Cassian being killed by his pupils. From the Dutch Martyrs Mirror.

FROM the life of St. Cassian, who lived in the Roman Empire during the fourth century and is honored today:

HE was a Christian schoolmaster, and taught children to read and write, at Imola, a city twenty-seven miles from Ravenna in Italy. A violent persecution being raised against the church, probably that of Decius or Valerian, or according to some, that of Julian, he was taken up, and interrogated by the governor of the province. As he constantly refused to sacrifice to the gods, the barbarous judge having informed himself of what profession he was, commanded that his own scholars should stab him to death with their iron writing pencils, called styles; for at that time it was the custom for scholars to write upon wax laid on a board of boxen wood, in which they formed the letters with an iron style or pencil, sharp at one end, but blunt and smooth at the other, to erase what was to be effaced or corrected. They also often wrote on boxen wood itself, as St. Ambrose mentions. The smaller the instruments were, and the weaker the executioners, the more lingering and cruel was this martyr’s death. He was exposed naked in the midst of two hundred boys; among whom some threw their tablets, pencils, and penknives at his face and head, and often broke them upon his body; others cut his flesh or stabbed him with their penknives, and others pierced him with their pencils, sometimes only tearing the skin and flesh, and sometimes raking in his very bowels. Some made it their barbarous sport to cut part of their writing-task in his tender skin. Thus, covered with his own blood, and wounded in every part of his body, he cheerfully bade his little executioners not to be afraid; and to strike him with greater force; not meaning to encourage them in their sin, but to express the ardent desire he had to die for Christ. He was interred by the Christians at Imola, where afterwards his relics were honoured with a rich mausolæum.

A COMMENTER at The Healthy American writes (slightly edited for grammar):

I went to Target with my children today, to go to the Pharmacy and pick up some school supplies. I do know there is so much signage on front doors and at entrances, but I just don’t bother reading it. I obviously know the negative narrative.

My kids and I entered and it’s never a manager at the door. It’s the teenager. They put the children at the doors. And, boy, are they being “trained.” Long story short: Stopped for several minutes and I was harassed for simply saying I was exempt from wearing a mask, as are my children, for our religious beliefs. She looked confused, at first. So, I asked her which way to the Pharmacy.

She then repeated herself, so I then politely repeated myself. Then she said since I refused a mask she could provide a face shield for me and my children. I politely, said, no thank you. And, asked again which way to the Pharmacy. She then proceeded to tell me that upon entering there are “so many signs, big ones” showing that masks are required. I told her I was in the store to pick up a medication. I have been here before And, have said, I don’t wear masks, never have.

I then just said, “I see the Pharmacy sign. Thanks. I’ll be on my way.”  Her final word: “Well, it’s a free country, I guess.” I said, “It sure is.” I wish I didn’t waste my time! But I have my nine- and 11-year-old. And, I will always be kind. I will always show them we are free. I will always conduct myself with dignity.

“ST. CLARE and her community practised austerities, which, till then, had scarcely ever been known among the tender sex. They wore neither stockings, shoes, sandals, nor any other covering on their feet; they lay on the ground, observed a perpetual abstinence, and never spoke but when they were obliged to it by the indispensable duties of necessity and charity. The foundress in her rule extremely recommends this holy silence as the means to retrench innumerable sins of the tongue, and to preserve the mind always recollected in God, and free from the dissipation of the world, which, without this guard, penetrates the walls of cloisters. Not content with the four Lents, and the other general mortifications of her rule, she always wore next her skin a rough shift of horse hair or of hog’s bristles cut short; she fasted church vigils and all Lent on bread and water; and from the 11th of November to Christmas-day, and during these times on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays ate nothing at all. She sometimes strewed the ground on which she lay with twigs, having a block for her bolster. Her disciplines, watchings, and other austerities were incredible, especially in a person of so tender a constitution. Being reduced to great weakness and to a very sickly state of health, St. Francis and the Bishop of Assisium obliged her to lie upon a little chaff, and never pass one day without taking at least some bread for nourishment. Under her greatest corporal austerities her countenance was always mild and cheerful, demonstrating that true love makes penance sweet and easy. Her esteem of holy poverty was most admirable. She looked upon it as the retrenchment of the most dangerous objects of the passions and self-love, and as the great school of patience and mortification, by the perpetual inconveniences and sufferings which it lays persons under, and which the spirit of Christ crucified teaches us to bear with patience and joy. It carries along with it the perfect disengagement of the heart from the world, in which the essence of true devotion consists.”

—- The Lives of the Saints, Rev. Alban Bartleby, 1866

Today is the feast day of the 13th-century noblewoman who became St. Clare.

FOR A  very special couple celebrating their second wedding anniversary today while under government-mandated quarantine, here is more Kate Smith.

Happy Anniversary!

IN A TALK about the Catholic land movement at In the Spirit of Chartres, Tim Ehlen recommends great general resources for those wanting to learn more about gardening and farming, such hot topics today. This interview will be available for free until September 1. Ehlen has lots of interesting things to say about small-scale farming.

Self-sufficient farmers are vital to political liberty. Farmers can’t be fired, and therefore tend to be more independent-minded. The instincts for independent thinking die when most people face possible loss of livelihood for contrary views. Most people literally can’t afford to think anymore. It’s the most dangerous of hobbies. That’s one reason (of many) why we need more small-scale farmers.

Joel Salatin from Rogue Food

Read More »

THE PURPOSE of the Trump presidency has always been to discredit once and for all American nationalism, associating people who love this country and its traditions with “white supremacy,” “Nazism” and crude, egotistic personality traits. Trump has succeeded with flying colors, leaving his base with unfulfilled hopes and those who hate this polarizing candidate more than willing to elect a corrupt Democratic puppet with dementia who probably won’t even serve his full term. One extreme leads to the other, the Hegelian “thesis” and “antithesis” preparing us for the “synthesis” of global government.

Starting at minute 36:00 in this podcast, the financial analyst Chris Pirnak makes some forecasts for the upcoming presidential election. I highly recommend his sobering observations.

Don’t invest energy in this election. It’s theater.

KATHERINE writes:

That’s an excellent article by Gary Barnett. The loneliness, isolation, joylessness are so terrible. I have a family friend who lives far away; he is a 75-year-old bachelor who was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer a year ago.  He called me in desperation yesterday because he has developed severe pain in one ankle and can barely get around in his apartment.  All of his church friends are terrified about Covid-19, and are rigorously practicing social distancing.  So no one wants to visit him and help out. Read More »

S.P. writes:

In trying to wake people up, I send them food for thought.  I encourage others to turn off the tell-lie-vision and think critically while there is still some time. Do your own research and decide for yourself, and share with those you care about and ask them to spread the word also.

These two paragraphs jumped out at me from this eloquent article by Gary D. Barnett:

Compared to just a few months ago, this country and most of the world have become unrecognizable. Human society as we have known it, has been decimated and altered beyond recognition. Beauty and pleasure, and all frivolity in life, including the essence of the human spirit, have been mostly eliminated in favor of isolation, masking, and distancing. What is left is a cold and dark landscape that is mostly devoid of joy. The precious nature of life and love, the taste of exquisite flavors, the freedom to explore, to travel, to play, to listen to live music, and to connect with people and cultures has all but disappeared. The terror inflicted on us all by the ruling class and the government has cut deeply into our souls. It is an abomination.

[…] Read More »

IN THIS 2010 lecture, German virologist Stefan Lanka challenges the dominant thinking on germ theory, which he maintains is used for unethical profit.

FROM KTA:

California state prison officials say as many as 17,600 inmates may be released early due to the coronavirus.

That’s 70% more than previously estimated and a total that victims and police say includes dangerous criminals who should stay locked up.

Among those released last week was Terebea Williams, who served 19 years of an 84 years-to-life sentence for first-degree murder, carjacking and kidnapping.

She was deemed at high medical risk for the virus, though officials couldn’t say what put her in that category

The earlier releases also are causing consternation as probation officers and community organizations scramble to provide housing, transportation and other services for inmates who may pose a public health risk because several hundred have been paroled while still contagious.

CHUCK BALDWIN writes:

In Flathead County, Montana, where we live, the population is 106,134. The total number of “active cases” (translated: anyone who has tested positive for corona, whether they actually have it or not) is 213. Two people are said to have died from corona.

213 out of 106,134 is .002007.

My friend writes, “So that children can understand this, it means that 99.8 percent of all Flathead County residents are UNAFFECTED by this virus.”

Yet, as with the rest of the country, people all over town are walking around with those stupid masks on. The “home of the brave” is GONE. The spirit of fear has enveloped the entire country. And Christians are among the most fearful of all.

You and I both know that this is a willful, deliberate, purposeful effort by the PTB to scare the American people into accepting tyranny over their lives—and it’s working.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again: I am personally convinced that this hellish plan could not have succeeded had Donald Trump not been in the White House. The plan was totally dependent upon Trump being in the White House. Had a Democrat been president, Christians and conservatives would have never fallen for this façade. But when Donald Trump told America to limit crowds to less than ten, to shut down their businesses and churches and to not go anywhere without wearing a mask, Christians and conservatives folded like a bad poker hand. Their beloved master had spoken.

Trump willingly subjected the entire country to Bill Gates’ and Anthony Fauci’s voodoo science. Read More »