COMMON SENSE is the basic wisdom that comes from everyday encounters with reality. You don’t have to be super-smart to have common sense. You just have to live in the real world, not a make-believe world.

Not many people today have common sense. The smarter someone is, the less likely he is to have it. Schools have destroyed common sense. Television propaganda has destroyed it. Myth and lies presented as “history” have destroyed it. Movies and spectacles have immersed people in make-believe, drenched them with illusions. In a totalitarian society such as ours, people have to abandon the truth just to survive and put food on the table. The lie is all.

The belief that truth is subjective and that objective reality doesn’t even exist has also so softened the cognitive faculties that sense cannot penetrate. The windows are shut. The blinds are drawn. The mind is darkened and dormant. No one’s home.

Common sense is now uncommon.

Sadly, you cannot talk much with people who lack common sense. It’s a dead end. (more…)

MARCUS GARVEY, the enormously popular black nationalist leader, gave this speech in 1920. "In 1916, Marcus Garvey established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Branch in Harlem. Emphasizing unity between Africans and the African diaspora. He campaigned for an end to European colonial rule across Africa, and the political unification of the continent. He envisioned a unified Africa as a one-party state that would enact laws to ensure Black racial purity. "He was committed to the Back-to-Africa movement, arguing that many African-Americans should migrate there. The UNIA grew in membership and Garveyism ideas became increasingly popular. Garvey was a dramatic and invigorating public speaker. Harlem History features one of Garvey's most powerful speeches from 1920, on Leadership and Black Empowerment." (Video notes at Youtube) My previous post on Garvey can be found here.  

ROBERT ROBBINS of CatholicEclipsed defends the celebration of Columbus Day.

Please don’t call the holiday celebrated today “Indigenous People’s Day.” Those who have conceived this particular deconstruction of the past have no concern for the true welfare of the “indigenous” and are simply using their descendants as pawns in the project to overturn Christian civilization for good.

As Robbins explains, Christopher Columbus was not a saint, but he was an undeniably great man who fulfilled a noble mission. Here is Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical on Columbus, Quarto Abeunte Saeculo:

He was distinguished by this unique note, that in his work of traversing and retraversing immense tracts of ocean, he looked for a something greater and higher than did these others. We say not that he was unmoved by perfectly honourable aspirations after knowledge, and deserving well of human society; nor did he despise glory, which is a most engrossing ideal to great souls; nor did he altogether scorn a hope of advantages to himself; but to him far before all these human considerations was the consideration of his ancient faith, which questionless dowered him with strength of mind and will, and often strengthened and consoled him in the midst of the greatest difficulties. This view and aim is known to have possessed his mind above all; namely, to open a way for the Gospel over new lands and seas.

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   TRANSPORT yourself to the interior peace of the cathedral in 17th-century Zamora, Spain while listening or praying to this motet, "O Gloriosa Virginum," from the exquisite vesper music of Juan Garcia Salazar who was maestro de capilla at the cathedral.    

ALAN writes:

As another example of the kind of television entertainment that Americans found rewarding in 1959 in comparison to today, continuing from my previous essay, I offer the following:

This memory is from Tuesday nights in the midst of winter in the years 1958-1961. My mother was very selective in the matter of TV entertainment, but one variety program earned her approval and favor — and mine.

Many years afterward, Carol Burnett wrote, “…too few people remember what a fabulous weekly comedy variety show Garry Moore hosted…”  [Carol Burnett, This Time Together, Three Rivers Press, 2010, p. 48]

Indeed true. But I am one of those few. From the little man pushing a lawnmower in the opening scene to the unforgettable scene at the close, I remember it clearly and fondly. It was an hour-long variety program, filled with comedy sketches and highly-polished song and dance routines — and all of it in black and white. It never occurred to us for a moment that color could have made it better.

Garry Moore, who started out in radio, was a family man. (more…)

[The Feast of the Guardian Angels was on Sunday. I would like to have reposted this entry then, but due to circumstances could not.]

THE knowledge that distinct and individual angels watch over human beings has existed for thousands of years. Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, said: “He (Marduk) sent a tutelary deity (cherub) of grace to go at my side; in everything that I did, he made my work to succeed.”

In the Bible this doctrine is clearly discernible and its development is well marked. In Genesis 28-29, angels not only act as the executors of God’s wrath against the cities of the plain, but they deliver Lot from danger; in Exodus 12-13, an angel is the appointed leader of the host of Israel, and in 32:34, God says to Moses: “my angel shall go before thee.” At a much later period we have the story of Tobias, which might serve for a commentary on the words of Psalm 90:11: “For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Cf. Psalm 33:8 and 34:5) Lastly, in Daniel 10 angels are entrusted with the care of particular districts; one is called “prince of the kingdom of the Persians”, and Michael is termed “one of the chief princes”; cf. Deuteronomy 32:8 (Septuagint); and Ecclesiasticus 17:17 (Septuagint). (Source)

This knowledge of angelic presences grew through the ages through the aid of divine revelation and apparitions, such as that of the Guardian Angel of Portugal who appeared to the children of Fatima 100 years ago and the Guardian Angel who appeared to Tundale the 12th century Irish knight after he fell into unconsciousness. Tundale was never the same again.

Angels, far more intelligent than human beings, are pure spirit and can travel as speedily as our thoughts. They number in the millions, both on earth and in heaven, where they ceaselessly adore God. They may be the best of friends but most don’t know it. With this in mind, we should rely less on our own powers and seek the protection and intercession of these holy friends. “The providence of God, always infinitely wise, infinitely holy, and infinitely gracious, vouchsafes to employ superior created beings in the execution of his will in various dispensations towards other inferior creatures.” (Butler’s Lives of the Saints)

From by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan’s book All About the Angels (TAN, 1945): (more…)

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FROM the blog of the Protestant writer Andrew Mackinnon*: The Russia-Ukraine conflict conveniently came into the view of the citizens of countries around the world, courtesy of the mainstream media, and completely eclipsed and replaced the criminal fraud of non-existent COVID-19 and associated mandates at a time when opposition to this criminal fraud was rapidly growing among citizens of countries around the world and when this criminal fraud was therefore being abandoned by its perpetrators. All indications point to the Russia-Ukraine conflict being deliberately contrived by the Rothschilds-led synagogue of Satan (irrespective of any legitimate basis this conflict has, which can be interpreted as plausible deniability of this deliberate contrivance) in order to dominate the narrative associated with world affairs and to thereby provide a justification for economic turmoil and general disruption in countries around the world, as a pretext for advancing the agenda of the Rothschilds-led synagogue of Satan to establish world government involving draconian, oppressive, satanic rule. *I am not very familiar with MacKinnon's work, though I agree with this post and others. As with all links here, this is not a blanket endorsement.  

TERRY Morris writes:

Thanks for writing about the Jupiter event. I own an 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on an equatorial mount (we plan to upgrade to a 10″ in the not too distant future). The kids and I have been looking at and studying the subject in question once or twice a week for the last month or so. Saturn is up as well, in Sagitarius (and Mars comes up during the early morning hours, from our line of sight), although its (Saturn’s) rings are not as favorably prominent as they have been in our past experiences viewing them through the telescope. One reliable test of a telescopes optics is whether or not they can resolve Cassini’s Division in Saturn’s rings. (more…)

FROM a 2007 essay by Patrick Grimm:

Do you feel the control, the dominance of what was once a great America? Do you spy the truth yet, or are you still blinded by shibboleths, buzzwords and straw men arguments? Apparently, some of you still are. You scream and protest and complain that I am too harsh. But no, I am not too harsh. You are simply too blind. You think I am too heavy-handed with the Jewish supremacists. But God knows, if the whole truth, the unvarnished truth was revealed, my words, my essays and my extrapolations would be far too temperate.

You still don’t sense the control of your country, your society and your media by an alien force, a force as alien to a white European as a denizen of South Central would be at a Beverly Hills garden party? No, you are willfully, intentionally and consciously blind, and nothing could be more perilous. Why can’t you see the facts, my friend?

When you turn on your television and see scattershot filth being blasted into your face, the glorification of every type of sundry perversion, the trumping of every malignancy of the human soul, you don’t gasp. No, you take it all in merry stride, don’t you? You tolerate it, you receive it into your home like it’s all one big bloated and benevolent gift. Are you concerned, chagrined for your children, your offspring, the future of this nation or what will remain? Looking out over the vast ocean of apathy in America, I often contemplate one question “Where is the outrage?”

Do you think this is all being simply done by leftist Gentiles who just happen to hate white people and Jesus Christ, the Bible and the church? No, it’s not. This is all being conducted by a power with no allegiances outside of tribe, “race”, money, hatred, greed, avarice and blind sheer terrorizing ambition. (more…)

" IF you will return to me, and rest in me, you shall be safe; your strength shall be in silence and hope." --- Isa. xxx. 1  

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"ON 27 September [1646] he began his third and last journey to the Mohawk. In the interim sickness had broken out in the tribe and a blight had fallen on the crops. This double calamity was ascribed to Jogues whom the Indians always regarded as a sorcerer. They were determined to wreak vengence on him for the spell he had cast on the place, and warriors were sent out to capture him. The news of this change of sentiment spread rapidly, and though fully aware of the danger Jogues continued on his way to Ossernenon, though all the Hurons and others who were with him fled except Lalande. The Iroquois met him near Lake George, stripped him naked, slashed him with their knives, beat him and then led him to the village. On 18 October, 1646, when entering a cabin he was struck with a tomahawk and afterwards decapitated. The head was fixed on the Palisades and the body thrown into the Mohawk." [Source] "Let us love silence till the world is made to die in our hearts. Let us always remember death, and in this thought draw near to God in our heart, and the pleasures of this world will have our scorn." --- St. Isaac Jogues "I spent the night in prayers, greatly beseeching our Lord that he should not allow me to reach a conclusion by myself; that he should give me light, in order to know…

 TOMORROW NIGHT (Monday, September 26), Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, will make its closest approach to earth since 1963. It will be 367 million miles away. At its farthest point, it's 600 million miles from earth. That's a big difference. It will also be "in opposition," which means it will be directly aligned with earth. With its 74 moons (three of which might be visible to those with good lenses), the planet will be as bright as it can possibly be to the human eye. There will be no moon interference. Even in urban environments, with thick light pollution, Jupiter will be visible and dominate the sky. Looking at this wondrous spectacle, you might imagine the dizzying light of the Star of Bethlehem, understand why two great composers -- Gustave Holst and Mozart -- wrote stunning tributes to the planet and have a better idea of why Jupiter was the Zeus of Rome. Since the planet will be "in opposition," it will rise at the same time as the sun sets. When darkness intensifies at about nine o'clock, it will be unmistakable, the brightest object in the sky, twice as bright as the nearest star. Jupiter does not "twinkle" like a star, but its cream-colored light draws those who see it heavenward -- and perhaps reminds them of how very much they are loved from above.  

FROM the works of Laurence Sterne (quoted here):

“THERE are two kinds of eloquence; one scarcely merits the name. It consists in a fixed number of periods, arranged and measured, and of artificial figures, brilliant with words and pretension. This eloquence dazzles, but does not enlighten the understanding. Admired and affected by the half-learned, whose judgment is as false as their taste is vitiated, it is entirely stranger to the sacred writers. If it was always considered as beneath the great men of all ages, with how much more reason must it appear unworthy of those writers whom the spirit of eternal wisdom animates in their watchings, and who ought to attain that strength, that majesty, that simplicity, which man alone never attains! (more…)

From “DON JUAN” by Lord Byron Ave Maria! o’er the earth and sea, That heavenliest hour of heaven is worthiest thee! Ave Maria! blessèd be the hour, The time, the clime, the spot, where I so oft Have felt that moment in its fullest power Sink o’er the earth so beautiful and soft, While swung the deep bell in the distant tower Or the faint dying day-hymn stole aloft, And not a breath crept through the rosy air, And yet the forest leaves seemed stirred with prayer. Ave Maria! ’t is the hour of prayer! Ave Maria! ’t is the hour of love! Ave Maria! may our spirits dare Look up to thine and to thy Son’s above! Ave Maria! O that face so fair! Those downcast eyes beneath the Almighty dove,— What though ’t is but a pictured image?—strike,— That painting is no idol,—’t is too like. Sweet hour of twilight! in the solitude Of the pine forest, and the silent shore Which bounds Ravenna’s immemorial wood, Rooted where once the Adrian wave flowed o’er To where the last Cæsarean fortress stood, Evergreen forest; which Boccaccio’s lore And Dryden’s lay made haunted ground to me, How have I loved the twilight hour and thee!