It is a remarkable coincidence that the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump occurred in the month of July, a month dedicated by the Romans to Julius Caesar. The Roman Senate decided to bestow the honor on Julius Caesar by renaming Quintilis, his birth month, to Julius, eventually becoming July but —first things first— he had to be assassinated.
Even more curiously, the events at Butler, Pennsylvania happened on Julius Caesar birthday, 13th July. There are doubts about the birthdate of Julius Caesar, some say he was born the day before on July 12 but for the purposes of this post I declare the 13th day to be close enough.
One more quasi-mystical detail: in the beginning of Our Lord’s Passion, St. Peter wounds a slave, a member of the High Priest’s household. Interestingly, our impetuous first pontifex cut the ear of said slave on the wee hours of the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. That marked the beginning of Our Lord’s Passion.
President Trump’s right ear was grazed by a bullet fired presumably by a man called Crooks. It is not the first time that crooks try to cut short the life of an American President. Bullets and assassins can be less costly and less uncertain than political campaigns. As I recall, Pope John Paul II was shot by Mehmet Ali Ağca on May 13th, 1981. The fatidic 13th day of the month has claimed many lives of important people.
But these are mere happenstance that may point to something much more important. The coincidences seem to highlight the providential origin of Mr. Trump’s survival. He turned his head right on time. He would have been hit smack in the center of his forehead otherwise.
This attempt comes after Trump being vilified for nearly a decade; after being sued over and over under specious charges; his fortune, companies, partners and family being viciously attacked by small time creeps. I for one believe that President Trump will end his life dying for his country just like others in his position did before. Long ago, when Trump was a well known playboy millionaire, an American Catholic man living in Loreto, Italy prophesied that Trump was going to turn the hearts of Americans towards Christ. I do not know the validity of such prophecy but I surely hope it turns out to be true.
Recently I found this proverb printed on a modest bakery brown bag:
“Gratitude brings abundance.”
For some reason the phrase resonated in my mind. I recalled how many times I have seen people enjoy the divine rewards reserved for those with generous hearts. That is the positive side of an expression that could easily be changed to:
“Ingratitude brings misery.”
In the humble opinion of yours truly —American by choice, living in exile— the country is about to receive the bill for years of ingratitude towards the God who bestowed an astounding number of blessings upon it. There is still time to repent of the bad deeds; there is still time to count the blessings received and humbly give sincere thanks to Heaven. Devouring a turkey dinner once a year is not good enough. America (and the world at large) need to thank God sincerely with their actions. Rejecting the ideologies of evil would be a good start. I am quite sure it will happen — but I’m also afraid that first, a lot of misery and pain will have to be endured by all. Experience is a hard teacher but there is hardly a better way to learn.
The wound on President Trump’s ear points in the right direction. He seemed to have been listening too much to the enemies of life. Fortunately, the other ear was not harmed and could be used to hear wiser voices. May God guide him and protect him and the good American people in the dark days to come.
Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.
Remember that.
Please join us in praying that Our Blessed Mother assist the Church in this hour of trial. Click here to read the prayer of St. Simon Stock, the Flos Carmeli.
Quod scripsi, scripsi 