Is this one: https://seekingtruthgoodnessbeauty.blogspot.com/2021/10/107-begin-with-yourself-our-need-to.html.

It seems timely and relevant, so I’m posting it here – despite the bad grammar and informal stream of consciousness style that I presented on Twitter.

These feelings persist (and increase) with me, for those reasons and some others. To be blunt, the longer I’m away from all social media, the more I see it (for me) as an exercise in vanity.

That certainly doesn’t apply to the healthy portions of community some of us have experienced. I do miss and love my friends. But, it does apply to speaking.

So much speaking. So many opinions. So much confidence. I can’t help feeling that I’ve sinned a great deal simply by speaking so much, and sometimes for being forceful with my opinion.

My greatest fear, of course, would be to promote error – especially if I had done so from a position of confidence. Everything is chaos.

That’s what the “synodal way” is all about, after all.

Chaos.

I refuse to spit into the wind, and I refuse to adopt opposing or inconsistent viewpoints of reality.

I reject the desire to be right, and the desire to be perceived as someone who is often correct, which is the culture social media intends to create.

They do this by training us all in Gnosticism. The pursuit of secret knowledge. They reward us by feeding our pride, by making some of the gnosis obtainable. By allowing us to find information and then to be right some times, even regarding terrible things.

In this manner, they herd us – by feeding our pride and our lust for gnosis through myriad limited hangouts. We’re rats in a maze.

I used to think this was exclusively a secular thing, which governments did to citizens. It devastated me to learn that the institution that presents itself as Catholic has been engaged in the same game (on an extremely sophisticated level) for quite some time.

But some things are discernible. Some things are objectively true. Some things are objectively edifying. These truths are not debatable. They stand the test of time. They are clear, concise, easy to understand, and never inconsistent or contradictory.

They are the Truths handed to us by the Holy Ghost in Scripture, as interpreted for us and taught to us by Christ’s Spotless Bride, the Holy Catholic Church.

And now, everything is chaos. What is the role of a layperson in such a world?

I’ve decided that it’s the same as it has always been. So, that’s what I’m trying to do.

The Truth is very simple. But, mindful of my role as a layman, and one who fears promoting error, I’ll conclude simply with this: I know, without question, that I can trust every single teaching on faith and morals that issued through the Vatican before 1959. Every word.

Furthermore, I know, without question, that prior to 1959 every sacrament was valid, and that nothing that the Church gave me would be harmful to me or my family.

I do not know that, without question, regarding what came after.

For those who might be interested, @CharleyBrown77 (Cheryl) has been recovering some of my threads from The Way Back Machine, and posting them to her blog. I haven’t been reblogging them because a) it feels weird and vain to do so, and b) it’s redundant. Cheryl is doing all of the work, so I’m happy to promote her blog. God bless her.

If you’re interested in recycled Michael, take a look at https://seekingtruthgoodnessbeauty.blogspot.com/search/label/JonahofNinevah?max-results=7. There may be a better way to find them. If so, I invite Cheryl to post a link in the comments.

Happy Feast of St. Raphael!

11 thoughts on “One Rambling Thread That May Have Some Value”

  1. Though I know that you’re not fond of praise, your time on Twitter was never anything but a blessing for many of us .. And the fact that many of your thoughts (threads) were not lost is a further blessing. You need to know that. 🌷

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  2. Hi Michael, I miss you on Twitter. I’ll gladly give you my Twitter account if you want it; all I’ve ever done is mainly retweet your stuff and post occasional pictures of Montana;)
    I know it can feel awkward to receive praise, but all Glory to God for breathing air into our lungs and allowing our minds to function. I don’t believe you’ve steered me wrong and I thank you for your words.

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    1. You’re a pretty remarkable person, E. It’s rare, in these times, that people like me can communicate across denominational lines with a woman like you, who has everything going for her, and receive nothing but humble honesty in response. Compliments from people like you are very humbling.

      Please – don’t relent on your search for the truth. The world needs ladies like you, and your future family :).

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      1. Dear Michael,
        Despite my often sunny outlook I’m actually very broken. I do have 3 children for which I am thankful. I am in the process of converting to Catholicism at a TLM parish here, Lord willing.
        It is humbling for me that in this wide world I would find people like you, on Twitter of all places, that would speak to my heart to inspire me to read and research the True Church. Thank you. I’m deeply fond of you and grateful for your perseverance.

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        1. I’m just a flawed man with a big heart and an intolerance for lies. I’d love to be a saint, but I’m far from it. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed to help some folks like you, in my small way. I’m hoping the big guy takes those stories into account during my particular judgment.

          God bless you! Your children are very lucky to have you.

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  3. Kinda sounds like you’re saying you believe the Chair is vacant without overtly saying it, or are you teetering? I thought I was pushing the boundaries by embracing the SSPX, but to go one step further is also getting harder not to rationalize in the sincere pursuit to serve God’s Will. Very confusing times.

    On a general note, I’m glad to see many of your posts/messages were preserved as they have been food for though and discernment to many–hopefully to many more.

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      1. That’s consistent with your posted position in the past. I just watched the video presentation, “The Case for Sedevacantism” from the 10/8/21 Fatima Conference. The presenter gives quite a compelling argument which I am struggling to think of a good rebuttal. That said, for me currently, going any further beyond SSPX would feel spiritually perilous, but they do give a good argument.

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  4. Happy Feast of St. Raphael to you too!

    This new thread of tweets might be helpful. It includes additional older tweets as well as links to your posts on this blog. #19 on that list is one that I gathered from your leg work. 🙂

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