The Times Are A-Changin’-Are We?

“Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone for the times they are a-changin.” Bob Dylan told us that in 1964. He wrote the lyrics to his song 60 years ago; one might argue that they’re still relevant today. Indeed, the times have been and are changing.

And if we hold a Biblical worldview, the changes most likely won’t evoke positive emotions. Of course, that assumes we are aware of these changes in the first place. Even if we’re aware, what’s an appropriate response?

Persecution – Changin’ By Way Of Intensity

The Family Research Council reports that at least 420 acts of hostility toward churches occurred between January 2018 and September 2022. Of those attacks, 157 occurred between January and September 2022, compared to 96 in all of 2021. Already in the first quarter of 2023, 69 reported incidents have occurred.

Since the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade in May 2022, extremists have attacked 157 churches and 87 pregnancy resources. We hear little, if anything, about the arrests of the perpetrators of these crimes. Yet, we do see federal agents arresting peaceful pro-life activists.

In the UK now, if you even appear to be praying silently in front of an abortion center, you might be arrested. Libraries are favored venues for drag queens to groom children, not only in the US but also in Canada. You can end up in jail for protesting such things within 100 meters of a library in Canada. Persecution is on the rise–changin’ for the worse.

Not Changin’: People Not Living in Reality

If you speak the truth with clarity and with charity from a natural law perspective, “following the science” that shows there are but two sexes—male and female, people will label you a hater, a bigot, or worse.

Just recently, efforts to transition young people from male to female or vice-versa have taken an even more diabolical turn. What science is that following? And just try suggesting following the science that shows the fetus in a pregnant woman is a human—see how that works for you.

These trends and others associated with “marriage” and the family unit have been in the works for a while. They represent social mores that have skewed away from Catholic teaching. As time goes on, we’ll see a more aggressive push to conform to these alternate realities or face penalties for not doing so. Tolerance is a one-way street, it seems, in these changin’ times.

Economic Conditions Are A-Changin’

The US national debt stands at $31 trillion and is climbing. That amounts to about $95,000 per US Citizen or nearly $250,000 per taxpayer. The US is bankrupt, and not just in a moral sense. As I write this, the country is in danger of default. This could “leave millions of Americans without income payments, potentially triggering a recession that could destroy many American jobs and businesses,” according to Janet Yellen.

The US dollar will no longer enjoy the status it has held in the past as the world’s reserve currency. Various foreign countries are dropping the US currency like a hot potato. China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, and many others already have or will do so. Over time, the value of the dollar likely will drop precipitously.

Any of these circumstances could, in and of themselves, disrupt government operations and business in general. This doesn’t even take into account the possible effects of escalation of the military action in Ukraine. As more NATO member dollars and resources pour into Ukraine in this conflict, the risk of global war grows.

Locutionists’ Messages Are A-Changin’

Over the last few years, various alleged mystics claim to have received messages from Jesus, Mary, St. Michael, or other saints. Messages from God and saints to mystics are not something new to the Church. What seems to be new, however, is the increasing intensity of the warnings given to the mystics in these locutions. Some have indicated that the tribulations facing mankind now might be worse than anything ever before experienced.

We’re not under any obligation to embrace private revelations, especially those not recognized by the authority of the Church. That being said, when we see a number of alleged revelations to different people, located on different continents, with similar themes, we may want to prayerfully discern what they might be saying to us. Is there perhaps a call to action on our part?

A Plethora of Suggestions for the Changin’ Conditions

On the one hand, but for a few priests’ homilies on YouTube or similar platforms, it seems that we’re hearing little about all this from those anointed to preach. On the other hand, there are so many recommendations regarding preparation for chastisement, war, anarchy, or other potential catastrophes. Such suggestions run the full gamut from “prepping” physically, to adding specific prayers to one’s spiritual devotions.

As to “prepping” physically, a friend with decades of law-enforcement experience opines that, “we could be three days from anarchy” on any given day. That’s because most grocery stores’ inventory is good for about three days. After that, when the shelves are bare and people begin to panic, the worst side of humanity will begin to appear.

Regarding spiritual preparation—some locutionists suggest a daily practice of special prayers. This may include praying certain chaplets, some novenas, and more. If we embraced all of these suggestions for daily prayers, I suspect we could end up spending the entire day praying chaplets, novena prayers and other formulated prayers.

That’s not practical for most people living outside the cloister. Yes, we should “pray without ceasing.” (cf. 1 Thess 5:17) But I don’t think St. Paul was suggesting that we fill our day with such vocal prayer. Josemaría Escrivá has some good advice in this regard:

A Christian life should be one of constant prayer, trying to live in the presence of God from morning to night and from night to morning…In the middle of his daily work, when he has to overcome his selfishness, when he enjoys the cheerful friendship of other people, a Christian should rediscover God (St J. Escrivá, Christ Is Passing By, 116).

Keeping One’s Perspective

It seems that reactions vary widely among those aware of the messages and the warnings contained in them. Some view them with skepticism or disdain. Others read them and simply go on with life as usual; others seem to be anxiously obsessed with them.

If people are living a life of sin, any anxiety and agitation in their life may be God’s way poking at them to bring them back to Him. But, if we’re living a life focused on God and on attaining union with Him, anxiety most likely isn’t from God. That’s coming from the enemy who wants to sideline us—to take us out of action.

Practical Tactics for These Changin’ Times

There are actions we can and must take as individuals. This includes staying on top of patterns in national and world events. We ought to be aware of threats facing us and prepare for them. Look to sources such as the BR Coalition which offer programs for physical preparation, for example. Don’t obsess about this or become anxious and agitated over it. Rather, begin to take steps to be prepared if major disruptions occur.

We need to maintain our spiritual basics. This includes, for example, weekly Mass and Communion, Confession at least monthly, daily meditative/contemplative prayer; and a daily Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet. Consider adding to that list fasting, of one sort or another once a week or more. If we have a devotion to a particular chaplet or prayer, by all means, we should continue with it.

It’s incredibly important to consider devotion to Our Lady and her Rosary in these times. Mother Mary has exhorted us to pray the Rosary. We ought to be praying at least a Rosary a day (five decades). Fr. Chris Alar has noted the conditional nature of Our Blessed Mother’s messages. They’re conditional because some of whatever is on the way might be mitigated by prayer, especially the Rosary. Prayer can make a difference!

Take action, and live in a state of grace, with the joy and peace that can only come from God and from knowing He loves us and wants what’s best for our soul. We are pilgrims in this life on the way to eternal life with Our Lord and Savior. Let’s prudently cooperate with His grace in all events and circumstances along the way.

Let us stand fast in what is right, and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations (St. Boniface).