CSN Sunday - LightWing Messages for 1/9/2022
“Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.
And the LORD God commanded him, ‘You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.’
The LORD God also said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.’
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh. And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. And the man said:
‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.’
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.’” Genesis 2:15-25 (Berean Study Bible)
When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Mark 10:1-9 (NIV)
FOUNDER’S MESSAGE:
It is possible that many throughout the world have bid goodbye to 2021 with no regrets of seeing 2021 fade into the shadows of the past. It was a rough year for many - truly we are all in similar circumstances to one degree or another and much of it has to do with COVID, or the various variants of it that seem to be quite contagious, yet some not as deadly. Certainly, many people would agree that we are in times of tribulation and severe turmoil for several reasons. One only needs to pause and take note of the many issues plaguing humanity in such times. However, the start of a new year often brings hope of a new start, the chance for a new beginning.
For some Americans who are astute at reading the signs of the times, there is an awareness or basic recognition and eventual comprehension that one of the prime targets of the evil one is the family. It has certainly been that way throughout human history, but the assault on family values and familial relationships has seemingly become more pronounced in recent decades.
The essential building block of healthy families is the marriage between a man and a woman. Yet, even that fundamental building block is under attack by the sychpants of Satan.
As mentioned in Thursday’s Citizen Voice edition, at the beginning of 2022, we are making attempts to feature the words and articles from leaders in the coalition we helped to found in 2019: The Coalition for a Principled Republic (CPR). Along the same lines, we are making serious attempts to feature the words and articles from writers in our writer’s network that have been connected since the days of Ben Carson’s campaign for POTUS. In light of this, in today’s message, we feature an article from Richard Maggi, a longtime friend and past contributor to our Citizen Sentinels Network. Mr. Maggi helped in many ways during those Carson campaign days and served as our Director of Research for our team, which included two active FBI agents.
Maggi’s article today focuses on the holy relationship of marriage. But, please note that this article is over 7,000 words in length, and it is only part one of three parts! Of course, our humble publication is not the place for such a lengthy discourse on such a sacred topic. But, it is hoped that a little taste of it could provide more of an appetite to seek out the original part one of the article, which appeared just before Christmas last year. We have reduced the original part one to a more manageable message for the LightWing edition.
Yet, one may look around into this highly toxic environment and ask: What is so holy about marriage in this day and age? If the core of the family unit is marriage, and the divorce rate is at or over a 50% average in the United States, how can one see holiness there? Additionally, ramifications upon the children of divorced or separated parents are drastic and have lasting effects. Many young people have fallen into an attitude that marriage contains no value, or is inherently toxic, thus the rate of marriage is in decline, as well as the rate of childbirth in America… US birth rate falls 4% to its lowest point ever - BBC News
As one reads Maggi’s article, however, it becomes clear that he portrays the ideals espoused by his Church leaders. But, these are not just the ideals of Church leaders, they are ideals of what could be understood as God’s ideals of what marriage should be. The question is whether people are ready, willing, and able to live up to Heavenly Father’s ideals of marriage. All of those who are married successfully know that it is not a casual encounter, and for it to last and retain the genuine exchange of mutual respect, trust and compassion for one another, there is a great deal of mutual investment in the relationship. It takes two to tango.
In his article, Maggi, a strong Catholic, acknowledges that “it is probably fair to say that Christ’s teachings on sex and marriage as related through His Church are rarely formally addressed in homilies or catechetical instruction, despite the rich exposition of this teaching…” It seems to me that the Catholic Church has no monopoly on the tragic lack of sharing Christ’s teachings on sex and marriage. As an attorney, Maggi has been exposed to many of the evil ways of the secular world, and he is concerned enough about those wicked ways to make his contribution to help to rectify such an anemic effort to hold onto the ideals of marriage and family.
While his article is mainly an effort to compile relevant aspects of the contemporary Church leaders’ teaching on this very fundamental human relationship, it would be good for readers to consider the relevance of the ideals Maggi shares in light of the ideals, not in light of culture with all of its warts and shortcomings. It would not be healthy to mix poison with purity. While he wrote the article for Catholics, there is truth for all of us. Truth is truth. Receive the ideals, no matter the messenger. Consider such ideals as challenges to God’s children to become better human beings in our most fundamental human relationships. My own challenge to readers is to be more contemplative of the value of what God intended marriage to be, in His ideals. Please remember, God created a couple in the Garden first, with the intent to become one and create a family. He did not create the church first. Church came after the Fall of humankind. Humanity is returning full circle to the Garden.
The most fundamental relationship, in that respect, was between our Heavenly Father in the position of a parent and His children. So much was lost in the very beginning that His original ideals are not easily received, let alone easily understood. And, if we are in confusion or denial over such ideals, there is no doubt such ignorance limits our ability to practice mature, genuine giving of oneself in love. In logical conclusion, a healthy and vibrant marriage could become not just the birth of new life, but the arena where love could be freely shared and fully learned. It would be good to consider Maggi’s words prayerfully. To read more of his ‘short book,’ we include a link to the original article at the end of his message.
We hope our readers will enjoy all of our features today. Absorb and share. May God bless each of us in 2022 as we attempt to live up to God’s! Have a great beginning to the new year!
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The “Message of Light” endeavor had been part of the “David Project” that originated as a genuine inspiration from our Heavenly Father, initiated to bring Light into the dark in this time. The project developed from 2018, and as we approach our third anniversary of existence, we have formally elevated the “David Project” to the more formal “LightWing Mission,” my personal ministry, which I had announced in previous messages.
These messages are freely offered and sent to you as part of the “LightWing Mission.” Please receive today’s messages as a gift from those who care. They are only words being offered, freely; yet, some contain a deep message of faith, or a much deeper expression of heart that readers can hopefully receive into their lives. As it has been written: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 - KJV
May we humble ourselves, to seek not only His face, but to seek His Heart and His Mind, and to seek His Will and consider seriously His call to all of us to put into practice all of the ideals of Life He has shared with us, His children. May we seek to make Him more proud of us as we walk along the Way.
Take up your watch! Become a Citizen Sentinel! Stand in Service for Freedom!
One way you can take a stand is by helping others to become informed. As we see the MainStream Media work to undermine American values, you can reverse it:
Become a Citizen Sentinel by sharing The Citizen Voice with everyone you know
When you see a video clip or read an article that you want others to see, send the information to one of our editors at PrincipledRepublic@gmx.com.
Step up! The United States is in the fight for her life and all of our citizens need to become aware and take a side. Make sure others learn the truth.
Sign up for a free subscription to Citizen Voice - or donate, so CSN can continue our efforts! Use this link to contribute: https://citizensentinelsnetwork.com/donate/
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The Church’s Teaching on Marriage (Part One)
DECEMBER 24, 2021
It is often said that the Church is too concerned about sexual morality. The Church should rather be concerned about poverty, discrimination, and climate change. Such an accusation is a bit disingenuous in a culture which promotes premarital sex and is intent on imposing acceptance of homosexual relations, as well as gender ideology. Most adults will enter into marriage or other conjugal relationships. Sexual morality “is of the utmost importance for the personal lives of Christians and for the social life of our times” (Vatican Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics, at 2).
Yet, it is probably fair to say that Christ’s teachings on sex and marriage as related through His Church are rarely formally addressed in homilies or catechetical instruction, despite the rich exposition of this teaching by St. John Paul II reiterated in many respects by Pope Francis. Pope Francis has recognized that the Gospel of the family must be proclaimed. “Christian families, by the grace of the sacrament of matrimony, are the principal agents of the family apostolate, above all through ‘their joy-filled witness as domestic churches’” (Amoris Laetitia, at 200).
This three-part series which the Homiletic and Pastoral Review has so kindly agreed to publish is an effort to address this deficiency. Each section contains an exposition of the Church’s teachings set forth in various magisterial documents relating to sexuality and marriage. Most Catholics have not had the opportunity or disposition to read such documents. So, this presentation consists of direct quotes from the documents, with only occasional commentary offered by the author or other sources. Presented in a narrative format, for the most part, this work lets the documents speak for themselves. The reader can then directly experience the beautiful richness contained in these documents without the intervention of an intermediary.
Marriage Is a Natural Institution
St. John Paul II and Pope Francis have provided a clear understanding of marriage as a natural institution created by God.
God is love and in Himself He lives a mystery of personal loving communion. Creating the human race in His own image and continually keeping it in being, God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion. Love is therefore the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. (FC at 11)
Marriage [is] the covenant of conjugal love freely and consciously chosen, whereby man and woman accept the intimate community of life and love willed by God Himself which only in this light manifests its true meaning.
“As an incarnate spirit, that is, a soul which expresses itself in a body and a body informed by an immortal spirit, man is called to love in his unified totality. Love includes the human body, and the body is made a sharer in spiritual love.” (FC at 11) There is an obvious biological complementarity between the male and female bodies which, when joined, can create human life. This is accompanied by a complementarity in the emotional and psychological structure of man and woman. This complementarity enables a man and woman to be attracted to each other, to give totally of themselves to each other in a lifetime communion, and to express this love in a bodily manner whose fruit can be the creation of human life. (cf. CCC, at 1602–04; at 1; HV at 8; Cf., FC at 3, 11, 20; MD at 7) This anthropological truth underpins a true understanding of marriage.
“Naturally, love is much more than an outward consent or a contract, yet it is nonetheless true that choosing to give marriage a visible form in society by undertaking certain commitments shows how important it is. It manifests the seriousness of each person’s identification with the other and their firm decision to leave adolescent individualism behind and to belong to one another. . . . This is much more meaningful than a mere spontaneous association for mutual gratification, which would turn marriage into a purely private affair. As a social institution, marriage protects and shapes a shared commitment to deeper growth in love and commitment to one another, for the good of society as a whole. That is why marriage is more than a fleeting fashion; it is of enduring importance. Its essence derives from our human nature and social character.” (AL at 131) Since marriage is inherent to humanity, we cannot alter the nature of marriage without damage to the nature of the person and society. (Cf. GS at 47–48; FC at 3)
Given its seriousness, this public commitment of love cannot be the fruit of a hasty decision, but neither can it be postponed indefinitely. Committing oneself exclusively and definitively to another person always involves a risk and a bold gamble. Unwillingness to make such a commitment is selfish, calculating and petty. It fails to recognize the rights of another person and to present him or her to society as someone worthy of unconditional love. If two persons are truly in love, they naturally show this to others. When love is expressed before others in the marriage contract, with all its public commitments, it clearly indicates and protects the “yes” which those persons speak freely and unreservedly to each other. This “yes” tells them that they can always trust one another, and that they will never be abandoned when difficulties arise or new attractions or selfish interests present themselves. (AL at 132)
Conjugal Love Answers a Significant Human Need for Communion and Requires Indissolubility
[The] conjugal communion sinks its roots in the natural complementarity that exists between man and woman and is nurtured through the personal willingness of the spouses to share their entire life project, what they have and what they are: For this reason such communion is the fruit and the sign of a profoundly human need. But in the Lord Christ, God takes up this human need, confirms it, purifies it and elevates it, leading it to perfection through the sacrament of matrimony . . .
The gift of the spirit is a commandment of life for Christian spouses and at the same time a stimulating impulse so that every day they may progress toward an ever richer union with each other on all levels — of the body, of the character, of the heart, of the intelligence and will, of the soul — revealing in this way to the church and to the world the new communion of love, given by the grace of Christ. (FC at 19)
Conjugal communion is characterized not only by its unity, but also by its indissolubility: “As a mutual [total self-giving] of two persons, this intimate union, as well as the good of children, imposes total fidelity on the spouses and argues for an unbreakable oneness between them.”
Christ “wills and . . . communicates the indissolubility of marriage as a fruit, a sign and a requirement of the absolutely faithful love that God has for man and that the Lord Jesus has for the Church.” (FC at 20)
Full article: The Church's Teaching on Marriage, Part One - Homiletic & Pastoral Review
About Richard P. Maggi, Esq.
Richard P. Maggi, Esq., has been a litigation attorney for the past 40 years. He is also a commentator on religion and politics having been published in Homiletic & Pastoral Review, First Things (web edition), Crisis Magazine, the Washington Examiner, Human Life Review, and Notre Dame Magazine. He recently retired from the board of the Legal Center for the Defense of Life, is a Past Grand Knight of Summit Council 783, and an active member of Our Lady of Peace Parish in New Providence, New Jersey.
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Onward and Upward!
From Elevation Ballantyne: The Blessing (Global Choir) | Live From Elevation Ballantyne | Elevation Worship - 5/11/20
From Dutch Sheets Ministries: 2022 - Our Jericho Year | Give Him 15: Daily Prayer with Dutch | January 3, 2022
From Natalie Grant: Praise You In This Storm (Official Music Video) - 9/17/20
From James River Church: A Biblical View of Sexuality & Gender | John Lindell - /1/9/22
From YouTube Rascal Flatts: My wish for you ~ by Rascal Flatts with lyrics - 12/27/09
From Elevation Church: A new message from Pastor Steven Furtick! - /1/9/22
From Zach Williams: - Fear Is a Liar (Official Music Video) - 1/19/2018
From Fox News: Former education chief: Parents should pull kids out of school before 'surrendering' them to remote learning - 12/30/21
From Suzy Nash: A Baby Changes Everything by Suzy Nash- (Song by Faith Hill) - 11/16/2017
From Cross Examined: Critical Race Theory vs. Christianity - 12/20/21
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American Minute by William J. Federer - American Minute for January 7 - President Millard Filmore formed a bucket brigade to help extinguish the burning Library of Congress. He was born this day in 1800.
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Recommended Reading…
Review > From The Heritage Foundation: Marriage: What It Is, Why It Matters, and the Consequences of Redefining It - 3/11/2013
From The American Mind - Salvo: Academia's Real Race Problem - The American Mind - 1/7/22
From Craig Huey: Salvation Army: It Breaks My Heart, but Here Are 3 Things You Should Know – Why I No Longer Support or Donate - 1/7/22
From BBC News Services: Afghanistan: Baby lost in Kabul evacuation is reunited with family - 1/9/22
From The Epoch Times: Videos Shed Light on Death of Rosanne Boyland at US Capitol on Jan. 6 - 1/8/22
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What affects one, can affect all!
News From Alabama -
From CBN News: Alabama Abortion Clinic Under Fire, Accused of Risking Woman's Life After Botched Abortion - 1/7/22
News From Arizona -
From FOX News: Arizona AG: Biden wants 'dangerous precedent' with vaccine mandate - 1/7/22
From California on Your Mind: One-Way Migration and California's Baby Boom Gone Bust | Hoover Institution - 1/6/22
News From Florida -
From Forbes Breaking News: DeSantis Rips 'Nauseating' Media Response To January 6: 'They Are Going To Take This And Milk This' - 1/6/22
News From New York -
From National Review: Nassau County's Top Democrat Has Harsh Words For Her Party - 1/6/22
From CBN News (w/ video): New NYC Mayor Slams COVID 'Hysteria,' Doubles Down on Keeping Schools Open: 'This Is Traumatizing Our Children' - 1/8/22
News From Pennsylvania -
From The Hill: 46 Philadelphia schools to move to remote learning due to omicron, winter storm - 1/8/22
News From Washington state -
From Kingdom League International: Our Orphanage, Persecution, Tribulation & the War - 12/6/22
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Recommended Resources - follow the links…
Excellent Election Education Resource: US 2020 Election Fraud at a Glance
Excellent Non-Partisan Election Resource: Election Integrity Project California
Excellent Citizen Comprehensive Resource: David Horowitz Freedom Center
Excellent Citizen Activist Resource: Precinct Strategy: Home
Excellent Christian Homeschool Resource:
https://ed-exit.com/
SIGN UP> Join with Students For Life: Sign the Moral Outcry Petition to have your name filed with the Supreme Court
SIGN UP> From The Heritage Foundation: Oppose Biden's Unlawful Vaccine Mandate!
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