Let's call this "notes from all over": there are various issues, some scattered, some seemingly disconnected, that need to be addressed. First there are the hurricanes. Our warning for years has been that they would first increase in intensity, occur more frequently, and then precipitate into what we have called a "mega-storm": something beyond a category-five. That would mean sustained winds of well over 200 miles an hour in a storm sending off hurricane-force winds for one or two hundred miles and gale-force winds for hundreds more, blanketing an entire state.

Such has only been hinted at as yet, but it has been indicated: both "Katrina" and "Wilma" had reported gusts of over 200 miles per hour while in the warm Gulf and dauntingly low barometric readings, as we see events build each year.

There are hints that massive hurricanes hit the Gulf along Mississippi and perhaps the west coast of Florida at Marco Island back in the Middle Ages. In the Pacific, typhoons have sent gale-force winds for a radius of 600 miles.

Meanwhile, those who dismiss climate change as not involved should note that 2005 is one of the warmest years if not the warmest on record and also happens to have produced three out of the six most intense storms on record, as measured by barometric pressure, along with tying the record for most hurricanes (we are now out of names).

To see where these things can go, there are those who calculate that in further climate flux winds could be sustained at well over 220 -- putting it into the category of a major tornado. Where the barometric pressure for Wilma at one point reached 882 (a record for the Atlantic Basin), Pacific typhoons have dropped as low as 870. We will have a special address to Tampa about this next year.

In the Mass reading today (10/21/05), Jesus says, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain – and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot –and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

We live in special times, and natural events are one thing. But there is also the personal spiritual dimension. As we near Halloween, we think more about spiritual warfare because it is the spiritual-warfare time of year and time for us all to cleanse.

In just the last week, we have received two calls for help as regards exorcism. In one case, a youngster felt he was being strangled. Another displayed strong phenomena. Reports a friend seeking aid: "This family is not Catholic -- but have learned the Rosary and have been saying if often. They are requesting to become Catholic. This young man levitates as I previously told you -- the family is unable to go in his room or even near his room as there is a lot of noise, racket, things apparently flying around in the room. The father of this boy apparently has spoken with the bishop requesting his help. They are in the process of gathering the priests who will participate in this exorcism."

We ask prayers for both situations.

We'll talk about family attacks more next week but for now let us take to the Eucharist those times when spirits attempt to attach to us constantly. With prayer, faith, and fasting, such manifestations are reduced to blow-hard tactics. But we must pray. Especially, we should pray to deliver ourselves of the little wisps of darkness that enter due to our thoughts, words, actions, or those we encounter, wisps of darkness that like storm clouds accumulate.

Can we deliver ourselves? Some debate this. But let us simply turn to the Lord's Prayer and especially the last line of it.

10/21/05