Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 1266

London Illustrating the Big Law/Small Law Principle

The basic principle was articulated by GKC, who said, "When you get rid of the Big Laws (You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and you shall love your neighbor as yourself), you don't get freedom. You don't even get anarchy (at least, not for long). You get the small laws. The country that used to be England has abandoned the big laws and has raised up a bunch of feral youth with no sense of love or obligation to the community that bred them to suck off the glass tit of electronic media and, for random fun, go beat up strangers and grab their stuff.

Now, to cope with the anarchy, Britain will have to endure the small laws: checkpoints, identification, security theatre and so forth. It's the classic story: what could have been done easily by the people (i.e. parents) God actually sent into the world to teach young how to be civilized and not brutish morons will now be done with difficulty and inefficiently by agents of the state.

It's a story as old as the Old Testament: God approaches us with love and wants to make our lives easier. We respond like fools and make our own lives vastly harder.

Fortunately, such societal breakdown is absolutely impossible in the United States. So we can all watch England burn in the serene confidence that our social bonds are now where near as frayed as all that. Our reverence for the Big Laws on this side of the Pond will never lead to a suffocating security state brought on by the selfish anarchy of a spoiled feral class that gives no thought to the common good.

Urban sprawl

A reader writes:

When I look at the growth in our country I see much urban sprawl. In my lifetime, I have seen many areas that used to be forest or field now paved over or "developed" into something that is often not pretty. What is the answer from the Church to this growth? How can we celebrate large population growth that leaves less natural areas and less beauty in our country?

If you are asking where the Church's Center for Urban Planning is, there ain't no such thing. The Church does not offer plans for micromanaging social and economic issues. The Church offers broad guidance based on foundational moral issues. It says things like "Feed the hungry" and welcome (and spearheads) missions to do this, but does not have a bureaucracy devoted to global hunger planning for all the states on planet earth. In the same way, the general teaching of the Church is that creation is to be cared for, not raped, and that human beings have both the right to use their environment for human welfare, and the responsibility to treat it well and wisely. They are to respect nature--including human nature--not treat it with either contempt or worship. It is not the case that population is a zero sum game and that the more people automatically means the more destruction of nature:

Urgent Prayer Request

A reader writes:

I'm a long time reader, and I have an urgent prayer request (it's about 4 am here in the UK as I write). The rioting has spread to the town where I live - earlier tonight someone tried to set fire to my block of flats and now they have also set fire to a local leisure centre. We're hearing rumors that people have started burning the town centre. Please ask your readers for their prayers.

St. Michael and all guardian angels, we ask that you would fight against the spirits of anarchy and destruction--against Abaddon and Apollyon--and quell this outbreak of demonic and mindless destruction by the mighty power of Jesus Christ. We ask that you would protect your innocent people and give the police and citizenry the wherewithal to oppose and stop these thugs. Father, we ask that you would send your Spirit of peace and right order into the hearts of your people, that charity and peace would prevail, and that the wicked people who are doing these things would be stopped, punished, and would repent under the rebuke of your Spirit. Mother Mary, reclaim your dowry. We ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Requests

A reader writes:

I have prayer request, please pray that God will send me a good and faithful Catholic woman to be my wife.

I have been waiting patiently for many years and after losing my father a couple of years ago, watching my mom reach retirement age and entering into my thirties - not to mention being an only child - I have come to realize that time is passing and that it would be nice to finally settle down and start a family.

Thank you in advance for considering my request.

Father, hear our prayer for this man that you would send him the woman you intend so that they can grow in love and have a family dedicated to you through our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for them. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A reader writes:

Oh Most Puissant and Merciful Master, He Whose Pits Are Filled Always With the Wailings of Despair, and Whose Peacocks Keep Us Awake All Hours of the Night With Their Noisy Lovemaking!

I am a long-time reader of your blog, a fellow out and stout Jolly (Motto: "We're A-Round, Don't Count Pounds, And...Is that ice-cream? Don't mind if we do!"), and an owner of literally twos of your books.

I am also a husband, and a father of four beautiful young children. For several years now, I've been under-employed, just barely scraping by. All around us, people we know and love are going through divorce, putting their children in the kinds of situations children should never have to be in. It saddens me, and hits my wife in a very personal emotional place.

That, thankfully, is not and never will be on the table in my marriage, but the financial stress, the...assorted joys that come from having four healthy, intelligent, and inquisitive children, and the problems in our immediate and extended families has put strain on our relationship. I am not one to attribute supernatural causes where natural ones suffice, but I have a profound feeling of oppression lately. My wife needs peace of mind, and I need strength and endurance, and we both need a restored sense of hope.

If you could keep me and my family in your prayers, I would be extremely grateful.

Your brother in Christ,
Wailing Toiler # 37150

PS My wife just called from home to tell me that our 4 year old has poured out a brand new bottle of maple syrup. You'd think the son of a Jolly would know the value of syrup!!! The boy must be possessed.

Father, we ask that you would surround and protect this family with your guardian angels, deflect any attacks of the enemy, and turn all things to good for them as they seek to follow you. Help your servant find full scope for his gifts so that he may serve you fully. Provide them with enough money, so that they can fulfill their responsibility to their children and to their neighbors for your glory. Give them peace in their hearts and joy in one another so that they can be a light to their world that your love is possible on this earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for them!

A reader thinking about Homeschooling writes:

My wife and I are looking to start homeschooling our kindergartner in just a month or so and are trying to find a good program. We might just try it for a while, or we might go through high school with it; time will tell. I guess you could say our main concerns are (in no particular order):

1. It comes with a clear lesson plan.
2. The lesson plan and books are (more or less) included in the tuition, i.e., there aren't any "hidden costs" or constant trips to the library.
3. The lessons are just as rigorous as what they'd get at a good regular school, i.e., calculus is available senior year of high school.
4. I'm fine with them learning straight history and science, etc., i.e., it doesn't have to be a "Catholic" history class.
5. Price isn't an issue (within reason).
6. We'd prefer it to be Catholic, but a secular program would be fine if there is a compelling reason and if we could find a Catholic program just for the religion part.

Is this something you could throw up on your blog for comments?

My comment is, "Click the banner ad below":

Praise Report and Prayer Request

A reader writes:

A week ago or so I e-mailed you asking for prayers for my brother who left his wife. I wanted to send an update with the good news that he has returned, and they are working through their problems. Thank you for posting the prayer request.

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Father, heal this marriage completely! Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for them!

While I'm at it, I would appreciate prayers for a couple I know who are having a very difficult time in their marriage. Thanks all!

Prayer Requests

A reader writes:

A patient came in late this afternoon and she said her niece was abducted by a family member. She also said that it was implied that if the father tried to get the little girl back that there would be violence involved against him and his family by the abductors. I ask all of your followers to pray for the return of Ashlyn to her rightful guardians.

Lord, hear our prayer!

Another reader writes:

I live in New Zealand and I am travelling to New York soon to discern a relationship with someone I've been talking to on Skype for some time now. If this long distance relationship works out and results in marriage (and I very much hope it does) then I as the husband will want to be the leader and provider of the family, which most likely means I will need full time employment. Here's the situation:

I've had mental health issues in the past, which has been one of the reasons I've been unemployed for so long. My 20's are over, and I can't help but feel I've lost so much time. I don't want to lose my 30's too. Thankfully (all rise and salute St. Joseph :) a good friend of mine has been able to give me employment. It's not in the area that I would have expected to work in, but I'm doing a really good job, my boss is very pleased with me and my finances finally permit me to travel. The problem is that after years of unemployment and health issues, I worry about my ability to get and keep a good job, and stay healthy in the coming years. The last thing I want is for a return of my issues. I've always felt that my calling is to raise a family.

Furthermore, as for getting into the profession I want to go into, as I have plenty of enthusiasm, but not professional training and maybe not much of a resume.

As regards travel, I know that I don't know just how big a leap I'm taking. Furthermore, the recent upheaval in the world financial markets has spooked my family. They're not sure if it's really a good idea for me to travel into the unknown given that I don't exactly have a lot of money to begin with.

Please don't for a moment think I'm being pessimistic here; rather, given the leap I'm about to take, I would be more than grateful for any prayers for this.

Father, we ask that you would lead and guide your servant to love, good work, a stable future, and a family--or whatever path you will for him, and that you would protect him from all harm by the power of your Spirit and his guardian angel. Mother Mary, St. Dymphna, and St. Joseph the Worker, pray for him. We ask all this through your Son Jesus. Amen!

Another reader writes:

I lost my job a month ago, and have been struggling ever since to find work. I'm rapidly running out of money and nobody is responding to my resumes. I had an interview a few weeks back, and their HR director confirms that no decisions have yet been reached, so I'm still hopeful I might nab that one. But I'm overall extremely worried and I can't seem to let God have this one.

Please, everyone, pray for me that I might get work soon.

Father, swiftly grant your son this job through Christ our Lord. Amen! Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for him!

Another reader writes:
I had a prayer request for my aunt who went under an operation for cancer and for the mom of the lady who had a child with my Aunt's son. The operation went well and the tumor didn't spread. I had also asked for prayers for the mother of the lady who had a child with my aunt's son. The mom had cancer and did pass away; she does not have to suffer any longer.

It was a great benefit for My Grandma to go down to the mom's funeral and attending the funeral with my Aunt's son who also attended. I pray they both may be able to have their relation, the lady and my cousin, truly established and retained in the Sacrament of marriage. As for me, my heart can be very cold and some times I'm filled with anxiety and fear. I ask for prayers because I have a heart problem, so-to-speak. Would God grant me mercy. I ask for a humble and obedient heart. A heart which is pure of lust and other vile defects. More importantly I ask for God's assistance to bring me into confession, give me every moment of grace and opportunity to escape from my sins, and to ensure my salvation as long as I cooperate with His will (which is very difficult.) Ask God to please drag me out of any harm and dangerous circumstances which particularly may harm my salvation (and the ability to love Him and my neighbor.) God Bless.

Father, thank you for answering our prayers for this person's aunt! Hear your servant's prayers in love and mercy through Christ our Lord. Mother Mary, pray for you child! Amen!

A Failure of Catechesis and a Scandal to the World

If you are a church-going Christian, chances are considerably higher that you support the use of torture. Shame on Christians, whose Lord was tortured to death, for this grotesque failure of nerve. When cock crows and we recover ourselves, may we repent our miserable cowardice and strengthen our brethren to resist temptation to do grave evil and not cave to it.

The Theology of the Body Today blog

is a nice looking group blog with a lot of good contributors. Check thou it out!

Note to the National Catholic Reporter

Don't try to intimidate Fr. Z. You know those special ceramic compounds that just get harder when you hit them with a blunt object? He's like that.