Up Against

Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying! - William Shakespeare, King Henry IV Part I, Act V, Scene IV (Falstaff)

A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar. - Mark Twain

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. - Winston Churchill

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. - Holy Gospel according to St. John 8:44

No one knows the truth better than a liar.

Then the liars and swearers are fools, for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang up them. - William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Where are the noble people, the noble politicians, people of honour we so desperately need? Societies seem practically barren, unable to produce men and women of civil manner and rational thought who aspire to serve the common good. Even our hierarchs are too often limp men, contained by their confused witness. Are we not robbed of direction, wet with timidity as we face a mob, those polished in academia or government or brutish in the street? Where are the statesmen, men and women of virtue to whom we look for leadership, who call us to our better selves? Where are you hiding? Are you hiding, or are you waiting for a sign that you yourselves are meant to give, the sign generals give to their troops before battle? What of spiritual warfare? Do we trust in our power alone, or do we pray the Lord to defend us and induct us into His legion of truth, goodness and beauty in a world that so desperately needs those mercies? Are we so burdened by fear and doubt that we cannot invest ourselves in complete trust of the Lord? The Lord delivers those who trust Him and follow His commandments.

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. - Proverbs 24:16

We must admit our imperfections, but we must not pin those faults to our chest like medals which excuse us from inviting God's grace to burn out vice and graft our hearts to virtue.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2

Of course, virtuous men and women are many. They are shouted down, however, bullied and pushed around, crowded out by badly behaved people who delight in intimidating or manipulating people of goodwill because people of virtue are a threat to those who thrive on vice. Envy reduces people to beasts.

A few good citizens manage to find their way through the traps and landmines to redeem that laudable vocation of civil servant. There are even respectable politicians who have not sold themselves to ideology and a culture of death.

How does one guard oneself against the dangers of the public square?

The Prayers At The Foot Of The Altar

Psalm 42 Judica Me

P. Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.

M. For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou put me from thee? and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

P. O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.

M. And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.

P. Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? and why art thou so disquieted within me?

M. O put thy trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

P Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

M. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. 

P. I will go unto the altar of God.

M. Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

P. Our help is in the + Name of the Lord.

M. Who hath made heaven and earth.

Through the Prayers at the Foot, God offers the weary soul enduring consolation and confidence. The Ordinariate Mass, like the Extraordinary Form of the Sacred Liturgy, offers Catholics a formation in trust. As one who, thanks be to God, has experienced many graces through praying the Judica Me in the Mass, I invite all who seek confidence and resolution, resilience and peace when facing adversity, to attend Divine Worship to pray, along with the priest and ministers attending, the Prayers at the Foot. Allow yourself to be drawn into the camp of the Lord, those gathered around the fire of love and truth on the eve of battle, gathered in the cold night to recall the witness of the saints, to be immersed in the word of God, and to sing songs in praise of Almighty God. And, to feed upon the very Flesh and Blood of the Saviour Who sustains the faithful.

The edge of war, like an ill-sheathed knife,
No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends,
As far as to the sepulchre of Christ,
Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross
We are impressed and engaged to fight,
Forthwith a power of English shall we levy;
Whose arms were moulded in their mothers' womb
To chase these pagans in those holy fields
Over whose acres walk'd those blessed feet
Which fourteen hundred years ago were nail'd
For our advantage on the bitter cross.

- King Henry IV, Scene I (King Henry)