Pepper for the Soul

Volume XXIV, Number 3 – February 29, 2020

Dear CatholiCity Citizen,

I have to admit that I pretty much I just wanted to write to you on February 29th, Leap Day, because I only get this opportunity once every four years (and who knows if I'll even be alive in 2024)?

So allow me to begin (cue ominous music) What May Very Well Be My Last Ever Leap Day Message with a correction.

Right Talk Wrong Priest

Last week I recommended an online audio that tells two amazing stories: what happened to Lazarus after Jesus ascended to heaven, and, the miraculous discovery in France of the remains of Saint Anne.

Unfortunately, I incorrectly attributed the talk to (the always wonderful, look him up on YouTube...) Father Ripperger, when in fact it was given by the esteemed Father Phil Wolfe FSSP. If you did not listen to him, well, consider my mistake a providential second chance.

Pepper Frustrated?

Ever get annoyed while dining out because practically nothing comes out of the pepper shaker? Because everything tastes better (to me) with a fully encrusted coating of pepper, I got into the habit of unscrewing the top of the shaker, pouring a palmful, and then shaking it onto my pizza or steak or broccoli or soup. Some of my sons, relatives, their friends, and my friends use the Bud Macfarlane Method to end pepper frustration.

One Excellent Lent Suggestion

Okay, okay, two Lenten suggestions. Matt Britton, COO of 40 Days for Life, came to visit the foundation last week. While enjoying cigars, he told me that one of his Lenten sacrifices consists of treating a particular person in his life with special care, attention, prayer, and love. (He didn't say whether that person was someone who he found difficult to love or just needed the TLC.) I love this idea. It's going on our Best Lent Ever List. (By the way, God is not a bureaucrat--it's okay to add stuff after Lent begins!)

Many of you already know about 40 Days for Life, the story of which is beautifully told in the inspiring movie, Unplanned. This true story is a very realistic (and therefore, troubling) depiction of what abortion really is, told through the experience of my friend Shawn Carney, founder of 40 Days, and the conversion of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director.

So my second excellent Lenten suggestion, if you're not a part of this movement, is to participate in 40 Days for Life this Lent (and again in fall 2020) though prayer and fasting. Over 100 abortion mills have shut down since it began. Hundreds of pregnancy help centers have opened! Over 1,000,000 participate in dozens of countries all over the world.

You can pray at home. You can fast. You can attend vigils and rallies outside clinics. You can help organize campaigns. You can bring Mary Foundation materials to 40 Days for Life volunteers, clinic workers, women entering the clinics, and passersby.

I am all in and have spoken at rallies in front of clinics!

40 Days for Life works. It shuts down clinics. It saves the unborn. It converts clinic employees. It helps women (and fathers, relatives, friends, and workers) who are so tragically damaged by abortion. We know the location of every clinic in the world--and we're going to shut each one down through the power of God!

Quotes

"The fruit of abortion is nuclear war."
-Saint Teresa of Calcutta

"Take up your cross and follow me for my burden is light and my yolk is easy."
-Jesus

"If you're addicted to pornography, resolve to go to Confession as soon as you can. And after every fall. For the rest of your life."
-Joseph Wood

"Christ is a better friend than any friend, better brother than any brother, and better lover than any lover."
-Saint John of the Cross

"Come closer. I want to tell you something. This is pepper, my favorite spice. I believe it is the best spice. Better than salt. Pepper. Enjoy it."
- Bill Macfarlane, my grandfather, whispering in a conspiratorial tone, when I was eight years old, as he held the pepper shaker at his side at the dinner table, initiating my lifelong love affair with black pepper and all hot spices, a love I shared on this very day, Leap Day, February 29, 2020, with tens of thousands of CatholiCity Citizens just before praying, during our best Lent ever...

Prayer Time

...in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
Amen

Before I sign off, I just wanted to let you know that I have read a hundred or more articles on the Coronavirus. I'm deeply concerned. It is already affecting the worldwide economy. I'll have an update during my next message. In the meantime, if you can afford it, stock in a couple weeks of food, water, cold medicine (and pepper).

Also we're running out of the special Lourdes rosaries described below. Also, I love Immaculate Mary. I love you, best I can; I wish there were 70,000 copies of me so I could personally enjoy dinner (and pepper) with you and your family.

Finally, if you're in the Nashville, Tennessee area on Wednesday night, I'll be at Holy Family Church in Brentwood, hosted by Joseph Budd, who has a very popular Catholic Fiction evangelization ministry there. Stop by and say hello.

With Saint John of the Cross,

Bud Macfarlane
Founder