As Cardinal Mercier said : "When prudence is everywhere, courage is nowhere."                                                                                  From Cardinal Sarah : "In order to avoid hearing God's music, we have chosen to use all the devices of this world. But heaven's instruments will not stop playing just because some people are deaf."                                                                                              Saint John-Paul II wrote: "The fact that one can die for the faith shows that other demands of the faith can also be met."                                                 Cardinal Müller says, “For the real danger to today’s humanity is the greenhouse gases of sin and the global warming of unbelief and the decay of morality when no one knows and teaches the difference between good and evil.”                                                  St Catherine of Siena said, “We've had enough exhortations to be silent. Cry out with a thousand tongues - I see the world is rotten because of silence.”                                                  Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”                                                Brethren, Wake up!

FINDING OF OUR PATRON'S HOLY HEAD

Today is the (uncelebrated) third feast of our Patron, of the finding in Jerusalem of the Head of Saint John the Baptist, Precursor of the Lord. As the Martyrology puts it, "the first finding".

Those who often think they are sophisticated and choose to mock the many pious traditions surrounding the Baptist, his double feasts in the Church's calendar, his three or four heads preserved around the world, may wish to pause and reflect how this is no more that a reflection of his great significance in the history of Salvation, and the large place he plays in the devotional life of the Church throughout the Ages. These very traditions are the testimony and guarantee of the efficacy of John's care and intercession for us.

May Saint John the Baptist, our daily companion in our spiritual warfare, accompany us all, Knights Dames and Companions of the Order, this holy season of Lent.

That Christ may increase, and we decrease.


St John the Baptist, pray for us.