PART I
For some weeks, perhaps longer, I’ve been wanting to write an essay comparing the era of saints and martyrs to our current age. (Not that there are not saints and martyrs in our current age; here I mostly I refer to the purges by the Roman emperors during the late Roman Empire up until the reign of Constantine.) To know what I am talking about, read through the Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler (1894) and learn about all of the self-deprivation and severe mortifications, along with the hideous tortures inflicted upon saints whose ardent desire was to “leave this world.”
And I think I understand what they meant—that is, leaving those worldly pursuits, viz., the love of wealth, immoral sex, endless entertainment, and power accumulation, the desire for fame and for all things that are centered upon the material world and so-called "success" therein.
However, "the world" is also a beautiful creation of our Creator God. It is a watery world of sunshine, warmth, beaches, mountains, plains and prairies, a wide assortment of animals, trees and plants, frequencies, vibrations, and the mysteries of consciousness within all things that surround us on land, in the sea, in the air and even underground. I would much rather enjoy and praise God’s creation, than be removed from the natural world and walled up in some dwelling wearing a hair shirt, severely mortifying my body, etc.
Thus, I’d say that those prior days of essentially “renouncing life"—the world—and excluding it in preference to a divine aspiration for immersion into a strict interpretation of the spiritual realm, is simply not the way to go these days. In fact, it is like giving anything up, rather than enjoying it in moderation—I’d argue that the former is a cop-out, while embracing the latter requires more discipline, tenacity and in the end—a more virtuous reward.
Be that as it may, please allow for a slight detour, dear reader. My attention to the world this day drew me to an
interview with Fr. Chad Ripperger, a Roman Catholic priest, theologian,
philosopher and exorcist serving the Archdiocese of Denver. As with most things
in my stumble-bum life, I happened upon this serendipitously. It’s over four
hours long! And to me, it’s worth every minute. See if you agree:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2p_cfipbEw
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Now, after hearing the good padre, many may come away with the impression that the human race is stupid, generally speaking, and is tricked in all sorts of malign ways; that there are billions of demons about, just waiting for an opportunity to inhabit people, places and things—whether through our own sin(s), some involuntary trauma, or via the curse of some wicked other who is out and about.
Suddenly, that beautiful paradise-of-a-world sounds like a frightful and dangerous place for the unwary. To think that there are many people, perhaps 25% of the population in America, for example, walking around plagued to one degree or another by a demon or even a legion of demons!
Admittedly, however, it is no wonder this could very well be the case during this era of infiltration and subversion of practically all institutions via intelligence agencies, twisted secret societies, and corporate minions—those man-made groupings arranged according to purpose. These can be church, government, sports, social, scientific and all sorts of socio-cultural organizations designed to intimidate individuals and families.
When human beings are turned at birth into things, mere chattel, (via the misuse of birth certificates) the long descent into the ignorance of ourselves begins—and conditioning into an unholy man-made system proceeds unceasingly, aided by the propaganda of schools (behavioral conditioning) and media lies (foisted on us by elite bloodline overlords, Deep State handlers, and their useful idiot proxies).
But rather than pointing fingers and blaming this, that and the other thing, let’s consider this: that perhaps the time of religion is over; with the personal embrace of the spiritual in its place. What I mean by that is instead of calling oneself a "Christian" and following one of the perhaps 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide, one can simply be a follower of Jesus and subscribe to his gospel truth: Jesus as the perfect model of virtue for all human beings—and by praying that you are a worthy individual in the "eyes of God" by so doing.
But how about this Fr. Ripperger—isn’t Roman Catholicism hopelessly corrupt these days? How about that? This good padre is not just some appointed parish functionary; he is the founder and superior general of the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother (Doloran Fathers), a religious community dedicated to spiritual warfare, deliverance ministry, and the traditional liturgy.
More from Fr. Ripperger’s Bio:
A classically trained Thomist, Father Ripperger holds degrees in theology and philosophy from the University of San Francisco, master’s degrees from both the University of St. Thomas and Holy Apostles College, and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. His scholarship and experience make him a respected authority on demonology, angelology, spiritual warfare, and the integration of theological principles with psychology.
Through Sensus Traditionis Press, he has authored several influential works, including Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Laity, Dominion, and Introduction to the Science of Mental Health. Known for his clear, no‑nonsense teaching style rooted in Thomistic philosophy and Church tradition, Father Ripperger continues to give talks, conferences, and guidance on prayer, virtue, the sacraments, and protection from spiritual evil.
Whatever the case may be, we’ve but dipped our toes into some very curious waters here. Why in the world would we wish to follow any other human being, whether it is Fr. Ripperger or even the Pope himself?
[NOTE: Speaking of following, this is only Part I—there is more to follow... So, trust in yourself and the Good Lord, and, should you find this interesting, follow on, dear reader...]
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