MEMORIAL OF SAINT ATHANASIUS

Today, May 2, is the Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The Liturgy of the Hours for today says "Saint Athanasius was born at Alexandria in 295. He accompanied Bishop Alexander to the Council of Nicaea, and succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria. He fought courageously against the Arian heresy. For this he suffered many hardships and was exiled several times. His writings are outstanding in their explanation and defense of the the true teachings of the faith. He died in 373."

Although the Bad Catholic would like to keep this blog non-political, he would observe that in today's heathen, pagan, post-Christian, post-religion, post-culture culture, that all of us who keep steadfast to orthodox belief can expect to be persecuted and to suffer for our beliefs. We, too, may soon face persecution, imprisonment or worse when our beliefs conflict with what is deemed to be politically correct.

The Bad Catholic does not wish to get involved in the current controversy over President Obama's impending commencement address at Notre Dame except to say that this entire controversy could have been avoided if the President was invited to speak without an honorary degree being conferred upon him. By the same token, if the current Administration had any sensitivity to and understanding of the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, which it is obvious, in this writer's opinion, that they do not, the President would have been advised to decline the honorary degree.

The Bad Catholic fears, however, that the ultimate agenda of the powers that be is to indoctrinate us to abandon the moral teaching of the Church. If we cannot be "re-educated" to correct thinking then we are probably to be persecuted, if not punished as criminals. The President said during the recent election that the people of Western Pennsylvania were "clinging to their guns and their religion." The Bad Catholic does not like guns, but states for all the world to hear that he is down in South Georgia rigidly clinging to his religion.

PRAYER: Father, You gave us Saint Athanasius, Your Bishop, to defend the divinity of Your Son. Grant that we may enjoy his teaching and protection and grow continually in our knowledge and love of You. Amen.