Thought Crime

..be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.  (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Nowadays I live in a country where abortion is still illegal but have been following the changes in the UK where attitudes have hardened even more than when I was there. 

I remember receiving a leaflet in the mid 1970’s as a schoolboy, given outside the school. It was graphic, the limbs and fingers and feet of an aborted baby were visible and never having heard of abortion, I was horrified that anyone could do such a thing. That was soon after it was legalised, there was no propaganda machine at work to fill the world with any false narrative then. 

I watched some videos of the discussions at March for Life (UK) and heard many encouraging stories about the work currently being undertaken and sadly the restrictions and added pressures they are under. In my day the worse that could happen would be to lose your job or livelihood over a pro-life stand; nowadays it seems you can be arrested for praying or even just standing near an abortion facility. The Orwellian era of “thought crime” has arrived. 

It seems likely then that the sacrifices required will increase if legalised child sacrifice is to be stopped. The rage of its proponents will continue to flare and those working at the coal face producing and delivering educational materials, crisis counselling or speaking up for the unborn and their mothers, will experience more abuse and intimidation as time goes on. It is arduous work but lives are being saved, more than are known I am sure. 

I heard a phrase recently that I have been mulling over, it was that “one day, our stories will all be told rightly, around the campfires of heaven” And when that day comes it will be those unseen and faithful pro-lifers who will be honoured for their devotion and sacrifices; for knowing where to stand and with whom. 

OUR LADY'S MESSAGE JUNE 25TH 2026 ON THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITIONS

 OUR LADY'S MESSAGE JUNE 25TH 2026 ON THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITIONS

“Dear children! 

Rejoice with me because the Most High permits me to be with you, to lead you to Him Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Rejoice, little children, and be joyful also in difficulties and you will have the strength, because you will be aware that you are transient and you will know to offer everything to God. That is why, do not forget: I am your Mother and I love you. 

Thank you for having responded to my call."

(With Ecclesiastical approval)

Present in the Silence

I am reading a book called Holy Silence about Quaker worship. They have no liturgy, or preaching, just communal silence where they listen for the voice of God and become aware of His presence amongst them.

The author brought a group of young Quakers to Mass once so they could see how other Christians worshiped. He was friendly with the local Priest who gave them a talk first and explained what would be happening so that it would not be a complete mystery. 

Afterwards they had a chat over dinner and the young Quakers were asked which part of the service most closely resembled their own Quaker worship.  They all agreed that it was in the Eucharist, the Consecration. One put it like this “that was when we really felt that Jesus was there” Another added “it got so quiet then” another indicator for them of the Lord’s presence.

Many in our church scarcely believe in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist sadly and this lack of belief has been repeated over the centuries countered just as frequently with Eucharistic miracles. The first being at Lanciano in Italy where a monk wrestled with his doubts about Transubstantiation and during Mass the host was visibly changed into flesh and blood.

More than a thousand years later it remains, not having undergone any decay. Tests done in the 1980’s showed that the host was heart tissue, and the blood was still fresh. What a gift we have been given.

The Call of Nature

 

Once my Dad was in his sixties, he had to get up in the night to answer the call of nature. This inconvenient awakening bore fruit though as he often entered into prayer before returning to sleep. 

He prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet for anyone who was dying at that hour or for the holy souls in purgatory. This nocturnal pilgrimage continued until it was his turn to pass from this life to the next. I wonder how many souls his prayers assisted on their journey to God and how much prayer there was for him at that moment as a consequence. 

It seems that the baton has now been passed to me. I am not normally a (3‘0 Clock in the) morning person and so am in a semi-coma as I stagger into the gloom, stubbing a toe on everything (mercifully there are no lego land mines along the route). Lately though I have paused to pray and accompany my fellow travellers, those dying or suffering the fires of purgatory. It is a noble undertaking and at a time when the heart and house are quiet.

Behind the veil, it will be well received as these words given to St Gertrude from Jesus illustrate "… If a beneficent king leaves his guilty friend in prison for justice's sake, he awaits with longing for one of his nobles to plead for the prisoner and to offer something for his release. Then the king joyfully sets him free. By the prayers of thy loving soul, I am induced to free a prisoner from purgatory as often as thou dost move thy tongue to utter a word of prayer."

Who would think that a full bladder can be a means of such grace; but it can.

That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into

 

Pentecost must have been brilliant. No language barriers, many healings, miracles, visions, and clear guidance from God; the Apostles were unstoppable. And even in our day an encounter with the Holy Spirit tends to produce great fervour in those who have made the transition from believeing God exists to one’s certainty that He exists. All manner of adventure awaits those who embrace the risk of trusting when He puts you on the spot.

One evening (in the last century) I was on my way to Mass in Manchester City Centre, I parked outside the church at the end of the road as usual (as the traffic wardens had gone home for the night) and was about to walk up when a boy on a bycicle stopped and asked if I would help his friend who had been grabbed by two men at the top of the street. I said ‘yes’ and could see the two figures up ahead. He jumped back on his bike and set off, presumably to tell his friend that the cavalry was on the way!

I walked briskly up the road and decided I had better consult HQ to see what the plan was. So I prayed “Lord, what do you want me to say when I get there?” I waited a few seconds. Complete Radio Silence. Perhaps that was the wrong question. So I prayed “Lord, what shall I do once I get there? And I added a suggestion so as to move things along as I was already half way there.. “Shall I thump him on the nose?” Silence again. In the last 10 seconds I tried to recall the numerous methods God uses to communicate with his people, I scanned the vegetation looking for anything smouldering, checked the pavement for a conveniently discarded donkey’s jaw bone and then suddenly I had arrived. 

At a range of 12 inches from the face of the antagonist who still had hold of the boy’s arm I concluded that I ought to follow the instructions precisely. So I said …. Nothing. I did … Nothing. I simply stared at their faces; relentlessly! Neither seemed able to make eye contact with me.  He let go of the boy, they exchanged a few more ‘un-pleasantries’ with each other and the two men turned on their heels and left. The boy said “thanks mister” and he and his friend left in the opposite direction. I went to Mass none-the wiser as to what had transpired!

It would be interesting to know the other side of the story; perhaps my guardian angel had shown himself with a flaming sword or maybe I looked more terrifying than usual. In any case I know that God is trustworthy and we can have confidence in Him to come through when we do what is proper. (“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33)

‘Légion étrangère’

It is often only with hindsight that we can comprehend the significance of certain events or fleeting moments in life. The other day I suddenly remembered a peculiar meeting, 33 years ago at a motorway service station on the M6 in the UK.

A few compadres and I were returning from Medjugorje (Bosnia Herzegovina) having delivered a few vanloads of aid goods to the refugees during the war there. We clambered out of a minibus, unkempt, unshaven, weary, and with an odour that sang its own tune. A man approached us; he was a soldier in the French Foreign Legion, a Glaswegian, given leave to attend his mother’s funeral. He asked to exchange some French Francs for Pounds so he could complete his journey. We were able to oblige and he gave me his business card. His skill set was impressive.

The Legion will accept anyone as a volunteer. They are given a new identity when they join (many need one) and the training is one of the toughest of any military unit. Whatever skill they bring will be greatly enhanced through training and discipline and unified in their ‘esprit de corps’.

The other day, I watched a talk about Medjugorje where the interviewee spoke about the essence of what Medjugorje is about. Whilst there are many physical healings of course, the most important and most numerous by far are the massive conversions that take place every day. There were complete turnarounds in the lives of the most shipwrecked souls you can imagine. A Priest mentioned that converts have deeply felt contrition for their past sins. Medjugorje does not attract the good so much, as those whose lives are wounded by mortal sin and ignorance. (I can be counted amongst these). The graces being poured out from heaven so liberally on the least deserving of souls, is unprecedented.

But the Medjugorje experience is just the beginning; as with the Légion étrangère,’ we are given a new identity, restored as children of God as we are snatched out of the fire and begin a long and often painful process of change, purification and growth; our basic training in the Christian life, to pray with the heart; weapons training like the Rosary and an array of armaments for the spiritual warfare we are all engaged in. In the first instance then, Medjugorje can be seen as heaven’s rescue mission for each individual but from another vantage point :- it’s something more.

In almost 45 years since the apparitions began, over 50 million pilgrims from all over the world have visited. Few would return empty handed and so now our Lady has at her command, at a variety of levels of training, millions of warriors, formerly ensnared by the enemy to some degree, now forged to form the tip of the spear against him and his legions. They are deployed by the Queen of Peace through Prayer groups, Pilgrimage organisers, (annoying) evangelists, charitable groups and a multitude of other frontlines throughout the world, who by the word of their testimony increase the harvest of souls.

Oftentimes the more traditional Catholics don’t get it… we look different, sound different, dress differently perhaps and sometimes we smell different, but we love God : which puts us on the same side!

Our Lady’s Message from Medjugorje ... May 25, 2026

Dear children,

may this time be for you a time of prayer and fasting. Return, little children, in love to God who is your peace. I am with you, little children, and I love you with my motherly tenderness.

Thank you for having responded to my call.

(With Ecclesiastical approval)