Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad

I write this fully aware of my own need to confess often and to not only eradicate sin but also to grow in virtue. No small order, these things. But do them we must. Unlike the false teachings coming out of the Eternal City these past few years – that Christ’s commandments are merely ideals and that we can strive for them but aren’t expected to keep them – I believe Our Lord meant every word of “Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” I believe He gives His grace to poor sinners who call upon His Holy Name. I believe He pities us with tender compassion from His Cross; but I also believe Him when He says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

That being said, I was in Virginia this past weekend for a wedding. On my way to the church, I noticed that my rental car was low on fuel. I stopped at the first gas station I saw. My wife and I – we had lived in that area many years ago – immediately noticed the significance of this place.

At the very pump I pulled up to, on October 9, 2002, a 53 year-old man filling his car as I was now, was gunned down by a man hidden across the road in the trunk of a sedan. You may recall the infamous DC sniper attacks. Clearly he had no idea this would be his last moments.

And I don’t share these things because I am morbid or want you to be either. We simply never know when our time will be up and we must stand before Our Judge.

So again I say,

Stay confessed.

Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace, pray for us!

My current jaunt is almost done.

We head home to more homeschooling and a funeral. A dear friend is being buried soon. Please pray for her.

The Mets lost to the Dodgers. I HATE LA.

As I explained to my son, this is the life of a Mets fan. Now back to reality.

Pray for us for safe travels.

In my travels (to see the Mets); I am also attending a wedding for the son of dear friends in Virginia. In reality, that statement is reversed. I came for a wedding and broke off to go see the Mets. Six of one, half-dozen of the other.

Please pray for this new family – Michael and Maria. May they live to see their children’s children!

On that note, at the reception, an old acquaintance approached me at the cocktail hour and said, “Harvey Millican?”

To this I replied, “Do you say you his of your own accord or have others told you about me?”

We laughed. It’s always fun being “found out” by people you know. He’s been reading me and put it together.

On another note… please pray for my sister. She’s in the hospital with some serious things going on. I do appreciate it.

Our Lady, health of the sick, pray for us!

Otherwise I’d think the Mets only lose when I’m at a game.

But now it’s back to LA to win two more games (I hope).

Taking your teenage son to see your favorite ball team because you’ve loved them ever since they won the 1986 World Series and you passed that love of this ill-fated team onto him ?

That’s called being a good dad.

Watching the New York Mets, go down in defeat in game four of the NLCS in person?

That’s just part of being a Mets fan.

Greetings from Queens!

Do not recommend.

0/10.

However, I do recommend…

Mass with Carmelites on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila.

10/10.

There is a certain woman seeking the highest office in the land who has been tossing her word salad lately, droning on about the “aspirations” of the American people.

I submit to you that she does not know the origin of the word aspirations. She’s using it in a very modern sense to mean our dreams and ambitions and hopes. In fact, I believe she follows her use of the word with the words “ambitions and hopes”. Because she is (to borrow a phrase from Ann Barnhardt) teetering on the precipice of mental retardation.

When I think of aspirations I think of the short prayers that can be said in one breath. Spiritus is the Latin for breath. These “light” prayers are designed to be uttered – in need, in desperation, in joy, in triumph, in sorrow, on the hour, minute by minute. These include such traditional gems as:

“My Jesus, mercy!”

“My Lord and my God!”

“Holy Mary, pray for us!”

“Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints!”

And to these I would add:

“From communism, deliver us!”

“From evil and stupid leaders, save us!”

“I did NOT fall out of a coconut tree, my Lord!”

Today happens to be the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, reformer of the Carmelite order. The older I get, the more I realize that the Carmelite nuns of the world are literally holding us all up by their prayers.

I have mentioned a group of Carmelites local to me. Who for four years have been praying after every mass for Donald Trump. I and many others believe that these prayers have saved his life on several occasions, and we believe these prayers will be effective in converting him to the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I submit to you know the actual prayer these holy women pray every day straight from their monastery.

Perhaps if we join them, God will move the heart of our former president to enter the Church. We can only hope.

With that, I am off to celebrate with the sisters of a different local Carmel. I was invited to the sung Mass tonight with the SSPX for this beautiful feast.

St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!