and tough for him, but otherwise so far, so good.

That's my cursive of Joseph's narration and his dictation back

Social Studies/Geography
We are very excited to be doing Around the World with Picture Books, Part II this year, covering Europe and South America. The first and largest unit was France. We studied art, history, geography, and native animals.

France - searching for famous art depictions in Anno's Journey, doing our own watercolours of famous French artists, reading the chapter book The Little Prince, making and eating baguettes and pastries.






Some of our favourites of 30-something books we read for France:

  

  

  

  

 

Joseph's Henri Matisse

 Science
I decided we're saving most of our science for 2nd semester. However, we did a bunch of hands on outdoorsy stuff before winter came. Trip to the wildlife sanctuary, outdoor hikes, collecting and examining leaves, harvesting our garden.

 

Arts Ed
Dan has been covering Arts Ed with the boys. They've learned about famous periods of art, architecture, and music.

John Paul's architecture

Carving pumpkins

Joseph made stilts