The Chisel, The Hammer, The Fire

This was originally posted on Instagram on October 18, 2021.

Employees at a major company (at least three hundred thousand employees) were notified that if they aren’t granted a religious exemption, they will lose their pension along with their jobs. In the (invasive) RE paperwork, the company cites an article by a Catholic priest, which states that if Catholics/pro-lifers decline the CV shot due to their link to aborted fetal cells, we should also forgo a long list of other medicines such as ibuprofen and tums, purportedly also developed with the same barbaric practices.

The article is not only theologically repugnant, but also contains outright errors/lies. (See my stories for the rebuttal article.)

The poor theology and hostile attitude of bishops, priests, and lay Catholic “influencers” are having a real and deleterious effect on the employment of Catholics around the world. People are losing their ability to provide for their families because leaders of the Church are at best confused, or worse, compromised.

These Catholics (and those they have influenced/confused) bend the gospel to fit secular beliefs, slap Christian language on worldly behavior, and as I’ve said before, attempt to replace the Church’s works of mercy with a completely distorted temporal version.

Sadly, loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is hitting quite close to home, isn’t it?

It’s tempting to become embittered against these people. Trust me, I know. But in prayer, I have come to the conclusion that I should instead be thanking God for them. His permissive will is allowing this because this is good for my soul.

Their insults are a chisel against my pride.
Their derision is a hammer that breaks the stone around my heart.
Their mockery is a fire that burns away my cowardice.

They are, along with my vocation, meant to be my saint-makers.

And so I thank God for them. I thank Him for allowing me to experience ridicule because it forces me to look deeper into the gospel and tradition. It requires me to lean into Him and trust, because I cannot combat their errors, not with any real success. God, and God alone, will make this era of tragedy also one of astounding beauty.

So I pray for their repentance and conversion, but to God, I can only be grateful that He has seen fit to give me the tiniest portion of what His Beloved Son endured on His way to Calvary.

Join me in praying for these saint-makers.

Join me in praying for those that they are harming.

Most importantly, join me in attempting to become a saint.