Queenly Considerations

The current Hollywood slap-flap isn't worth my time to address, so let's skip across the pond for a story equally irrelevant to America's crushing problems. But I find Britain's Queen Elizabeth II much more worthy of attention.

Consider that this admirable model of grace and dignity is still doing her best to fulfill the duties of her day job--ever since the year 1952. Try to imagine getting up for work every day if you're 95 years old--and recently recovered from a bout with Covid-19. It's a mind-boggling accomplishment. But the news coverage is filled with endless accounts that the Queen is "canceling engagements," "suffering mobility issues," "using a walking stick," and tooling around the castle in a golf cart or wheelchair.

As my mother might have said, "What's it to you?" Not only is this woman 95 years old and still working, she's also been on her feet daily for 70 years. Don't you think she might be entitled to take a seat at this point? Isn't it a good idea to let her apply modern technology to hold her meetings on video? Doesn't it make sense for her to use a cane? Wouldn't you say it's logical for visitors to bring their display items to her instead of making her travel to crowded venues? My answer is "yes to all."

Yesterday, amid much melodramatic speculation, Queen Elizabeth attended the memorial service for her late husband, Prince Philip, in Westminster Abbey. She walked in on her own steam, using the storied walking stick and holding her son Prince Andrew's arm. This caused much consternation in public opinion and the media, considering Andrew's recent disgrace. I think he's a disgusting sleazeball, and the Queen was right to strip him of his honors and bar him from public life.

But think about it; Elizabeth is still doing her job. In selecting Andrew to escort her, she was protecting the monarchy and being a mother at the same time. Their sheltered entry at the side of the cathedral shielded them both from widespread scrutiny and prevented any unpleasantness that might have marred the special occasion. 

Elizabeth is a queen, not an immortal. Time will run its course for her as for us all. Meanwhile, she is still one smart, dedicated, hard-working cookie. She seems like someone I'd love to have a cup of tea with. If she can carry on and be comfortable at the same time, I say that's brilliant. Here's to canes and golf carts. God save the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II ~ March 2022

Once More, With Feeling

Pope Francis is going to consecrate Russia and Ukraine "to the Immaculate Heart of Mary" tomorrow. Because this development hearkens back to the 1917 apparitions of the Blessed Mother at Fatima, it has caused quite a stir in circles both religious and secular.

The 1917 Fatima apparitions are confirmed as legitimate by the Roman Catholic Church. However, Catholics are not required to believe in them. It is a matter of individual choice whether to accept the miracles of Fatima or not.

Having said that, I must affirm my personal fascination with the Fatima story. Ever since my mother bought me a children's book about "Our Lady of Fatima" when I was in elementary school, the miracles--and especially "the secrets," or prophecies--of Fatima have held my deep and enduring interest.

If "by their fruits you shall know them," is the standard of measure, then Our Lady's 1917 prophecies are performing quite well. For example, she told the three children that two of them would be taken to heaven "soon." Both Jacinta and Francisco died in the influenza pandemic of 1918-1920. Lucia was to "stay a while longer," which she definitely did. She became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005 at age 98.

Mary predicted a worse war would follow The Great War, and it would be announced by a "strange light" in the sky. The aurora borealis danced across all night skies of Europe and North America in January 1938; Hitler marched on Austria two months later. The rest, history students will know.

Mary also predicted that Russia would "spread her errors throughout the entire world." Considering that the communism instituted by Russia into a totalitarian system of government has engulfed China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, and is gaining an ever-surer toehold in the United States, I'd check that box.

There are Fatima "warriors" who are full-on conspiracy theorists over many aspects of the story, but I don't subscribe to such speculation. I just find the whole Fatima story so interesting and, in view of current events, still very timely. Especially with the consecration coming up tomorrow, it's also frustrating. Here's why.

Lucia continued to receive visits from Mary. In 1929, Our Lady asked for a simple thing to prevent the onslaught of "Russia's errors." She asked that the pope, together with all the bishops of the world, consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. Lucia relayed the request. Seems simple enough, right?

It's been done five times, never according to instructions. Tomorrow will be the sixth try.

Twice in 1942, Pope Pius XII consecrated "the whole world," once with and once without the bishops. Again in 1952, Pius XII consecrated "the peoples of Russia" to Mary's Immaculate Heart--again, without the bishops. In 1964, Pope Paul VI renewed the 1942 consecration--without the bishops. In 1984, John Paul II consecrated "Russia and the whole world." At least he included all the bishops, but "the whole world" was not part of Mary's request.

Do you get my frustration? Now Francis is going to consecrate "Russia and Ukraine." As my mother might have said at this point, "Mother of God!"

I'm sure they mean well, but none of these popes can follow the script. When it comes to the mystery of Fatima, it would seem that popes don't take heavenly direction very well. 

Well, even if he's ad-libbing, tomorrow's consecration by Pope Francis certainly can't hurt. We should all say a prayer for world peace tomorrow. That might even help. Heaven knows.

Fatima is streaming on Netflix

The Unending Story

As the world watches the brave people of Ukraine fight for their lives and country, we should remember that we are seeing a replay of dark history throughout the centuries. There is always a tyrant ready to rob a neighboring country of its peace and autonomy. There is always death and destruction as the innocent fight against invading evil.

Today is St. Patrick's Day. This is a celebratory day for the Irish, a people who have seen more than their share of bitter battles to hold of their country. The Men of the West is one song that commemorates the 1798 Irish rebellion against the British rule that had been imposed on Ireland. The song makes me think of the courageous Ukrainian fighting men today who are so valiantly standing for freedom in the fight to protect their homeland against Russian tyranny.

In honor of the Ukrainian freedom fighters, The Men of the West audio is linked here. Click here to read the lyrics. Throughout human history, the bloody struggle for freedom is endless. It's the Ukrainian people who are currently caught in its brutal clutches. 

Refresher Course in Evil

Many years ago--in May 2005, to be exact--I made a series of posts to this blog about the refugee crisis after World War II. I transcribed the dozens of yellow legal pages handwritten by my late husband, Pete, based on several interviews with his mother, who had been a Latvian refugee.

Because he was relaying the story at the time to my young niece for a school project, he edited out many of the horrors that his parents had experienced. For example, his mother told him about walking along bombed-out railroad tracks and seeing countless dead bodies. One of the bodies, she said, was a man neatly dressed in dress pants, a white shirt and tie--with his head blown off.

Another terrible incident, which Pete did include in his narration, has always stayed with me. It is the story of Russian military trucks arriving in my in-laws' refugee camp in the middle of the night. Everyone was awakened and told to board the trucks. Children were taken from their parents and loaded into separate trucks. The parents were assured they would be reunited at "the new location." The adults realized that they were being led to execution by the Russians. They began to resist by lying down on the ground and refusing to board the trucks. During the ensuing uproar, the trucks with the children inside sped off into the night. None of those parents ever saw their children again.

If you'd like a refresher course about the countless lives from many countries that were shattered three-quarters of a century ago, the following are the links to Pete's family story: 

One Clear Call: Yalta's Silent Shame

One Clear Call: Latvians Without a Home

One Clear Call: Latvian Survivors

One Clear Call: Afterword

Reading this story today reminds me how evil is unchanging and ever-present. We human beings don't seem to have learned much; we continue to witness the same brutal atrocities committed by tyrants against good and innocent people who just want to live peaceful lives. Those who opine about the "right side of history" from their comfortable environs don't understand the immense pain and horror suffered by so many people to cut through the bloody center of evil in order to reach that side. I'm grateful that my in-laws, and my husband Pete, have been spared seeing this happen yet again.

A Majority of One

 One man with courage is a majority.

~ attributed to Thomas Jefferson

President Zelensky of Ukraine ~ March 2022

Can anyone watch or listen to the courageous leader of Ukraine and not be inspired by his bravery and dedication to his country? President Zelensky is reminiscent of our greatest and most admirable national leaders such as Washington and Lincoln, who unfortunately lie deep within our distant past.

And then, of course, there's Joe Biden. The US government's solution to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, courtesy of our so-called leader, was to offer Zelensky an escape route. This tells us everything we need to know about what Biden's reaction would be in a similar crisis.

President Zelensky's famous response--"I need ammunition, not a ride"-- will echo throughout history as the answer of a brave, true, and worthy leader. Zelensky will fight to the death, and he is fully aware that outcome is likely. It is inspiring to know that such men still exist in today's craven world.

As death rains down upon the innocent, Biden sits on the sidelines, an impotent spectator as our oil dollars continue to fund Putin's destruction of Ukraine. If it truly wished to help Ukraine, the Biden administration could sanction Russian oil--but it won't. It could leverage our own substantial oil reserves to help mitigate gas prices--but it won't. It could reopen the Keystone XL pipeline to help our European allies as well as our own people--but it won't. 

Meanwhile, against all odds, President Zelensky fights on alongside his countrymen. He could flee, he could surrender--but he won't.