Catholic, Father, Grandfather, Outdoorsman, Businessman.
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Joined August 2023
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pikeman46 retweeted
Well, another Cardinal has come out with a, shall we say, puzzling take on evangelization.
A few years ago, Cardinal Américo Aguiar, at the time auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, said that he and the other organizers of World Youth Day in his hometown had no interest in converting anyone to Christ.
Now Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco of Algeria has opined that “the Church is not there to convert” and “Christians should approach other religions through fraternity rather than seeking conversions.”
Excuse me, but…what?
Last time I checked, the Founder said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Sure sounds like conversion to me.
When St. Paul came to Corinth or Athens or Thessalonica, his purpose was not to listen or to form a discussion group but rather to declare an unnerving message: the euangelion (glad tidings) that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
So impassioned is he for this work that he says, “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:22); and “If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16)!
Moreover, the entire thrust of the Second Vatican Council was toward bringing the Light of Christ to the peoples of the world (Lumen Gentium). And this missionary élan has given rise in the last few decades to the idea of a “new evangelization,” which is to say, a fresh declaration of the Lordship of Christ.
Quite obviously, no one thinks that this work of evangelization should be done in a brow-beating, overbearing, or disrespectful manner (proselytization), but for God’s sake, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
If I really thought that the Church does not exist to bring people to Christ, then I would resign and get an honest job.
pikeman46 retweeted
Our Lady of the Pillar, known in Spanish as Nuestra Señora del Pilar is venerated as the very first Marian apparition—predating all others by centuries—this extraordinary event occurred not in a vision after the Assumption, but through a miraculous bilocation while the Virgin Mary was still alive on earth. Her appearance to Saint James the Greater in A.D. 40 marks a pivotal moment in the spread of Christianity, transforming despair into devotion and laying the foundation for one of the world's oldest Marian shrines.
The story unfolds along the banks of the Ebro River in Zaragoza, Spain—then the Roman city of Caesaraugusta. Saint James, the brother of Saint John the Evangelist and one of Jesus' closest apostles, had ventured to Hispania on a missionary journey. Tasked with evangelizing the pagan tribes, he encountered fierce resistance and dishearteningly few conversions. Overwhelmed by failure, James knelt in prayer one night, his spirit nearly broken. It was then that Mary appeared, standing atop a jasper pillar and cradling the Child Jesus in her arms, surrounded by a host of angels. This was no ordinary vision; tradition holds it as a bilocation, with Mary physically present in Zaragoza while simultaneously residing with John in Jerusalem.
In a moment of profound tenderness, Mary consoled her "son" in the faith, urging him to persevere. "This pillar," she declared, pointing to the column beneath her feet, "will be the sign of my protection." She entrusted James and his eight disciples with a small wooden statue of herself—mere 15 inches tall—and instructed them to build a church on the spot. The pillar itself, a 5.9-foot column of reddish jasper, became the sacred heart of the shrine, symbolizing stability amid turmoil. Mary promised that this sanctuary would endure until the end of time, serving as a conduit for miracles and graces for all who sought her intercession. Emboldened, James completed the chapel, erecting the first church in history dedicated solely to the Virgin Mary.
Over nearly two millennia, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar has stood as a testament to that promise, weathering invasions, wars, and natural disasters. The original structure, modest and unadorned, evolved into a Baroque masterpiece with 11 vibrant tiled domes, making it Spain's second-largest church. Its survival is nothing short of miraculous: during the Spanish Civil War in 1936–1939, three bombs dropped by communist forces pierced the roof and floor but failed to detonate, an event now commemorated by displaying the inert explosives on its walls. Such interventions underscore Mary's role as a steadfast "pillar" of faith, evoking the biblical imagery of stability and refuge.
The significance of Our Lady of the Pillar extends far beyond Zaragoza. As patroness of Spain and all Hispanic peoples, her feast day on October 12 holds deep cultural resonance. It was on this date in 1492 that Christopher Columbus first sighted the Americas, where the initial Mass on new shores was offered in her honor, linking her legacy to the evangelization of the New World. Devotees worldwide invoke her for strength in trials, viewing the statue—adorned with a sunburst crown of thousands of diamonds, pearls, and gems—as a beacon of maternal love.
In an age of fleeting certainties, Our Lady of the Pillar’s apparition to St. James was not merely a historical footnote but a timeless call to trust: amid the tempests of doubt, the Mother of God stands firm, inviting us to build our lives upon the unshakeable foundation of her Divine Son.
President Trump’s strategy on Iran worked. A 47 year pariah will be dismantled. No other leader in the world during that time accomplished this.
President Trump Was Right, and the Media Are Doing an About-Face on the Strait of Hormuz townhall.com/news/amy-curtis…
pikeman46 retweeted
L'Etna a craché en 3 jours plus de CO2 que 10 ans de sacrifices imposés par l'UE. Tout leur Green Deal anéanti par un volcan!
Mais c'est TA voiture qui pollue! Pourquoi? Parce que l'arnaque écolo leur permet de te racketter à vie avec ZFE, taxes et malus.
When you intimately experience how much Jesus loves you it’s overwhelming and emotional. I can’t imagine what Father experienced during the consecration. God gives everything for us.
pikeman46 retweeted
Kathy Hochul is the worst Governor in America.
New Yorkers are paying more EVERY month - and 70% more than the rest of the nation - because Hochul approved rate hikes, shut down reliable energy and forced costly mandates onto working families.
When I’m Governor, I will unleash New York energy and slash electric bills.
I had a friend when I was young who was the nicest guy in the world until he had a few drinks. Then he thought he was superman and he'd occasionally get his ass beat badly. Mark Carney reminds me of my old friend. He's had one to many drinks.
pikeman46 retweeted
As Governor, I will eliminate state income tax on the first $50,000 you earn ($100,000 for married couples) and cut your utility bills in half.
Your paycheck should go further in the state you call home.
pikeman46 retweeted
This is fricken hilarious 😂
This is by far @Shawn_Farash best video so far 😂😂😂
Make sure to give him a follow and repost .
pikeman46 retweeted
A papyrus fragment found in Egypt preserves the oldest known surviving prayer to the Virgin Mary.
Known as Sub Tuum Praesidium, the prayer reads:
“Beneath your compassion we take refuge, O Theotokos. Do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but deliver us from dangers.”
The fragment, catalogued as Rylands Papyrus 470 and now held at the John Rylands Library in Manchester, has traditionally been dated as early as the 3rd century, although scholars have proposed later dates as well.
What makes it remarkable is the use of the title “Theotokos” — Mother of God — for Mary centuries before the Council of Ephesus formally affirmed the title in AD 431.
The surviving papyrus is ancient, but the prayer itself may be older than the manuscript that preserves it.
One of the earliest surviving witnesses to Christians asking for the intercession and protection of the Virgin Mary. ✝️
Credit: SacredChad
pikeman46 retweeted
🚨 HOLY CRAP! New Yorkers are furious after Ugandan Mayor Mamdani just admitted his socialist agenda will cost BILLIONS MORE than he thought
"Promised to raise $10B per year...funding secured: $1.2 billion per year."
His current "tax the rich" policies AREN'T MAKING ENOUGH MONEY, so the socialist wants to take EVEN MORE
NYC is cooked 🤡
So Mamdani only has to increase funding by...733% PERCENT! 🤯
"The question is how much more does the city really need? New York City's annual budget is already $126 billion, bigger than the budgets of 46 states, eight times bigger than LA's budget. And yet the city is staring at a $7 billion deficit next year."
Universal child care? Costing 55% MORE than he claimed: up to $9.3B per year
3rd world scammer.
pikeman46 retweeted
NY requires an ID to:
✅ Shop at a city-run grocery store
✅ Qualify for affordable housing
✅ Get a book from the library
✅ Shovel snow for the city
✅ Apply for food stamps
✅ Adopt a shelter pet
❌ Vote in elections
pikeman46 retweeted
Thank God @POTUS was elected and our country’s border no longer looks like this.
These images out of Spain are an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration and the radical left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the Invasion of the West.
@BillMelugin_: "Just look here, do you see any women or children? I mean most people would call these folks so-called asylum seekers. These are young guys just flooding into the country and overwhelming what if any border there is."
Here's the real Fauci......disgraceful.
pikeman46 retweeted
Hoekstra on critical minerals "And so two, three months ago...Secretary Rubio had a conference in Washington, D.C. we invited countries from around the world to come. Canada was included."
"And at the conclusion of the sessions, we invited countries to sign up and to be partners with us in addressing the needs that we had for critical minerals"
"And I think initially, almost Immediately, we had 17, 19 countries sign up and say, yep, put me down on the list."
"And I think from our standpoint, one of the disappointing things is Canada didn't sign up for the critical minerals." @USAmbCanada
pikeman46 retweeted
The consecrated Host is Jesus.
It is not a symbol.
Jesus left us with the Eucharist and not a symbol.
The Eucharist is Jesus.
pikeman46 retweeted
The days of Kathy Hochul treating taxpayers like an ATM are over.
When I'm Governor, my priority will be making New York affordable again.
That starts with the largest middle-class tax cut in state history because hardworking New Yorkers deserve to keep more of what they earn.
Lower taxes. Lower costs. A stronger New York.