Our Lady Sends in the Marines
Volume XXVII, Number 4
January 27, 2023
Hello again! I'm somewhere in the Arizona desert west of Phoenix. Rat tat tat—let's get right to it.
The Old Man Finishes StrongLast week, for his grand finale, Peter and I blitzed the desolate, forbidding Mojave Desert in eastern California in three insanely fast 40-mile days to get to the Arizona border before he flew back to Montana.
When I took the above photo on a bridge over the Colorado River, Peter was almost exactly 600 miles from our starting point in Santa Clara, California. Thanks, Peter.
Mary's Safe PlacePeter is much more spiritually-attuned and prayerful than I am. As just one example, before we tackled the Mojave Desert (which consisted of over a hundred miles of staggering vistas with no sign of human activity in every direction—not even a cell tower or man-made structure), he reminded me that in the Book of Revelation, when the dragon attacked the Woman Clothed in the Sun, she retreated to a safe place in the desert that God had "prepared for her."
And indeed, the seemingly endless miles across that desert were safe, quiet, prayerful, and peaceful. As I carried the True Cross, it came to my mind frequently that the Holy Trinity dwells within me. I was never alone.
Remember that, my friends, when more chaos comes politically and economically. If you are in a state of sanctifying grace, everywhere is a safe place for you—because you are a living tabernacle, thanks to Mary.
One of her titles in the Litany of Loretto is House of Gold, a reference to her carrying Jesus in her womb as a living tabernacle, and the title of my third novel, the primary theme of which is redemptive suffering—and it includes characters going on a long walk across the country.
Every Catholic church features a House of Gold. Meet me there, in the Eucharist.
Minor Medical MiracleDo you recall how Peter's tender achilles swelled up like a balloon after his first few days in that horribly cold, rainy weather? The inflammation completely disappeared the day after you prayed for him. This was not physically possible according to our medical consultant, who has personally witnessed hundreds of achilles cases over the decades.
Although Peter was unable to ascend steep mountains, he got back on the road quickly and joyfully chewed up the bulk of the mostly "flat" miles during his final two weeks. He carried me.
Here's the thing: the very morning after his final day getting us to the Arizona border, both of his feet were completely swollen—he could barely walk!
Kicking the BucketIt was a minor medical miracle that Peter's earlier swelling went away immediately and did not return while he reeled off 20-mile walks for days on end. (And he's recuperating well back in Montana.)
We attribute this supernatural gift to your timely prayers.
And, to the intercession of Saint Victor, patron saint of foot ailments. Victor was a Roman soldier who refused to burn incense to the false gods. After defiantly kicking over an idol, they cut off his feet, crushed him with a millstone, and beheaded him.
In the beatific vision now, Victor laughs!
Meet Gabe, Our Newest Cyrene
Which Angel of the Lord Declared Unto Mary?
The replacement Cyrene for Peter is a young man named Gabriel Newberry, age twenty-two. He's a good friend of my son Xavier (they met while in seminary).
Answering a call in his heart, Gabe rearranged his budding commercial real estate career to join me for the next five weeks (over 1,200 miles of this 2,700 mile beam).
Here he is moments before his first walk a few days ago:
His sweet disposition belies a tough-minded determination—he grew up without a father in a rough part of Philly.
On his first day, Gabe told me he was "just not the type of person who does these kinds of things," despite enjoying peace in his heart about joining us since committing several weeks ago.
After wondering to myself exactly what kinds of things are like Operation True Cross (nothing came to mind), I replied with a chuckle, "Well, Gabe, you are that type of person now."
I'll tell you more about him in future messages.
Our Lady Sends in the Marines!
Join Us in Phoenix at the Cathedral this Sunday
Due to the efforts of our three-decades-long benefactor and Marine Corps veteran, Dick Lochner (age 84), five or six of his Knights of Columbus buddies are going to "relay-team" the True Cross for the 40 miles leading into and out of Phoenix this coming weekend!
These men have reconned their route for safety and should finish the first twenty miles to the Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude in downtown Phoenix by tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, January 28th.
Frankly, my knee and I will appreciate the reinforcements! I have walked every day that could be walked since we began the Wisconsin beam on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on September 14th last fall, and yes, I will walk on Saturday and Sunday—but only for a hundred yards or so before transferring the Relic of the True Cross to this hardy "Cyrene Corps."
The men will depart from the cathedral after the 9:00 am Sunday morning Mass on January 29th.
Carry the True Cross with UsIf you live within driving range, you are welcome to join me, Gabe, and our outlandish crew at the 9:00 am Mass and then help us carry the True Cross for the first mile or so, just as our volunteers did at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara.
Just look for the weathered old leathernecks (including me) and the young man with the angelic face. It shouldn't be too difficult to spot us.
The Bigger PictureTheir advanced ages, wisdom, lifetimes of faithfulness, and military backgrounds are completely appropriate for our spiritual warfare mission.
First, Operation True Cross has always been a "special op" of Our Lady. We are on offense, not defense—on the attack to help God save America before it's too late.
This is war. In the bigger picture, billions of souls are at stake.
Second, as I have been writing for months, an outsized portion of the tens of thousands offering the Daily Prayers to Save America with us are Catholics from my parents' generation.
No matter your age (younger or older), no matter where you are (near Phoenix or anywhere on the planet), and no matter what your circumstances (rich or poor, sick or healthy, weak or strong, hot-cold-or-luke-warm), you can join this battle to cast out the demons oppressing our nation!
Official Quotes of Operation True Cross
"Fasting is better than prayer and almsgiving is better than both." - Saint Clement I
"It is only by sacrificing and suffering, offered as penance, that you will be able, by the grace of God, to convert sinners."
- Saint John Vianney
"We also boast in our afflictions, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance proven character, and proven character hope—and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts."
- Romans 5: 1-6
No time! Eat, sleep, walk, pray, repeat. Please pray with me in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Just a reminder—Ash Wednesday is less than a month away. Now is the time to stock up on super-affordable, high-quality Mary Foundation "tools for evangelization" for all the people coming to your parishes this Lent.
You guys are the best!
Semper Fi,
Bud Macfarlane
Founder
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