In psychoanalytic thought, libido (from the Latin: desire, lust ) is the psychic and emotional energy associated with man’s instinctual biological drives (sexual desire). Though theoretically held in check by the ego and super-ego, in Freudian thought libido understands man as a sexual animal whose happiness derives from the unrestrained libido . The virtue of chastity in Freudian logic could only end in illness and unhappiness. Such thinking became normative in the United States in the 1960s, and it was not long before the greatest of natural mysteries,” the marriage act, was reduced to an openly discussable fun activity. Paul VI offered libido as one way Satan, the “malign, clever seducer” undermines man’s sexual morality with his “sophistry.” The Devil’s strategy here, as the Pope cautioned, is “eminently logical.” He approaches man with what amounts to a false reason in his mind, which, if dwelled on, can influence the will by rousing him to do something evil which seems ...

S ince his elevation to the Chair of Peter Pope Francis has almost tripled the size of crowds attending papal audiences, Masses and other events in Vatican City.  What explains this suddenly renewed interest in Catholicism? What need is Pope Francis meeting in people? As is well-known, the Church was beset by allegations of scandal and mismanagement in its bureaucracy and its bank, its reputation besmirched by the sexual abuse scandal. John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter: "The dominant narrative about the Catholic Church today is 'rock star Pope takes the world by storm'….If that's not a revolution, at least at the level of perception, then we have never seen one."  The revolution is seen in the Pope's decision to include a Muslim woman when he washed the feet of young offenders last Easter, and his instinctive hug for a man whose face was badly disfigured by disease. It is seen by his refusal to live in the papal apartment or to wear the re...

I t was Blessed Pope Paul VI who was of the view that the human libido was one crack through which Satan gets us to do the things he wants us to do, at the peril of our soul's salvation. I suspect most people wonder just how successful the prince of this world has been at accomplishing his goal? Here is one prime example that he is more successful than one might think.... And it isn't just in the good ol' U.S. of A. that He is at work !  

W ell, If I look half as nice as does Ms. Welch when I reach her age, it will be a miracle. But, the woman who made history as a sex-symbol is today offering the gender who may once have ogled over her some life-saving advice!  It has much to do with men's health, which, if one listens to commercial ads these days, has much to do with the libido , the title of  my third chapter. The chapter's thesis is that Pope Paul VI opined in 1972 that the prince of this world sucks his targets into his grasp through their sex drives, once they disregard the enemy's teaching on the intended use of human sexuality. The success for many men of Devil's strategy is set down in Ms. Welch's spot on reflections....

The Holy Father has called for Catholics to become doers on climate change, but I have another suggestion: Francis ought to hear the call to fix Catholic colleges falling into ruins. Think on the drive-by media’s’ reaction to Francis’ “Who am I to judge?:”the theme was that greed and economic exploitation are sins, while lustful sins do less harm and should not be exposed to moral exasperation. Just give to soup kitchens, collect blankets for the homeless, don’t give people a hard time about forbidden private sins that bring them pleasure, and perhaps more people will come to Mass. In the post-Vatican II years, as I recount in my book, Catholics focused overwhelmingly on the economic and political side of social responsibilities, failing the responsibility to emphasize traditional moral teaching. Many priests and nuns who ignored the prevalent sexual anarchy did not do their spiritual charges any favors. The preferred summum bonum was, to paraphrase one typical example, to be d...

Here is advice you can take to the bank from an unlikely source. It is entirely in keeping with the message of these pages, and so, if you find yourself in the belly of the whale as 2015 begins, when you are emeted, seek first God's Kingdom over you-all else will be added, much as we read about in this fascinating biographical note.