When I wrote the chapter Leading with compassion in my book The Call for Divine Mothering, I intended to encourage authority figures to think less of their own insecurities and fear, and more on using their compassion as foundation for their decision making. Would this not become "love thy neighbor like thyself"?

Yesterday, I became inspired and felt reassured about this by a Catholic priest's English-speaking Mass. The passages in the Bible that he mentioned, can be used as a comparison to describe how I feel I am being persecuted in, and by, Sweden. Portugal is a protected country of a sorts, built with faith, creativity and humble hearts, worthy to defend and fight for, so here is where Archangel Michael indeed protects.

In the book of Jeremiah, it reads in 2:26-29 how the house of Israel (Sweden) also is disgraced - they, their kings and their officials... turning their backs on God yet when they are in trouble, they say "Come and save us!". Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? ... following worthless idols who saves broken cisterns that can't hold water.

Jeremiah was persecuted and mocked when he stood up for truth, just like I feel I am by Sweden, needing to flee elsewhere, like so many others to a country like the United States, where I can make use of my English, talent and education. Isn't this why it's different there - it's a land led by faith.

Pater concluded with: "Then Jesus came to them and said: "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the new age." (Matt. 28:18)

Therefore much authority that is being exercised in Sweden, according to my personal experience, become more of a sin, since it can not be right to starve, silence, steal my income and sabotage me for the last decade, if they exercised compassion and true leadership. After all, we can not live in a good world without feminine care. Obrigada! 

Photos from the interior of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assun^ao (Church of Our Lady of the Assumption), anno 1700.