Aphorisms

Pray for your enemies and love them; just don't act like them.

When medical treatment is punishment, as it is so often for the mentally ill, God knows what might happen to us.

When doctors let personal feelings get in the way of professionalism, God knows what might happen to us.

"Have mercy on my enemies, Lord!" cried Sister Mary Victoria. "Just for saying that, I will have mercy on you!" said Jesus.

Sometimes people forget that it is God who is really in charge of the show. But is that his fault? Yes, or so he claims...who else's could it be?

In "The Lord of the Rings", malice and evil are palpable. I have witnessed both outside of a book - indeed, in my own life.

The Devil hath no wrath like a psychiatrist on the warpath.

Enemies cling as tenaciously as lovers - but alas, God is not on their side, so something always comes along to detach them - God Himself.

Tell your enemies that God has not abandoned them yet - as long as they are alive, they have a chance to better themselves.

Spending a lot of taxpayer's money watching non-criminals may be smart, because you never know when they might become criminals.

"Some of your enemies you simply cannot redeem," said Jesus. "But pray for them right down to the last second - and I will be merciful to you, too."

It is not the number of sins that turns the Lord against you - it is the sheer malice - so there is hope even for Hitler and Mao Zedong.

Some people simply choose not to respond to Jesus - but he chooses to be their only hope.

"Just as I shed my very last bit of blood," said Jesus, "you know that every precaution was taken to save sinners."

Some people think they are loved simply because they have someone to agree with or sleep with.

"Oh, Jesus, make enough room in Heaven for both me and my enemies!" cried Sister Mary Victoria. "I can make no guarantees - but, for the most part, worry about yourself!" said Jesus.

"Can I still ask people to follow me, even though I smoke?" asked Sister Mary Victoria. "A married man may ask you to follow him, even though you don't have sex," said Jesus.

"Oops! Jesus, I played a popular song!" said Sister Mary Victoria, fearing the worst. "Oh, don't worry, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath!" laughed Jesus.

"Every valley shall be exalted, even in Hell?" asked Sister Mary Victoria. "Every valley," said Jesus, enjoying an apple. "It will just take time..."

"Doctor, are you alright out there in the cold, watching over me under my window?" asked the anchorite. "Your dedication astounds me." "Oh, I just have numb fingers - an occupational hazard," said the doctor.

"Oh, applause? Save that for when I am gone, if I deserve it then," said the saint of the day. "It might go to my head and be addictive."

"Spiritual realities are more real to me than natural ones," said the anchorite. "Anyone who climbs the heights would agree with that - and they are more intoxicating and freeing than anything on Earth..."

"My face is one thing," said the anchorite, "but if you could only see how bright my soul is, you would be astonished -"

"My soul is bright because I live in the light of Christ," said the anchorite. "All who do are illumined, as long as they stay in a state of grace."

"Anyone is in a state of grace who has done no venial or mortal sin since their last communion," said the anchorite. "It is possible to stay that way for a long time, especially if you guard your mouth and make sacrifices and remain in prayer."

"Oh, Jesus, you are so kind," said Sister Mary Victoria. "But I have decided to quit smoking." "All the more love freed up for me and others," said Jesus triumphantly.

"Oh, the Church will let you smoke," said Jesus. "What other joy do you have but the same old food, the same old clothes, the same seedy apartment, no friends - do you think I wouldn't give you just one thing you like?"

"If I smoke, Jesus, I will pray continuously during that time," said Sister Mary Victoria, "and I will offer up for souls all the merits and graces of those prayers." "A fine sacrifice, and approved by me," said Jesus. "Pray continuously all the time, as well."

"Even if I am not canonized, I will remain in you, Jesus," said Sister Mary Victoria. "And I will go to my death before I marry an ordinary man." "Be prepared, for this battle is worse than you imagine," said Jesus. "And it has nothing to do with Satan - no one can blame it on him."

"They don't care if you are clean or not," said Jesus. "They just want to see you naked and stripped of your dignity, as they wanted of me at the crucifixion. You don't have to give in."

"Do you remember that dream you had of Hell, where people kept jumping around blindly and running into each other, unable to rest or have peace?" asked Jesus of Sister Mary Victoria. "People who are like that now are on their way there."

"Offer up all your smoke breaks for the souls on their way to damnation, Sister," asked Jesus. "Pray aloud only every now and then, because there are a lot of paranoid people who think the prayers have to do with you individually, when they are about David."

"I played Kirk Franklin's 'Speak to me, Lord Jesus' so many times you started to speak to me, Jesus!" marvelled Sister Mary Victoria. "And one day, I will come to you,

cook you a meal and serve it myself!" laughed Jesus.

If your knowledge exceeds that of your enemies, you may suffer because of it, but someone will come to your aid most likely.

"You couldn't work with all those people looking on and using spyware and making discouraging comments," said Jesus. "The government should know that, Sister Mary Victoria. No, you will not have to work, not as long as people keep watching you."

"You can't sing opera anymore," said Jesus. "I aimed communion at a critical place in your vocal chords, and the damage was irreparable. I did it on purpose, to save your soul."

"I am glad that I can atone for my sins here on Earth," said Sister Mary Victoria. "I am glad I have time, indeed." "Everyone has time, my dear," said Jesus. "Some just don't take it."

"Every time you cough, you take time off from your Purgatory," said Jesus. "And by this time, you are rising in Heaven - pray, pray, pray, and love, love, love."

"I still don't know why my Church thinks it is any worse to be a Witch than to be, say, a Buddhist," said Jesus. "Anyone who is not Christian is simply not Christian, there are not degrees of evil there."

"Wiccans believe a lot of things about Goddess that are heretical," said Jesus. "But they don't worship graven images, as the Jews did so many times in their history - and that is breaking the first and most important Commandment."

"The reason why you were never on your way to Hell is because the reason why you sought out Wicca was love for the Wiccans and acknowledgement of the guilt of the Catholic Church," said Jesus, "for that guilt is great. For many reasons, the Church today itself is damned."

"The Church is damned?" asked Sister Mary Victoria, incredulously. "We simply must treat non-Catholics better, and lead the world in morality. The one thing that will save us is our charity, for it is great and is our hope."

"But I still don't understand! How can the Church be in such bad shape?" asked Sister Mary Victoria. "There have been times where the world teemed with living saints. Now? Hardly anyone in the Church is. And abortion goes on when one quarter of the USA is Catholic," said Jesus.

"Thank you, Sister Mary Victoria, for setting up that network for those who want to be saints!" said Jesus with excitement. "If you can raise up just a few, what a difference that will make for the whole Church!"

"Through your suffering, you are atoning for the Church's hatred of the Witches," said Jesus. "You are the sacrificial lamb for all pagans. I knew what I was doing when I inspired your brother to give you that book on Wicca."

"If the Church today weren't damned, why would my mother have not shown that vision of Hell to the shepherd children at Fatima?" said Jesus. "As a group, we have a long way to go."

"War is a reflection of the kind of person who is most prevalent in a society," said Jesus. "During the 20th century, people were largely dreadful."

"Pope John Paul II did a lot of apologizing to all the different groups sinned against by the Catholic Church," said Jesus. "Now that we have apologized, we must make amends - and that includes to witches, heretics and the undesirables."

"How can we make amends to those groups offended by the Church?" asked Sister Mary Victoria. "By fighting for religious freedom for them, and readily accepting any of them that want it into the Church," said Jesus. "And we must stop hating them, most of all."

"Pope Pius XII came out against Nazism. And you came out against the Inquisition," said Jesus. "Both actions are equally justified in my sight. Your problem was that you wanted to leave the Church."

"Pope Pius XII could have wanted to leave the Church because Hitler was a Catholic," said Jesus. "Look at his example and forgive the Church from the bottom of your heart for the Inquisitions, Sister Mary Victoria."

"It is because you have suffered so terribly and for long in your life that you are going to Heaven, Sister Mary Victoria," said Jesus. "And you have much suffering ahead. But your love? It is absolutely seraphic already."

"Why is my love seraphic?" asked Sister Mary Victoria. "Because you have put into practice the Universal Vow of Love of St. Therese and given your love to people your church believes are worthy of nothing good - and you love everyone and like everyone when it is absolutely not popular."

"Your only problem, Sister Mary Victoria, is finding more ways and opportunities to show that seraphic love you have," said Jesus, "because you still walk alone for the most part." "So, for now, I will give it to you, Jesus," said Sister Mary Victoria.

"Seraphic love is not being a doormat or being excessively nice all the time," said Jesus. "It is in loving those whom the world keeps telling you you shouldn't. It is in seeking holiness in yourself only for others, because you get nothing from it - it is when no one seeks you out, no one calls, no one apparently cares, but you just keep on giving."

"No, seraphic love is not being excessively nice," said Jesus. "The Devil can be excessively nice. It is in loving beyond betrayal, beyond rejection, beyond hatred, beyond insults, beyond being sought out, beyond any reward on Earth, and in working night and day for the Kingdom."

"People keep coming here and saying they want to give me opportunity - then they all change their minds!" exclaimed Sister Mary Victoria. "They just want to appear superior to you, that's all," said Jesus, on a ladder. "Maybe..."

"I really don't want to go," said Sister Mary Victoria, "and besides, those people don't ever talk to me about me!" "Yeah - they are a pain in the neck! Stay here with me and the beautiful people!" said Jesus, trying to figure out the weird people.

"They are concerned that you may return to Wicca," said Jesus. "Will you?" "I have been through enough by now to say no," said Sister Mary Victoria. "And I think I would have to be mad to do that again."

"I know what you mean about wanting to be talked to," said Jesus. "Some people are so busy asking for the intercession of the saints that they forget about me! And who talks to me all day in the ciborium? And who talks about me outside of church? If I were to speak to them, they'd jump..."

"No, I won't leave," said Sister Mary Victoria. "If someone has a problem with me, why don't they just talk to me directly about it?" "Because they know they are wrong and they are embarrassed about all the stupid things they said," said Jesus. "Stupid or not, you would totally forgive them anything."

Since you cannot prove a negative, after awhile, why try?

"It is very frustrating to be alone in the world, and have people right outside your window talking about but not to you," said Sister Mary Victoria. "They won't even let me talk - there is no way to express love to them. Who failed whom?"

"I know, I know - they keep trying to decide your life for you, Sister Mary Victoria." said Jesus. "Love them, and just consider it to be an annoyance. I have a feeling someone will get around to you soon."

"They watch me naked on hidden cameras, and try to blame me for being naked in my own room," said Sister Mary Victoria. "What can I do?" "Just what you always would do - and see what happens to them - " said Jesus, working out a Rubix cube.

"I can see why you wouldn't want to leave this area," said Jesus. "Everything is so familiar, and you are getting on in years." "Most of all, Jesus," said Sister Mary Victoria, "this is where I found you!"

"Nazareth was a lot like your area, Sister Mary Victoria, and Bethlehem, too," said Jesus. "Better live in humility than in glory."

If you love the people right around you, why not stay and put down roots?

God made a lot of beautiful women who want to be treated chastely, too. But sometimes it is hard for them to get that treatment.

"If you only knew how dear sinners are to me, you'd burst!" said Jesus. "I love them not a hair less than saints! And that is why I rain on the just and the unjust."

Peace is being happy no matter where you are.

SPECULATIVE THEOLOGY

Don't try to do everything God has for men to do. Choose a few things, and concentrate, and thus, do your best.

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was often grumpy; Mother Teresa of Calcutta was almost an atheist at times; Mother Angelica of EWTN fame has a bad temper. Just look at what they did do.

What is discernment but trying to find the best way to spread your love?

"You know, Jesus, I never really said I'd leave you," said Sister Mary Victoria. "Even when I was 'Wiccan', I wanted to remain your spouse. I said I'd leave the Catholic Church." "We are one and the same," reminded Jesus. "If you don't leave me, you don't leave the Catholic Church."

"I cried and begged Monsignor that I could remain your spouse," said Sister Mary Victoria. "Tears like I have never known before." "I cried, too," said Jesus. "And believe me, until after Judgment Day, there will be tears in Heaven."

Even statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary cry, so you know she must.

"You almost left me, Jesus," said Sister Mary Victoria. "But the fault could never be on your side." "No, I didn't. I don't even forsake people who are initiated as witches - remember my promise -" said Jesus.

"Baptism is an indelible mark," said Jesus. "Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Confirmation is an anointing that is permanent, too. Once baptized and confirmed, if you go to Hell, you just don't suffer as much."

"The very sacrament of Holy Orders is enough to save many a priest from Hell," said Jesus. "Once you are a priest, you are practically impenetrably holy, indeed, a masterpiece of God."

Those in Hell who are unbaptized are the only ones to be without God altogether. Once having had Holy Communion, as the Psalmist said, God is present even in the netherworld for the souls of the dead.

"But what is Purgatory? Is God there?" asked Sister Mary Victoria. "Yes, we are there," said the Eternal Triune God. "The souls in Purgatory have our presence, but they long for the fullness of my beatitude in Heaven. I am everywhere for the believer."

The Eucharist is not physically temporary; it penetrates to the very marrow of our bones and circulates in our veins.

Once we have tasted the blood of Christ, all of our blood is changed into holiness, just as when holy water blesses water added to it.

The Eucharist must be the glorified body of Christ; so as we take it in, we are adding glory to our very flesh.

Hatred is probably the number one reason why people go to Hell; because in Heaven, faith's job is done, and hope is fulfilled; love abounds and love rules, and fills everything, accepts everything, embraces everything and everyone.

If you hate pagans, you are no better than they are; maybe in some cases, worse.

There is no commandment telling us we must hate or should hate anything or anyone.

If you hate people, hate anybody at all, you can do everything right but that, and still go to Hell.

Hatred simply does not belong in Heaven. Not even hatred of the Devil himself...

The Eucharist is physical as well as spiritual union with God.

Once I poured holy water down the drain with the intention of making holy all the waters of the world. I wonder how far it has spread by now? To the clouds? Will rain become a blessing?

Our brains are not renewed physically or we would lose memories. So, Jesus now has some of the same material he had in his brain when he was in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He is flesh of her flesh. So, is Mary in the Eucharist?

"Alright, you people, act like you have some sense and honor my commitment to Sister Mary Victoria as my spouse, or you just might catch HELL!" yelled Jesus. "I am simmering! DON'T BRING ME TO A BOIL!"

If Satan has hope, and got better, what a big difference there would be in the world!

Maybe Satan is in need of love today...and prayers...

Maybe one reason why Satan got so bad is because he knew he might not ever get forgiveness from God and people.

One of the greatest problems of today, possibly, is that people don't respect their vows, or anyone else's.

If you can't be just friends to the opposite sex of your dreams, maybe your relationship wouldn't work. What if you couldn't have sex for awhile or longer?

Obviously, before Satan came in, we weren't saints. How could we be saints now without him? How could we prove it?

It ain't easy being the good guy...or the bad guy...

I have known and understood people exalted by their love. But I have trouble understanding people eaten up by their hatred...

Love is both natural and supernatural. Hatred is unnatural, anatural and denatural.

Does Satan really hate us? Or is he just envious of the attention given people by God and insulted that he should have served lesser beings?

Maybe Satan has no excuse - people serve animals, who are lesser beings.

Don't we miss, in a way, even our own enemies when they go? Let the tie between them and you, as Jesus said, be love.

If on Earth, you find yourself alone for stupid reasons on the part of others, all the more friends you have in the Church Triumphant.

"It will be just like my Incarnation Parish days, my time at Blessed Sacrament Church," said Sister Mary Victoria, with satisfaction. "No one will know me, no one will care, and I will just be a part of the furniture. Ah, the bliss of anonymity!"

"How much fun I had ringing the bells at the Carmel!" said St. Therese of Lisieux. "It was the only time I could be so alone with God!"

"Eventually people will get bored of me, and my solitude will be sweeter than this chatter," said Sister Mary Victoria. "Just so long as you take me there, Sister," said Jesus.

"They like to say they dislike you, because it is 'cool'," said Jesus. "You represent the despised and rejected part of me - that is your lot on Earth. You are quite up to the test; you will pass with flying colors, and you will forgive the few who make it to Heaven and you will act like nothing was ever wrong."

"You have already forgiven the whole world in your sweet heart, Sister Mary Victoria," said Jesus, "and should anyone show you friendship, you will take it, no matter how badly they treated you before, during or even after the time you are friends."

"But I don't think you will ever have friends while you live, Sister Mary Victoria," said Jesus. "Horny men have made your lot almost unsupportable. Why they want you is based on a form of malice - they sense your holiness and purity and want to deflower that - and they sense me, who in you is a reproach to their sinfulness -"

"St. Antony the Great walked alone for almost all of his life, until he met St. Paul of Thebes," said Jesus. "He was just too different from the others who invaded his hermitage. And then, St. Paul died - but you may never even know any other saint except at your network."

"Yes, all the saints were censured by the Church somewhere along the line," said Jesus, "priests defrocked, saints rejected by monasteries, women forced into marriage when all they wanted was religious life, hermits dragged out of the privacy of their cells as you were - expect no better."

"That is why I say that the Church is damned," said Jesus. "It has been a lot like the Pharisees, totally against new ideas and new fervor. It must learn to learn from all its constituents, especially the holy ones."

"Life is far more difficult when you have a lot of friends," said Sister Mary Victoria. "Your intellect is freed up in solitude in order to accomplish what you are supposed to be doing in service to others - writing and prayer," agreed Jesus.

"Mother Teresa of Calcutta had no friends, really. She was no respecter of persons, and freely loved anyone who came her way, because of her simplicity," said Jesus. "She always said 'one at a time', not groups of people."

"I will be like Mother Teresa," said Sister Mary Victoria. "I will remain simple outwardly, if sublime inwardly. I will love everyone equally, one at a time, because my very eyes only focus on one thing at a time."

"I get tired of pleasing people in any way other than giving them love and attention," said Sister Mary Victoria. "I don't want to keep track of their opinions, the people they put down, their likes and dislikes, who said this, and who that; rather I challenge them to like everyone."

"Since I was a child, I never took sides," said Sister Mary Victoria. "And I surrounded myself with the so-called rejects, finding in them a love and pulchritude not found in the ones who had it easy all the time. Now? I have found my place in a little subset all my own."

"Remember, life is but a test," said Jesus. "Your real life will begin in Heaven."

"Don't worry about what goes on on this pathetic planet, Sister Mary Victoria," said Jesus. "So quickly, and you won't remember any of the pain, any of the ostracism, any of the hatred and envy, any of the frights and discomforts, any more of the insults and lust. You will be free!"

"It is just about now that you would find yourself at home in Heaven," said Jesus. "Keep pushing, and soon Heaven, although unknown now, will be familiar."

For anyone who has ever tasted of the beatitude of Heaven, life is but despair - ask St. Bernadette of Lourdes.

If life is but despair, but you are happy, you would be at home anywhere.

Before you know it food is swallowed, cigarettes are smoked, delicious drink can be tasted no more - so base your happiness on things eternal.

A Carthusian monk usually wakes up to the reality of his days as a long trip down a dim tunnel to the light at the end. That both haunts him and motivates him.

It is those who work in humble, quiet ways for years without honors who are perhaps the holiest of all.

If you know what you want to do, just do it and make no excuses.

If an honor means giving up something essential to your happiness, let go of the honor - what will the honor mean when you are dead?

If you are already going to highest Heaven, what difference does it make if you are a "saint" or not?

Don't let unwanted suitors get you down.

Why live for thirty years of torture to be a "saint" when you are already going to Heaven?

Most of what is legal is not sinful.

Why would anyone want to make you a saint if they aren't going to be one? There is such a thing as 'holy envy'...so they are bound to make it hard for you -

When in doubt, keep your big fat mouth shut!

Classical music without words is just a rich player strutting and dancing on a platform, lower or higher, signifying anything, to paraphrase Shakespeare.