Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad

“It is related in the Life of Father Louis La Nusa that there were two friends in Palermo. Walking one day together, one of them, named Caesar, a comedian, seeing the other thoughtful, said: “I lay a wager that you have been to Confession; and it is on that account you are uneasy. Listen,” he added, “and know that Father La Nusa told me one day that God had allotted me yet twelve years of life; and that if I did not amend within that time, I should make an unhappy end. I have travelled over many parts of the world; I have had illnesses, especially one which brought me to the brink of the grave; but this month, in which the twelve years are completed, I feel better than I ever felt in my life before.” He then invited his friend to come and hear on the following Saturday a new play which he had composed. Now what happened? On the Saturday, which was the 24th November, 1688, whilst he was preparing to go on the stage, he was seized with apoplexy, and died suddenly, expiring in the arms of an actress; and thus ended the comedy. Now let us come to ourselves. When the devil tempts you to sin again, if you choose to lose your soul, it is in your power to sin, but do not say then that you wish to be saved; as long as you choose to sin, look upon yourself as damned, and picture to yourself that God then writes your condemnation, and says to you: What is there that I ought to do more to my vineyard, that I have not done to it? (Is. v. 4). Ungrateful soul, what is there that I ought to have done for you that I have not done? Well, then, since you choose to be damned, be it so; it is all your own doing.”

Find the rest here:

https://www.religiousbookshelf.com/meditations-and-readings/day/2120-Friday-after-First-Sunday-of-Lent.html

Continuing meditations from Liguori:

“Some will say: God has shown me so many mercies in the past, that I hope He will show me the same in the future. But I reply: Because, then, God has shown you so many mercies, for this do you return to offend Him? Is it thus, says St. Paul to you, that you despise the goodness and patience of God? Know you not that the Lord has borne with you till now, not that you may continue to offend Him, but that you may weep over the evil you have done? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and patience and long-suffering? Knowest thou not that benignity of God leadeth thee to penance? (Rom. ii. 4). If, confiding in the Divine mercy, you will not put an end to your sins, the Lord will, for: Except you be converted, he will brandish his sword. (Ps. vii. 13). Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time. (Deut. xxxii. 35). God waits; but when the time of vengeance is come, He waits no longer, and punishes.”

Do check out the rest over here…

https://www.religiousbookshelf.com/meditations-and-readings/day/2119-Thursday-after-First-Sunday-of-Lent.html

“St. Augustine says the devil deceives men in two ways: by despair and by hope. After the sinner has sinned, the devil tempts him to despair through terror of the Divine justice. Before he sinned, he encouraged him to it by the hope of Divine mercy. Therefore does the Saint give this counsel: After sin, hope for mercy: before sin, fear Judgment.”

Read the rest here:

https://www.religiousbookshelf.com/meditations-and-readings/day/2118-Wednesday-after-First-Sunday-of-Lent.html

“The more you have offended God, so much the more should you fear to offend Him again. I do not say absolutely that after another sin there will be no more pardon for you, because this I know not. But I say that it may happen. Therefore, when you are tempted to sin, say: But supposing God should pardon me no more, and I should be lost!l

From Daily Meditations

Wow, it’s almost like he’s a Doctor of the Church or something…

Still waiting on that “proof of life” from you know who in the you know what…

My friends, pray for the repose of the soul of Officer Joey Azcona, Newark PD. EOW: March 7, 2025.

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/police-officer-killed-another-injured-newark-reports

This one hurts. A lot.

Brutally executed by a fourteen year-old thug. He was in the class below my nephew in the academy. The shooting occurred near a White Castle a few blocks from Our Lady of Good Counsel, the parish church where my dad was baptized and from which he was buried, where he taught me the supreme importance of daily Mass. On the streets of my hometown. You carry a piece of that home with you wherever you go – including the men who kept you safe.

Officer Azcona’s brothers on the job caught the son of a bitch who took his life.

There are already rumors that President Trump will attend the funeral.

God’s justice is infinite. For the animal who did this, I pray God’s mercy upon him. This bastard showed none to Officer Azcona

Stay confessed.

I continue to wear it with pride and gratitude.

Looking to the bright side having just entered Lent, I had a funny exchange with my teenagers yesterday. We had attended the Noon Mass in our parish. Father distributed ashes just prior to Mass. somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 people were there. It is beautiful to see.

First, my daughter noticed as we headed to the truck after Mass was over that I seemed perturbed. Asking what the matter was, I told her, “I have a forehead you can see from the Space Station and yet I always get a wonky smudge.” Seriously, Father, you can do so much better. With this canvas, I expect not only a cross, but the hill of Calvary, two thieves, and the Blessed Mother as well.

Second, on the drive home I let out a chuckle. My son asked what was funny. I told him, “Ever have one of those funny thoughts pop into your head where you have to laugh at the absurdity of it? Well, I was just remembering back to my earlier life when I was not a Trad. For the first forty years I went to Novus Ordo. You see, son, our priest just now pronounced Latin words. Memento homo… Remember man, thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” In the other one they might say that but they’re ‘free’ to change it up. ‘Turn away from sin and do good,’ ‘Repent and believe in yourself,’ ‘Jesus loves you because someone should.’ are all things I’ve heard. But my favorite was a fruitcake old deacon who traced a cross on my head while saying, ‘Shuffle. Ball. Change. SPARKLE!’”

We laughed the whole ride home until I told them it might have been a slight exaggeration.

Anyway, today is the first Friday of the month of March. You know what to do.

https://fatima.org/first-friday-devotion/