The End of the American Century

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Now that Mubarak has been ousted, the Egyptians have just shown the rest of the Muslim world how it's done. The paradigm shift I wrote of in a previous blog entry has just happened. Look for the pattern to repeat itself in the months and years ahead. Look for moderate Arab states to take on more hardline anti-Western positions to prevent uprisings in their own countries. Look for the Muslim Brotherhood to begin the process of fielding their own popular candidates in "free and fair" elections. Look for similar hardline Islamist organizations to do the same in other countries. Look for the sudden and rapid rise of an independent Palestine. (George Soros is allegedly working for that behind the scenes.). Look for Israel to become increasingly isolated and belligerent in the months and years ahead. All of this should occur simultaneously as the United States goes into another economic meltdown and becomes increasingly helpless to do anything in the Middle East. The end of the "American Century" is upon us....

Today (2-11-2011) is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman,
Blessed by the Most High!
Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era,
We join in your song of praise,
to celebrate the Lord’s mercy,
to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom
and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord,
Glorious Mother of Christ!
Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word,
Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word,
and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit,
attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience
and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows,
Mother of the living!
Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve,
Be our guide along the paths of the world.
Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ,
to stand with you before the innumerable crosses
on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith,
First of the disciples!
Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always
to account for the hope that is in us,
with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love.
Teach us to build up the world beginning from within:
in the depths of silence and prayer,
in the joy of fraternal love,
in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary, Mother of believers,
Our Lady of Lourdes,
pray for us.

Amen.

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT reminds his readers that America is not (nor has ever been) the Church.  Empires rise and fall.  That is the way of this world, and America is an empire, just as the British were before us, and the Romans were before them.  Catholic Americans are Catholic first. The nation which is our REAL home was not built with human hands. We are strangers and pilgrims here in this world. As an American I love my country. Nevertheless my first allegiance is to Jesus Christ, his Catholic Church, and his Blessed Mother. In times like this, we must all keep focus.