The world created by Patricia Cornwell

"Chastisement will come 

when a very large number of bad books have been spread."

Sister Bertina Bouquillon

"Horrible books will be freely available. 

Intellectuals will argue fiercely among themselves. 

Then the war will break out ..."

Abbe Voclin 

I did not know much about Patricia Cornwell until she was scheduled to speak and sign books at a local book store. So, since she promotes herself as "the world's #1 bestselling crime writer," I decided to see what she had to say. Only later did I learn that her creative talent is euphemistically called "colorfully visceral." In other words, generously sprinkled with graphic, sadistic violence.

Do I sound prudish? Well, bear with me a moment.

This post is a little different from my others, as I steer through the process of being amused, insulted and offended. (Perhaps, I am too thin-skinned. But I still have a point to make.)

+ More Medjugorje Miracles

Is there any doubt that the Great Healer is Jesus Christ? Absolutely not!

Is there any question that His Blessed Mother and the Communion of Saints assist in bringing us to Our Lord for healing, both physical and Spiritual? Certainly not!

Take, for examples, the beautiful stories that have been emerging from Medjugorje. In that small, rustic town of the former Yugoslavia, reports of apparitions, miracles, healings and conversions continue to amaze even the skeptics who seriously study the phenomena. At least 532 medical miracles have been carefully documented (not to mention the many more healings that have been claimed but not documented.)

+ Discerning the diabolical

How frustrating it must be for true mystics to find indifference and ridicule for their heaven-sent messages. Padre Pio, for example, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. However, the future saint apparently was held in low esteem by Pope John XXIII who once wrote about the Capuchin's "immense deception."

Still, our Church is wise to go slow in evaluating alleged mystics. Consider, for example, the mystical deceptions of Magdalena de la Cruz. I wrote about this amazing, sixteenth century Spanish nun in The Rise, my work of historical Catholic fiction. But a more detailed biography was highlighted in a recent link at SpiritDaily.com found HERE.

The spirit of our times...

"They will ridicule Christian simplicity;

they will call it folly and nonsense, 

but they will have the highest regard for advanced knowledge, 

and for the skill by which the axioms of the law,

the precepts of morality, the Holy Canons and religious dogmas

are clouded by senseless questions and elaborate arguments.

As a result, no principle at all,

however holy, authentic, ancient, and certain it may be,

will remain free of censure, criticism, false interpretations,

modification, and delimitation by man."

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser

17th Century

In other reports, I have commented (HERE and HERE) on the violent persecution of Christians around the globe. Closer to home, however, we also see disturbing trends.

Unlike at any time in our nation's history, a radical minority is determined to drive Christianity into the shadows.  We witness that obsession with every new attack on Christian symbols and messages during each Christmas season.

The Christmas examples are too numerous to list here, but they usually identify nothing more than petty paranoia or cynical attempts to gain media attention. One particularly sleazy campaign was offered by Planned Parenthood of Indiana. For the Christmas season they promoted Gift Certificates (HERE). Get it? The Christmas gift of abortion. That's a real knee-slapper.

+ When prayers turn silver rosaries golden

The phenomenon of the transformation of silver links of rosaries turning golden immediately after prayerful Christian gatherings is not as uncommon as it might seem. In Medjugorje and other apparition sites, it appears to be a very regular occurrence.

My mother has such a rosary. It was one of three that she purchased for herself and others, in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. Its metal parts were silver until she met and prayed with Ruth Werkowski, one day. (For more on Ruth, click  HERE,  HERE, and  HERE.) Ruth took the rosary into her hands and prayed. The next time my mother examined it, the links had all turned golden. It was a day in which they even found that the fragrant scent that signals Our Lady's presence returned when they were in their car.

After six years, or so, my mother's Our Lady of Lourdes rosary is the only one of the three that has golden links.