General Discussion (7)
If there’s something of interest in the news that’s not covered in one of the topic threads, or you have a question to ask, a comment you’d like to make about anything under the sun, more or less, this is the thread for you. However, please check first, to ensure that you haven’t missed a topic thread or another thread where it would be appropriate to post your comment. Readers have occasionally gone straight to the General Discussion thread to post news that is already the topic of a thread or to ask a question that is already being discussed elsewhere. So, do your Sherlock Holmes before posting here, please and thank you!
Feel free, also, to share your favourite spiritual reading books, prayers and devotions. Whatever.
Enjoy!
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Comments (442)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11422110/RAF-jets-scrambed-to-intercept-Russian-bomber-aircraft-off-Cornwall.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11421751/Putin-will-target-the-Baltic-next-Defence-Secretary-warns.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11421115/It-was-a-mistake-to-gamble-a-ceasefire-for-Ukraine-on-Vladimir-Putins-word-of-honour.html
The above three articles about Russian activities in today’s newspaper give cause for grave concern. Sister Lucia of Fatima said to Father Fuentes in 1957:- “Tell them, Father, that many times the Most Holy Virgin told my cousins as well as myself, that many nations will disappear from the face of the earth, that Russia will be the instrument of chastisement chosen by Heaven to punish the whole world if we do not beforehand obtain the conversion of that poor nation . . .”
Please can I ask all CT readers to redouble their efforts to live the Fatima message, and to get others to live it – especially the First Five Saturday devotion of reparation, the Holy Rosary, the Brown Scapular and most importantly – petitioning the Holy Father to perform the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (if you feel you can do little about this yourself, please, at least donate some money to the Fatima Network http://www.fatima.org who are doing all they can). Also, ask holy priests to offer Mass for the conversion of Russia. Time may be very short.
Sorry – meant to add this as well, about the apparition at Rianjo (1931) – these prayers were requested by Our Lord for the conversion of Russia:-
In August 1931, due to illness, Sister Lucia was staying with a friend at Rianjo, Spain, a small maritime city near Pontevedra, to rest and recover. It was in the chapel here that the Messenger of Fatima was once again given a communication from Heaven. Our Lord complained to Sister Lucy of the tardiness of His ministers who delay the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima on June 13, 1929 at Tuy, two years and two months earlier. Sister Lucy reported to her bishop the important revelation:
My confessor ordered me to inform Your Excellency about what happened a little while ago, between our Good God and myself: As I was asking God for the conversion of Russia, Spain and Portugal, it seemed that His Divine Majesty said to me:
‘You console Me a great deal in asking Me for the conversion of those poor nations: Request it also of My Mother, while saying to Her often: Sweet Heart of Mary, be the salvation of Russia, Spain, Portugal, Europe and the whole world.
‘At other times say: By Thy Pure and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, obtain for me the conversion of Russia, Spain, Portugal, Europe and the whole world.
‘Make it known to My ministers, given that they follow the example of the King of France in delaying the execution of My command, they will follow him into misfortune. It is never too late to have recourse to Jesus and Mary.’
Zenit reports on an overt attack by Pope Francis on traditional priests and seminarians, as well as the concept of “reform of the reform”:
“….the Pope noted that there are priests and bishops who speak of a “reform of the reform.” Some of them are “saints” and speak “in good faith.” But this “is mistaken”, the Holy Father said. He then referred to the case of some bishops who accepted “traditionalist” seminarians who were kicked out of other dioceses, without finding out information on them, because “they presented themselves very well, very devout.” They were then ordained, but these were later revealed to have “psychological and moral problems.”
It is not a practice, but it “happens often” in these environments, the Pope stressed, and to ordain these types of seminarians is like placing a “mortgage on the Church.””
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-holds-two-hour-meeting-with-roman-clergy
I think these remarks are deluded and outrageous.
How dare he attack traditionalist seminarians for alleged “moral problems” while Himself living under the roof of the infamous pederast Monsignor Ricca, and having failed to take any action whatsoever regarding the “homosexual dossier” which was compiled during Benedict’s tenure?
“moral problems” are far more manifest amongst the mainstream clergy, which at times one could be forgiven for viewing as a large scale lavender mafia. This fact has caused immense scandal and damage to the faith in recent times.
Indeed, in the Diocese where I live I could name several serving priests who are known homosexuals and have been caught in the midst of disgraceful behaviour. Yet they are tolerated and who would bet against this toleration resulting in further scandal in future? Not I. Its ironic because the shortage of priests is one reason why they are kept on, yet Francis instead links shortages to issues with properly formed, traditional clergy.
And lets not forget the Cardinal O’Brien farce either, if we are to discuss “moral problems”. And what about last years synod, where Francis himself and the band of protestant-cardinals openly made efforts to overturn Church teaching via scheming and gerrymandering? “Moral problems” indeed.
I am not quite sure how to interpret his “mortgage on the Church” comment, but all I know is that traditionalist seminarians are undoubtedly what will sustain the Church into the future, in the middle of the ongoing failure of the post-conciliar Church. And if Francis – or anyone – is against reform to arrest this ongoing decline, how can he (they) be anything other than an enemy of the Church?
How much more of a boorish bully can the present Bishop of Rome become?
Gabriel Syme,
Yes indeed! It seems we have in Francis a Pope who strains at a gnat and swallows a camel. Is His Holiness deliberately blinding himself to the fact that clerical immorality has been one of the main features of the conciliar reform, even at the unheard of level of the episcopate?
Well, he may, by some incredible manner of means, be able to convince himself of that, but he won’t convince anyone else.
It’s actually quite remarkable that the Pope made those comments to a vast number of priests gathered together to discuss the priesthood with him, amongst their number many priests who abandoned their vocations to marry and are now agitating for a married clergy. You couldn’t make this stuff up!
“ The so-called “Tridentine” Mass – the Pope said – is an “extraordinary form of the Roman Rite”, one that was approved following the Second Vatican Council. Thus, it is not deemed a distinct rite, but rather a “different form of the same right “, how rich is that?
Jobstears,
Talk about turning the tables.
Here’s what the Pope should have said in truth: “The so-called New Mass is an extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, one that was approved following the Second Vatican Council. Thus, it is not deemed a distinct rite, but rather a “different form of the same rite”.
Even that would have been incorrect given that the New Mass is demonstrably dissimilar in theology and celebration to the ancient Latin rite it usurped.
That’s why Cardinal’s Ottaviani and Bacci, writing not only on their own behalf but in union with “many theologians and bishops,” complained to Pope Paul VI that the New Mass “…Represents in whole and in part a grave departure from the Catholic theology of the Mass..”
What they were saying in effect, and they mentioned the Council of Trent to emphasise the point, was that the New Rite of Mass is really just a different form of the post-Reformation rite of Protestantism. That’s why its main author, Annibale Bugnini, speaking in 1974, felt able to declare the New Mass “a major triumph of the Catholic Church”.
But then, Pope Francis knows this well!
Athanasius,
The Pope’s statement about the ancient Mass “being approved” following Vat II – leads those who do not know any better, to believe, this Mass stood in need of the Council’s approval.
Only those who are genuinely looking for the truth will be bothered to read up about the New Mass and see that this Mass “celebrated according to the ancient rite” was pushed aside to accommodate the New Mass of Paul VI, which is really just a different form of the post-Reformation rite of Protestantismem .
Jobstears,
Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more. The Pope is clearly aware that a majority of Catholics today are either ignorant of the truths about the Council and the Mass or are just indifferent to them. That’s why the Church is in the mess it is.
Yes this latest attack on… drum roll… the MORALS of the new priests who appreciate the legitimacy of the Mass of Ages, is wicked: truly wicked.
February 20th – today is the Feast day of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the Fatima seers. Please ask them to intercede for the Church and the world, and please pray for their canonisation:-
PRAYER FOR THE CANONISATION OF BLESSED FRANCISCO AND JACINTA MARTO
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly and I thank You for the Apparitions of the Most Holy Virgin in Fatima. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary I implore You – if it should be for Your greater glory and the good of our souls – to glorify in the sight of Your Holy Church Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, granting us through their intercession the grace which we implore. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Please send details of any favours received through the intercession of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, to:
Secretariado dos Pastorinhos,
Apartado 6, P-2496-908 FATIMA, Portugal
Imprimatur: Fatimae, 13 Maii 2010
†Antonius, Episc. Leiriensis-Fatimensis
Thank you for the reminder, WF.
Madame Editor,
For those among the readership who have not yet made their Total Consecration to Mary according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, and to those who have done so but may wish, in common with myself today, to renew their consecration, may I point out that today, February 20th, is a good day to start.
The preparation for the consecration takes 33 days and is meant to end in the actual Consecration on one of the Feast Days of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Those who begin today will be able to make their Consecration on March 25th – the Feast of the Annunciation.
It is not an onerous devotion to undertake, and I urge all to make it.
May I also take this opportunity to remind readers of their upcoming chance to go to the SSPX Retreat House at Bristol for the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The dates for women are March 23rd – 28th, and for men April 13th – 18th.
These exercises are truly life-changing as anyone who has undergone them will verify, and further details can be viewed here:
http://www.sspx.co.uk/page_retreats.htm
For anyone who is wavering about either of these two suggestions, I suggest they set time aside to listen to this Mission recording on the Four Last Things:
http://www.audiosancto.org/mission/FourLastThings
It is very well worth listening to, and if time really is too short, click on the title “Death” and hear it through.
God bless.
I often wonder when we pray for the conversion of Russia we should also pray for the conversion of Ireland? Have a look at what cock-sure Enda-(Catholic Ireland)-Kenny says here on Gay marriage and coming referendum in May for another (maybe final?) nail in the coffin of Catholic Ireland:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/ireland-to-vote-on-gay-marriage-in-may-referendum-taoiseach-enda-kenny-31007957.html
Note the drivel:”Tolerant and inclusive.” Right! i.e., the sacrifice of Truth to every perversion under the sun. I wonder how ++Dairmuid Martin will waffle and snivel his way out of this one when our dear Taoiseach, as per usual, waltzes up for Communion on Sunday and gives the one finger salute to the Church on the way out the door. Oh, sorry, Dairmuid says homophobia offends God. So too, dear Dairmuid, does sodomy.
In the north (Northern, whatever) of Ireland a lot of nationalists with even a modicum of Catholicism left in them are now saying to pot with a united Ireland if by that we have to worship at the altar of Dionysus. The only people it seems willing to stand against this cult up north are in the various Unionist parties. The SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance parties, having failed twice to push Gay Marriage through Stormont, will leave it to the High Court to declare SSM, the greatest oxymoron in the world, legal. Then all Ireland will be “tolerant and inclusive.” In this brave new Ireland all cake shops not complying with the law on SSM. e.g., by refusing to place two men or two women kissing on the icing will not BE TOLERATED.
Beggars belief.
Bradders,
With the conversion of Russia, Our Lady promised a time of holy peace in the world. This suggests to me that great graces will be poured out on the Church and the world (what’s left of it!) so that all nations will return to the old faith.
I fear, however, that a cataclysm will have to take place in the world before men bow the knee again before the true God. This is certainly what Catholic prophesy predicts as the painful road to a true restoration of all things in Christ. The situation in Russia right now could be the prelude to this global catastrophe, yet the Holy Father and the bishops appear oblivious to these developments.
Indeed Athanasius,
It seems when natural disasters strike, the world is shaken briefly and wonders about eternity. When it recovers, it returns quickly to materialism and unbelief. As you say, it will require some great cataclysm to return humanity to God. I fear that manifestation and what it might bring, but I still pray for God to intervene with power, soon.
Thank you for your consoling comments, as always.
Athanasius,
We have the promise of Our Lady that the Consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart will bring a period of peace to the world, but have there been any reassurances about the derailing of the plans for the New World Order as spelt out by Senator Kissinger? It seems to me that the USA, NATO and the European Union are set on encircling Russia with missile bases, and that this could provoke Russia into catastrophic retaliation, but I am not hearing of any apparitions specifically counselling us on what to do to halt the inexorable growth in power of the proponents of the New World Order.
Are you hearing anything?
Leprechaun
We’ll never know the full extend of what goes on behind the scenes with governments; the war-torn Middle-East being a classic example of their vying for power with each other, Russia included. What we do know for certain, and Our Lady promised this at Quito, is that she will triumph over all the evil machinations that are presently hidden from human eyes, and this triumph will come very suddenly.
The USA,The countries of the European Union, Russia, China and other major global players, have unilaterally declared war on Our Lord and his reign in this world by legislating against His Commandments. Unless they repent of their folly, and God knows they have been given every opportunity to do so, then I cannot see how a divine intervention is avoidable.
It’s one thing for men to sin and acknowledge the fact with shame, but quite another when they sin and proclaim their pride at having done so.
It is true that God will not be mocked, and yet they mock Him every day with iniquitous laws while those who should speak out (the Pope and the Bishops) remain silent. So said Our Lady at Quito concerning these times, so says the Secret of Fatima. It’s all there in Apocalypse, as Sister Lucy indicated and Cardinal Ratzinger confirmed.
I fear the entire world is on the brink of a material chastisement (global war) and I fear it may occur very soon. Our Lady of Fatima said “Russia will be the instrument God uses to chastise the world…many nations will disappear…”
But this is child’s play in comparison with the spiritual chastisement that commenced in the Church in 1962 with the Second Vatican Council and is now racing to its conclusion.
John
My personal take on the scene you quote from Apocalypse 10 is that the scroll St. John ate, which tasted sweet as honey in his mouth but turned his belly sour, represents the false doctrines of ecumenism and inter-religious initiatives that followed Vatican II, both of which doctrines are condemned by the Church as deadly to the Catholic Religion.
This, in fact, is a worse chastisement than any global war that may occur, since it is supernatural and eternal. The death of one soul is much worse in the sight of God than the loss of the entire created universe. This is precisely what the Third Secret reveals – apostasy from God beginning in the Church from the top down.
Clotilde
You’re right to state that we all have to keep up our rosaries (and I would add penances) in the hope of diminishing and shortening the present suffering of the Church and the world. We still have that great hope Our Lady gave us when she declared “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, she will be converted and the world will be granted a period of peace”. But she added this caveat “It will be late”.
With this promise in mind, we need not worry too much about the agendas of Popes. Agendas can change very quickly with circumstances!
Athanasius
I totally agree the world seems to be sleepwalking towards another world war. I believe we’re now in apocalyptic times.did not Pope Pius X11 say in the fifties these are the worse times since the flood what
would he say now we have abortion on demand and same sex marriage
God will not be mocked, how much worse will he allow the world to become before there is a tribulation.
The Pope’s effort’s to change teaching at the synod could that be when John ate the scroll tasted sweet as
honey in his mouth but when eaten made the stomach bitter? (apoc10)
Well Leprechaun,
There’s nothing left but to pray the rosary and the prayer given to us from WF above.
The best and only weapons we have and the only ones that will do any good. Our Lady spoke loud and clearly about a possible 3rd world war and told us what to do.
Pope Francis has another agenda which doesn’t seem to include the Consecration of Russia so it seems we need a rosary crusade like the one which helped to drive the Communists out of Austria in 1955 when 10% of the population were saying the rosary.
I’m old enough to remember Fr. Peyton who travelled to the UK to preach the rosary. Maybe we should pray to this Servant of God to help us have the same.
Clotilde,
I agree, there is nothing left but to pray. The rosary, the Five Saturdays devotion and penance, are the only weapons we have!
If 10% of the population praying the rosary could drive out the Communists, maybe a handful today, praying the rosary can do the same with the Masons!
Comforting thought for the day…”The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church”
Uncomfortable thought for the day…”A JPII length pontificate for Francis.”
Sober conclusion for the day…”Fasten your seat-belt.”
Cheer up, folks.
Some of you may recall my post of some time ago re. my nephew’s Nuptial Mass, where the priest insisted the bride’s shoulders had to be covered. I mentioned that her first child would be arriving in February.
Welcome to the world little Orla Eileen, she weighed in at 8lb 3oz at 07:59 on Thu 19/02. Mother and baby ‘doing great’, Deo Gratias!
Pat,
Wonderful news! A huge welcome to little Orla Eileen (lovely names).
Congratulations to your nephew and his wife, and to yourself.
The Fatima Network just sent me James Hanisch’s new book: Only She can help us: Evil forces are driving the world toward war. The foreword is by Fr Gruner. Compelling reading. It is available from the Fatima Network http://www.fatima.org and advertised in the Winter 2015 edition of the Fatima Crusader (issue 111)
Patricia
So sorry to hear about your mother`s death and I will certainly remember her in my prayers.
I am sitting here with tears in my eyes as it brings back the memory of my own mother`s (God rest her soul) death on a Saturday morning, 28th February1976.
People will say that at 92 she had a “great innings”, as if it was a cricket match, but that didn`t help me when my mother died. The loss can be even greater the older one is.
The priest at my mother`s funeral said that God would be waiting for her with the words ” well done you good and faithful servant”. I`m certain your mother will also have heard those words by now.
You`ll still be able to feel her presence.
God bless you both.
Editor,
Deepest sympathy and prayers for your mother and you and your family.
It must be a great consolation for you all that you could all look after her at home.
May she rest in peace. Amen.
God Bless.
Editor,
I am very sorry to hear the sad news. Your loss will be great, but you have the comfort of knowing she was prepared for her death, and that she was loved and cared for by her family until the very end.
Will offer my rosary for the repose of her soul.
I will remember your mother in my family rosary tonight.
Dear Patricia,
My deepest sympathies on your sad loss. May she rest in peace and may you be comforted by the Holy Family.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mum, Editor, and I will remember her and all your family in my prayers. May she rest in Peace.
Dearest Editor,
I am truly sorry to hear the sad news of your beloved mother’s passing to the next life. I know you cared for your mother, and you have the assurance of a remembrance in my Rosary tonight, and I will recite the Litany of the Resurrection for your mother. May Our Blessed Lady welcome your mother into heavenly glory and lead her by the hand to the throne of God.
‘Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people; and God himself with them shall be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away. And he that sat on the throne, said: Behold, I make all things new’.
May she behold the Face of God with peace and joy.
Love and best wishes from,
Catholic Convert and family.
Dear Patricia,
I am truly sorry about your loss. I have, and will continue, to pray for the repose of her soul. Let us be thankful that she will not suffer the great chastisement which is surely coming our way.
catholicconvert, that is a beautiful prayer.
Helen,
I love that piece of scripture. It’s from the Apocalypse, and I always find it very comforting, as it tells us of the compassion and infinite love of God.
Dear Editor,
Please accept my sincere condolences on the death of your dear mother.
I am not a Catholic although I am looking into it. In case praying for the dead works, I said a prayer for her.
May God rest her soul and may all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Editor
I’m so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. The loss of a parent is something we’re never quite prepared for, no matter their age. May she rest in peace.
Dear Editor
Similarly, be assured of our prayers at this time. We will pray for the soul of your mother at Mass this morning. Requiescat in pace.
Dear Patricia, I am so sorry at your loss. Your dear mother was a feisty lady who was a pleasure to know. May the Lord have mercy on her soul. Be assured of my prayers.
Dear Patricia
My deepest condolences on the loss of your dear mother. Holy Mass will be offered for the repose of her soul. You must be very tired – do take time to rest and recuperate.
God bless you both.
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for the notification which you have just posted concerning your dear Mother and I would like to express my closeness to you in these painful circumstances.
I assure you of my prayers for all your intentions and send you my most sincere condolences.
May she rest in peace!
In all friendship, please, keep courage LD
Dear Pat,
I will ask for a Mass to be offered by the SSPX for the repose of the soul of your mother.
May she rest in peace and may Our Lady comfort you at this time.
God bless.
I too would like to add my heartfelt condolences to the Editor on the passing of her dear mother Elizabeth. Requiem aeternam dona ea, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ea. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
Holy Mass will be offered for the repose of her soul.
Dear editor
May I join with with the rest of your friends to offer my sincere condolences on the loss of your dear mother.
I will remember her in my prayers at mass this evening.
Dear Editor
I would like to add my sincere condolences with the others. On the occasion of your dear mothers passing, may she rest in the peace of Christ and his blessed mother.
I will pray for her and the family tonight in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
Dear Patricia
My deepest sympathies to you and all your family on the sad loss of your mother. May Our Lady of Sorrows comfort you all in your grief and may her Divine Son grant your mother eternal rest.
Words are hardly adequate at such a time, but I have no doubt that all of us who owe you such a great debt of gratitude for all your indefatigable and fearless work in defence of the Church and the Faith, and all those of goodwill, will offer many prayers for the repose of your mother’s soul.
In the words of the traditional Irish wishes offered at such a sad but hopeful time:
“Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam” (may her soul be at the right of God)
Thank you to everyone for your kind condolences and promise of prayers for the repose of my mother’s soul. Greatly appreciated.
I didn’t leave the NOTE thread open for comments as I didn’t want to make anyone feel obliged to comment, so it is very generous of you all to do so.
As you will appreciate, I am very busy this week with funeral arrangements so feel free to use the General Discussion thread to discuss breaking news, as I’m unlikely to manage to post a fresh topic until the weekend. Again, thank you all.
Thank you, Leo, for that lovely Irish “wish” – my mother was Irish to her fingertips, so that is an appropriate and most beautiful “blessing” – thank you.
May the angels lead her into paradise: may the martyrs receive her at her coming, and lead her into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choirs of angels receive her, and may she have eternal rest with Lazarus, who once was poor.
My heartfelt sympathy, Pat, and may God give you all the strength you need to bear this most painful loss.
Dear Patricia
I too would like to add my words of condolence. The death of someone close can often be difficult, but our faith gives us so much comfort. I will remember your Mother and yourself in prayer over the next few days.
God bless you.
Editor
As a somewhat erratic contributor, it may not be too late to offer condolences for your loss. Since my own local congregations shares a wonderful Baroque chapel (and a not so wonderful organ) with our Roman-Catholic neighbours, they have said they will offer a Mass.
I don’t know that Church Historians have much to say, but one of them commented:
To those who know a little of Christian history probably the most moving of all the reflections it brings is not the thought of the great events and the well-remembered saints, but of those innumerable millions of entirely obscure faithful men and women, every one with his or her own individual hopes and fears and joys and sorrows and loves … They have left no slightest trace in this world, not even a name, but have passed to God utterly forgotten by men …. There is a … rustic epitaph of the fourth century from Asia Minor: – ‘Here sleeps the blessed Chione, who has found Jerusalem for which she prayed much’. Not another word is known of Chione … who lived in that vanished world of Christian Anatolia. But how lovely if all that should survive after sixteen centuries were that one prayed much, so that the neighbours who saw all one’s life were sure one must have found Jerusalem!
For all who are able to attend, His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke will be visiting the Shrine of St. Walburge in Preston on Sunday 8th March.
Interesting article here:- a transcript of a talk by Fr Rafferty O. Carm, given in 1958. Father met with Sister Lucia of Fatima who confirmed to him that the wearing of the Brown Scapular is an essential part of the Fatima message, and that if we fail to wear the Scapular as a sign of our consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, according to Sr Lucia, we don’t fully live the message of Fatima.
http://www.ourladyofgoodsuccess.com/frames-3-4-2005/father-rafferty/transcription-of-audio.pdf
WF,
That is very interesting. I knew that the Rosary and Scapular were inseparable, but I didn’t know that Our Lady requested it. Thank you for the link.
I have a question, is there a special act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart? I was not aware of one. Would St. Louis Montfort’s Consecration suffice, do you think? Thank you.
WF
Thank you so much for that wonderful talk from Fr. Rafferty O. Carm. given in 1958.
It must have been a great priveledge for him to meet and talk with Sr. Lucia and how miraculous that he eventually managed to visit her in the convent
I guess the most complete form of consecration is St Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Mary, with the 33-day preparation, which can be found here:- https://www.fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html but there are many different versions of Acts of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that one could use. I have done the Total Consecration to Mary, and renew my consecration each First Saturday with a short prayer. I’ve cut and pasted a couple below.
1) O Virgin Mary, most powerful Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven and earth, in accordance with your wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate myself today to your Immaculate Heart. To you I entrust all that I have, all that I am. Reign over me, dearest Mother, that I may be yours in prosperity, in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in life and in death.
Most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over my mind and heart and preserve me from the deluge of impurity which you lamented so sorrowfully at Fatima. I want to be pure like you. I want to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and you. I want to call down upon this country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity.
Mindful of this consecration, I now promise to strive to imitate you by the practice of the Christian virtues without regard for human respect. I resolve to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of every month when possible, and to offer daily five decades of the Rosary, with all my sacrifices in the spirit of penance and reparation. Amen.
2) I, (name), a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy Heart, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, and to thy Immaculate Heart, as thy child and slave of love, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.
Thank you, WF!
I have done the Total Consecration, but I have not since renewed it with the 33 day consecration.
The consecration prayers you have posted are beautiful.
The little booklet “Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother”, has simple but beautiful meditations on the Sorrows of Our Lady, including the chaplet. But this had never crossed my mind: ” Her entire being was steeped in bitterness…..To her was wanting that great support which the martyrs enjoyed in their sufferings. During their torments, they directed their inward gaze toward Jesus, the Crucified, by Whose grace and love they were strengthened and consoled……But in Her anguish, where could Mary turn Her gaze as She stood beneath the Cross? Upon Jesus? Ah, it was precisely the sight of her Divine Son that caused Her the most intense suffering…
The booklet also makes this point, that ” It is the unanimous opinion of spiritual writes that beneath the pressure of her inconceivable sufferings, the Blessed Virgin’s life was miraculously preserved. Without the special aid of God’s omnipotence, Her soul would have been separated from Her body.
The Cure of Ars, was accustomed in special necessities to offer this prayer, which he said was an infallible means to obtain the most precious graces. O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, I beseech these, by the inexpressible tortures thou didst endure at the death of thy Son, offer to the Eternal Father, in my stead, thy beloved Son all covered with Blood and Wounds, for the grace of…….Amen
Pat, I’m very sorry to hear about your mother and will remember her in my prayers.
Here’s a joke (from “The Sensible Bond” blog) that made me laugh.
“Prince Charles is visiting an Edinburgh hospital. He enters a ward full of patients with no obvious sign of injury or illness and greets one.
The patient replies:
“Fair fa your honest sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin race,
Aboon them a ye take yer place,
Painch, tripe or thairm,
As langs my airm.”
His Royal Highness is confused, but he just smiles and moves on to the next patient.
When greeted, however, the patient responds:
“Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat an we can eat,
So let the Lord be thankit.”
Even more confused, the Prince moves on to the next patient, who immediately begins to chant:
“Wee sleekit, cowerin, timrous beasty,
O the panic in thy breasty,
Thou needna start awa sae hastie,
Wi bickering brattle.”
Now seriously troubled, Charles turns to the accompanying doctor and asks, “Is this a psychiatric ward?”
“No,” replies the doctor. “This is the serious Burns unit.”
CB,
Great joke! I’ve noted that one in my little book of laughter.
I love it!
This link quotes Cardinal Marx (also Bishop Bode), speaking at the spring meeting of the German Bishops Conference. The quotes are taken from a German newspaper.
“We are no subsidiaries of Rome. Each conference of bishops is responsible for pastoral care in its culture, and must, as its most proper task, preach the Gospel on our own. We cannot wait for a synod to tell us how we have to shape pastoral care for marriage and family here”
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/02/german-church-declares-independence.html
He appears to be announcing the independence of the German Church (and hence the completion of its self-destruction).
It seems that if they cant get their own way at the synod, via deceit and gerrymandering, then the German Bishops will just go ahead and do what they want anyway. I seem to remember some comments from Francis encouraging this sort of thing from Bishops Conferences.
I understand that it was in similar bold and unilateral fashion that Cardinal Suenens first introduced communion in the hand.
Gabriel
This is the kind of thing that really makes my blood boil. Could you ever imagine the SSPX saying something so arrogant and disobedience. Yet, our resident zealots and defenders of Modernism (CS, eileenanne etc) are very quick to accuse us of such things and utter not one word of condemnation when real disobedience is reported. It truly does beggar belief.
Gabriel Syme,
It’s interesting that you post these remarks of Cardinal Marx. I was just reading a statement of Cardinal Kurt Koch earlier tonight in which he spoke of the absolute indissolubility of Christian marriage. He spoke also about the responsibility of married couples to have children and he lamented modern assaults on family life. In fine, His Eminence said all the things that a Cardinal of the Catholic Church should say about marriage and the family.
There was one worrying caveat slipped in by the Cardinal, However, which I have been hearing repeatedly from liberal prelates since Pope Francis first mooted it some months ago. It is the notion that Catholics who are now divorced and remarried could have their first marriages annulled if a Church tribunal considered that one or other of the spouses in the first marriage did not fully comprehend at the time of the bond the very serious nature of the vows they were making before God for life. In other words, this is the pastoral back door to annulments on a grand scale.
Imagine a piece of nonsense like that being introduced in relation to those who lie under oath in a court of law! How could we ever again trust the evidence of any witness under oath? It is the most ridiculous scam the liberals in the Church have come up with yet, suggesting that people don’t realise the seriousness of taking an oath before God. The next thing we know they’ll be excusing all other kinds of mortal sin on the same grounds.
Athanasius,
I know from personal experience that annulment procedures already stink to high heaven – let alone what they could become in future. I am a convert, my family are not Catholic, but one of them became embroiled in an annulment case which was an utter scandal. I can’t divulge details, but rest assured when I tell you that this case should have been thrown out, but the person concerned gained the annulment they wanted, based on outright lies and claims of ‘psychological immaturity’. I understand that is an increasingly common reason put forward for annulment these days. The family member involved is not exactly a fan of the Catholic Church – or any religion come to that – but the whole episode merely served to discredit the Church even more in her eyes. They need to tighten the annulment procedure up, not make it more lax.
WF,
I know well what you mean. I remember the scandal with annulments in the U.S. during the reign of John Paul II. If memory serves, the annulment figures in America alone rose to around 50,000 per annum during the early 1990s as opposed to about 700 per annum worldwide before Vatican II. It became so scandalous in the States that the Pope was forced to intervene. Imagine the numbers of Catholics who were granted soft annulments during that period and went on to enter into adulterous second unions with the blessing of their bishops!! This is exactly the kind of disgraceful episcopal behaviour Pope Francis’ Synodal lackeys are seeking to re-establish under the guise of pastoral care.
Athanasius,
Exactly. And occasionally the abuse of the annulment procedure erupted into very public scandals like this one:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-463631/Vatican-overturns-Kennedy-wifes-annulment-10-year-battle.html
All annulments are automatically referred to an appellate Court, and only when they is decided is the annulment granted. The Vatican did not overturn anything. It decided a case finally. As Edward Peters, an advisor to the Vatican, and a personal friend of Cardinal Burke, noted at the time “This annulment, then, was not so much “reversed” by the Rota, as it failed to win completion therein. Granted, the effect is the same, no second marriage is permitted Kennedy (or Rauch), but it’s not as if Kennedy “had” his annulment for ten years, and then mean old Rome took away. Kennedy, it seems, never had his annulment in the first place. (Not that that technicality prevented him from marrying civilly, but, hey, he had already done that before Boston reached its first instance decision!)”.
If experts here rely on The Daily Mail to inform them it is no wonder they get it wrong!
No decision was reversed as happens frequently the original decision was not ratified.
Editor: this is just a note to let you know that all of your posts have now been released from moderation and I have written an invitation to you in the last one released. However, I see none of them are on the sidebar – so presumably they are too “old” to have made it there. Apologies, I know you will understand, in the circumstances. So, if you check out your submitted comments, the two key posts with responses from me are one in response to Jobstears about Professor Haldane, and the other is in response to a lovely personal message from you, not for publication, last week. Sorry, I didn’t note the threads, in my haste to catch up.
I was aware that the annulment procedures had become a joke because of the ease with which they were being handed out, bad as that is, it was made worse to think annulments could also be reversed or overturned.
So, thank you for that clarification, CS.
WF,
What really stands out in the article you linked is that the woman who fought to have her marriage recognised as valid is a non-Catholic. It was the Catholic hierarchy in America and a prominent Catholic politician who tried to void the Sacrament by deceptive means. That just shows how much rot has crept into the Church.
And by the way, I noted in the article that my estimation of 50,000 annulments in the U.S. each year was short by 10,000. The actual figure is 60,000 per annum, a scandal beyond words.
http://youtu.be/oIEVyOqeC0U
Beautiful hymn in what I still consider to be a beautiful Catholic Cathedral stolen and looted from by heretics.
York Minister.
Their website unfortunately is not as beautiful.
Well if the protestant heretics at the Reformation had spared it, the modern post Vatican 2 heretics would have done just the same. Witness what happened to most of our beautiful churches since the 60’s.
I don’t know if this has already posted but here goes: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/3708/Will_the_Other_Sleeping_Giant_Awake.aspx
I would be very grateful if the good people on this blog would say a prayer for the repose of the soul of my cousin, John Docherty, who died in hospital at 6pm this evening.
John fell backwards down a flight of stone stairs last Monday and sustained a catastrophic brain injury which left him in a coma. He received the last rites of the Church before he died. He was only 54 years old.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen.
Athanasius,
How very sad that your cousin’s tragic accident should result in his death. Be assured of my prayers for the repose of his soul. Sincere condolences to you and your family.
God bless.
Athanasius, likewise please accept our condolences and our prayers for your deceased relative. May Christ welcome him into His Kingdom.
Sincere sympathies. I will pray for the Happy Repose of his Soul, and for those who mourn.
Athanasius
I have enrolled John in Rorate Caeli’s traditional Mass Purgatorian Society (and Elizabeth McKeever as well). May they rest in peace.
God bless
WF
WF,
Thank you for that wonderful charity for Athanasius’s cousin and my mother, appreciated more than words can say.
God bless you.
Athanasius,
Please accept my sincere condolences and be assured of my prayers for the grieving family and for the repose of the soul of your cousin. May Our Lady, Mother of Sorrows, comfort you.
Athanasius
My deepest sympathy. How tragic. I will keep John and his family in my prayers; what a comfort that he received the last rites.
I was speaking the other day with a Catholic intellectual who said something which made my jaw drop. He said that in his opinion Satan has changed strategy in his attack on mankind. If this strategy since the 18th century has been to destroy the Christian faith through atheism, now it is to destroy it through religious syncretism.
‘How so?,’ I asked, a little perplexed at my friend’s affirmation. After all, I thought, isn’t the wave of militant and aggressive secularism in full flow, with no sign of it cresting any time soon.
His reply to my objection was to say that militany secularism notwithstanding, it is clear to Satan that the idea of God cannot be expunged from the human heart. The flouishing of Islam in the West is, he says, an example of this. Hence this new strategy: to accept the existence of God, but to render all religions of the same value in the numan mind, thus effectively denying the Judaeo-Christian revelation and at the same time rendering Christianity untenable because of its foundation on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
If you think about it, he went on to say, there really isn’t very much difference between Judaism and Islam, but Christianity is radically different from either of them because of its profession of faith tnat God became man.
The more I thought about it, the more it seems to me that my friend is on to something. For what it is worth, I don’t think that Satan has changed strategy as much as opened up a new front in the war. The atheistic front will continue to be advanced through militant secularism, while among the religions Christianity will be classed as beyond the pale because of its belief in the Incarnation.
After all, one doesn’t need to be a Christian, or even a Jew or a Muslim, to believe in God. There have been many philosophers and scientists who have affirmed their belief in an intelligent creator. But Christianity is about much more than simply affirming belief in God. It is about believing in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity made man for our salvation. And what is more, to believe in Jesus Christ requires divine grace.
Prognosticum,
Your post was a very interesting one indeed, and I do think your conclusion is more accurate than your friend’s. All Satan has done is open up a new front in the war against the true Church instituted by the true God.
This new front, however, is inside the Church itself rather than outside, which is quite unique. St. Pius X alerted us to this fact when he wrote in Pascendi of the Modernist enemies of the Church being all the more dangerous because they are within and are therefore well placed to inject their poison into the very heart and veins of the Faith.
I remember reading somewhere that Lucifer never thought or proclaimed himself to be greater than God, for then he would not have been able to win over so many angels to his side. Rather, he claimed to be equal to God, a different proposition altogether, and more seductive.
This Luciferian mindset is what lies behind today’s ecumenism and religious liberty. How do the enemies get around the infallible dogma of one true Catholic religion. They get around it with a false doctrine of equality!
I would just like to thank you all for your condolences and very charitable offers of prayers on the death of my cousin, John. I am truly grateful to you for so great a kindness.
Dear Athanasius,
Please accept my sincere sympathy for the loss of your cousin John in such a terrible accident. My prayers for his soul and for your family. May he rest in peace. Amen
Athanasius
Sincere condolences on the death of your cousin in such tragic circumstances. May God in His mercy grant him eternal rest.
Thank you Leo and Leprechaun, your kind thoughts and words are very much appreciated. I intend to pass all these very charitable responses on to my aunt and her family. I’m sure they will be greatly comforted by them.
Athanasius,
I add my condolences on the passing of your cousin John.
May his soul rest in peace.
I found great comfort in a tract by St. Alphonsus Ligouri. I cannot link to it right now but if you google “Uniformity with God St. Alphonsus Liguori” I am quite sure it will help you and I confidently recommend it to anyone who has suffered hardship.
Athanasius,
I am very sorry to hear of the tragic death of your cousin. My condolences to you and your loved ones. I will remember him and all your family in my prayers. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Madame Editor,
Yesterday’s “Letters to the Editor” in the Sunday Telegraph majored on calls for the West to step up its war preparations against Russia.
I have just sent the following letter to the editor and I urge readers and fellow bloggers to pray that this letter will be published, and, not only be published but will also bear fruit:
Dear Editor,
Plans to contain Russian expansionism by increasing the defence capabilities of the West will only lead to horrendous loss of life on an unprecedented scale. Diplomatic negotiation will be met by prevarication while the Russian efforts continue in the background. There is another way to resolve this issue before it gets out of hand, late though success may be in materialising. The Pope must call all his bishops together and must consecrate Russia specifically by name to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is what she called for at Fatima in 1917, warning that if it was not done, Russia would spread its errors throughout the world. Her request has not been met, and we have already seen Russia subdue Chechnya; commence the divison of the Ukraine; establish air and naval presences in Cyprus, and look anew towards its former satellites on its Western flank – what the Blessed Virgin Mary predicted has already begun to take place. Diplomats worldwide must urge the Pope to make the Consecration, after which Our Lady has promised there will be a period of peace throughout the world.
Yours faithfully
Brilliant Leprechaun,
I don’t know if the Pope and the Bishops will come to their senses in time. Our Lord told Sister Lucia that they would do it, ‘but it would be late’. My own feeling, and I sincerely hope I am wrong, is that some catastrophe will have to occur before they are brought to their senses.
It’s always worth remembering Sister Lucia’s explicit statement to Father Fuentes in 1957 about the role of Russia:- “Tell them, Father, that many times the Most Holy Virgin told my cousins as well as myself, that many nations will disappear from the face of the earth, that Russia will be the instrument of chastisement chosen by Heaven to punish the whole world if we do not beforehand obtain the conversion of that poor nation . . .”
And also her explicit statement made on March 19, 1939 concerning the remedy:- “Whether the world has war or peace depends on the practice of this devotion (the First Saturdays), along with the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is why I desire its propagation so ardently, especially because this is also the will of our dear Mother in Heaven”.
Please can all CT bloggers make a real concerted effort to start/continue the First Saturday devotion and to get as many others as possible to do it.
Leprechaun,
That’s a fantastic letter – please let us know if (by some miracle) it gets published. It’ll certainly be published in the April newsletter, but if it’s published in The Sunday Telegraph, that would be even better (she said, bitterly!)
Editor,
I am not sure that it being published in The Sunday Telegraph would be better.
If the letter were to be published, it would only be to hold it up to ridicule, the new form of persecution to which the mainstream mass media subject the followers of Christ.
I have read a quality daily newspaper everyday since I was an undergraduate, first The Times and then The Telegraph. Even when I lived overseas, I would still seek out one of those newspapers where possible. When the online versions became available, it seemed like an expat’s dream.
Now I find that the media, television as well as print, provokes in me a deep spiritual revulsion. I find their materialist populism sickening to the nth degree. They are undoubtedly the lunga manus of Satan in the modern world.
Now at more than half way through my life, I have given up on the mainstream media. I find the BBC unwatchable and have not watched it for the better for a decade or more. I gave up on The Times when it went behind a paywall. I could not in conscience give my money to such a vile cause as the Murdoch empire. And now that The Telegraph is morphing into The Daily Mail, I have decided to call it a day with it as well.
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, The Times, The Telegraph … None of them enrich me. They just confirm, daily and relentlessly, the degree to which our society has de-throned God to erect man in his place. It is unbearable beyond words.
I am firmly convinced that the future of the Church is bound up with the courage of Catholics to subtract themselves from the spells and incantations of the mainstream media.
We must have the courage to say ‘Don’t buy,’ ‘Switch off’. And then the persecution will begin in earnest.
Leprechaun,
Brilliant letter! I hope it gets published.
PS the next First Sat is 7th March !
Well done Leprechaun, I will say the rosary for your intentions.
Did someone not say one (or twice) that the Consecration of Russia had been completed?
Yes, certain people keep saying it, usually called ‘False Friends of Fatima’ (which is the title of a book by Christopher Ferrara which can be read in full here:- http://www.falsefriendsoffatima.com/toc.html ) and it is the Vatican party line that it has been done, but if it has been done, why haven’t we got the period of world peace promised by Our Lady?
Also, Sister Lucia disclosed in her published memoirs and letters, Our Lord Himself confided to her that He would not convert Russia unless the consecration were done, “Because I want My whole Church to recognize that consecration as a triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that it may extend its cult later on, and put the devotion to this Immaculate Heart beside the devotion to My Sacred Heart.”
The consecration performed by Pope John Paul II in 1984, and what happened a few years later regarding the (so-called) fall of the Soviet Union, could hardly be said to be ‘recognised by the whole Church as a triumph of the Immaculate Heart’. Nor has Russia converted. Witness what is going on now.
Full details on Fatima can be found here:- http://www.fatima.org
How can I do the first Saturdays if there is no traditional chapel within hundreds of miles of where I live? There must be a way??
Helen,
You don’t need to attend a chapel to do the First Saturdays, preferable as that may be.
What Our Lady requested for a fulfillment of the five First Saturday’s is that we say five decades of the rosary and meditate with her for 15 minutes on one or all of the mysteries of the rosary. Of course we must also go to confession and Holy Communion, offering all in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church permits this latter requirement to be transferred to the Sunday if we cannot get to church on the Saturday. So, the you go! Now you can start your five First Saturday’s.
Athanasius,
There is a slight qualifier for that. Yes, there is the Rosary and the separate 15 minute meditation. The http://www.fatima.org website states that “it is not required that the confession be made on the first Saturday itself. If due to any necessity, it can be fulfilled even beyond eight days, but there must at least be a monthly confession. However, it is certain that, as far as possible, it is preferable that the confession be made on a day close to the first Saturday.
The thought of making Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary must equally be present. In this way, notes Father Alonso, “the soul adds to the principal motive of sorrow for our sins which will always be that sin is an offense against God, Who has redeemed us in Christ another motive for sorrow, which will undoubtedly exercise a beneficial influence: sorrow for the offense given to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of the Virgin Mary.”
But where the Holy Communion is concerned it would appear that if you wish to transfer the Communion of Reparation to the Sunday, permission has to be sought from a priest. Again, from http://www.fatima.org:-
The Communion of Reparation, of course, is the most important act of the devotion of Reparation. All the other acts centre around it. To understand its meaning and significance, it must be considered in relation with the miraculous Communion of autumn 1916; already this communion was completely oriented to the idea of Reparation, thanks to the words of the Angel. The Communion of Reparation must also be considered in relation to the Communion on the nine First Fridays of the month, requested by the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial.
Someone might object: to receive Communion on the first Saturday of five consecutive months is almost impossible for many of the Faithful, who have no Mass in their parish on that day Such is the question Father Gonçalves, Lucy’s confessor, put to her in a letter of May 29, 1930:
“If one cannot fulfil all the conditions on a Saturday, can it be done on Sunday? People in the country, for example, will not be able very often, because they live quite far away…”
Our Lord gave the answer to Sister Lucy during the night of May 29-30, 1930: “The practice of this devotion will be equally acceptable on the Sunday following the first Saturday when My priests, for a just cause, allow it to souls.” Thus not only the Communion, but also the recitation of the Rosary and meditation on the mysteries can be transferred to Sunday, for just motives of which priests are left the judges. It is easy to ask for this permission in confession. Note once again the Catholic, ecclesial character of the Message of Fatima. It is to His priests, and not to the individual conscience, that Jesus gives the responsibility of granting this additional concession.
WF,
Thank you so very much for your post, but particularly for the closing paragraph which you have put in bold print.
I did not know that that facility was available under those conditions and I shall certainly avail myself of it because it means I will be able to satisfy my obligation for five successive first Saturdays even when I am camping in France during the summer.
Thank you and may God bless your untiring efforts.
WF,
My thanks also for the clarification. I was already aware of these conditions but somehow in my mind the crisis in the priesthood led me to conclude that Helen’s parish priest would not have a clue what she was talking about.
But of course you’re right, she should first seek permission from her parish priest to transfer her Communion of reparation to the first Sundays.
Athanasius,
Sadly, you’re probably right! How many priests would have a clue about the Communion of reparations requested by Our Lady, or the conditions to meet them . . . . it reminded me of that joke, of which there are several versions:
A man went to an SSPX priest and said ‘Father, please will you pray a novena that I get a Ferrari?’ The SSPX priest said ‘What’s a Ferrari?’ and the man replied ‘it’s one of the most expensive cars in the world!’. The priest replied, ‘My child, you should not be seeking after such things, but should be storing up treasure for yourself in Heaven by your prayers and sacrifices . . . ‘
Undeterred, the man then went to an Opus Dei priest and said ‘Father, please will you pray a novena that I get a Ferrari?’ The Opus Dei priest also said ‘What’s a Ferrari?’ and the man replied ‘it’s one of the most expensive cars in the world!’. The priest replied, I will pray you will get it, if it is God’s Will, but also that you may use the car in His service . . .’
But not content with this, the man went to a Jesuit priest and said ‘Father, please will you pray a novena that I get a Ferrari?’ The Jesuit said ‘Sure, what’s a novena?’
WF,
Very good! I must remember that joke.
Question is: Is it a joke?
Frankier,
Thank you for your support in offering a Rosary. I hope it will inspire many others to follow your example. After all, if one thrown-away match can start a forest fire, what might a whole blogful of Rosaries achieve . . . . ?
WestmisterFly (or may I call you WF for short?)
Thank you for the reminder about the first Saturdays. Would that they were available at St. Anne’s in Leicester. However, for those who live within travelling distance of Holloway in North London, or of Wimbledon in South London, or of Knowle in Bristol, or of Edinburgh, or of St. Michael’s School in Burghclere, it is possible to attend the First Saturday devotions, and details can be found here: http://www.sspx.co.uk/page_chapels.htm courtesy of the SSPX and there will possibly be other centres that I do not know about.
Madame Editor,
Thank you for being my “edit button”. I could not see the joins! Incidentally, “Conolences” should have read of course: “Condolences”.
God bless.
Leprechaun,
Add Glasgow chapel to that list.
Will correct “condolences” now – sorry, I missed that.
This is the clearest and most objective view I have read regarding ISIS and the end times. I also think it’s relevant regarding the Fatima message.
http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/
Helen,
Thank you for that – it took a while for the page to settle down – an annoying advert kept appearing – and then I had distractions via phone calls etc, so I’ve started to read the article but not had time to see it through to the end and the thought of that annoying advert again… well… you can thank your lucky stars we’re in Lent 😀
With regards to General Confessions: in the first General Confession that one makes, one confesses all of the sins of one’s past life, but what about subsequent General Confessions? In those does one confess all of the sins committed sins the last General Confession? I’ve researched this on the internet, but it only all of the sins of your past life.
CC,
Don’t permit yourself to get too disturbed about this, the devil thrives on scruples!
All that is required of you for a general confession is that, upon sufficient reflection and prayer, you make known to the priest with sorrow all the sins of your past life that you can remember and then you thank God for His infinite mercy, do your penance and move on to a new beginning.
It is not usual for Catholics to have to make more than one general confession in their life time. The general confession is for adult converts or for Catholics who have been estranged from the Church for many years. The normal weekly or monthly use of the Sacrament is all that is required once a general has been made. I hope this helps clear up any confusion.
Athanasius,
Many thanks for your reply. I have made two General Confessions since this year began, one in early January with the SSPX Priest and another with a Priest in a local NO Parish. I also made one last September when I was baptised. Two weeks ago, I made a semi-General Confession, where I confessed recent sins, and some from my past life with I recalled but hadn’t remembered in the General Confessions.
I have always gone in with contrition (selfish thoughts of Hell barely crossed my mind, and I beseeched God to give me contrition), and done my penances as ordered to. Do I not need to make any more General Confessions? What about before my confirmation?
I always fear that I am not sorry enough, and to be honest I’m undergoing a period spiritual ‘dryness’. I haven’t prayed the rosary for days, and when I say generic prayers, I have to force the words out. This is hard for me given that I am discerning a vocation.
I also confessed ALL mortal sins from my past life and all venial sins known to me at all three of these confessions. If I remember any other mortal sins, should I just include them in my ordinary weekly confession without bothering with another General? I suffer terrible scruples and worry about confessed and forgiven past sins. It’s destroying my faith.
Pray for me.
CC,
As Athanasius said, the evil one can cause scruples and all sorts of horrid anxiety and other problems when you’re trying to make spiritual progress. It’s not unusual. I’ve seen a couple of questions you’ve posed on this and other threads, and I wonder if you might benefit from a priest spiritual director? (I say ‘priest’, because I know of one outfit which has ‘lay spiritual directors’ for folk – most odd!)
I had a spiritual director for some years after I was received into the Church. I felt it was so much more beneficial for me at that time, rather than going hither and thither for guidance and confession. He helped me enormously. If you can find a good priest willing to become your spiritual director, I would go for it. God bless and try not to worry.
CC,
I am very surprised that you were permitted to make several general confessions when one suffices before God for the sins of our past life.
Now, here is a section from the book “Light and Peace” by Padre Quadrupani who was a saintly and illustrious Barnabite of the 18th century. You may be certain of the holiness and wisdom of his counsel.
‘Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth is not perfect in charity’. St. John, I. Epist., c. IV., v. 18).
“There are persons who look upon scrupulosity as a virtue, confounding it with delicacy of conscience, whereas it is, on the contrary, not only a defect one of a most dangerous character. The devout and learned Gerson says that a scrupulous conscience often does more injury to the soul than one that is too lax and remiss.
Scruples warp the judgment, disturb the peace of the soul, beget mistrust of the Sacraments and estrangement from them, and impair the health of body and mind. How many unfortunates have begun by scrupulosity and ended in insanity! How many, more unfortunate still, have begun by scruples and ended in laxity and impiety! Shun then this insidious poison, so deadly in its effects on true piety, and say with St. Joseph of Cupertino: Away with sadness and scruples; I will not have them in my house.
Scrupulosity is an unreasonable fear of sin in matter where there is not even material for sin. But the victim does not call his fears and doubts scruples, for he would not be tormented by them if he believed he could give them that name. He should, however, place implicit reliance in the opinion of his spiritual guide when he tells him they are such and that he must not allow himself to be influenced by them.
In all his actions a scrupulous person sees only an uninterrupted series of sins, and in God nothing but vengeance and anger. He ought, therefore, to consider almost exclusively the attribute of the Divine Master by which He most delights to manifest Himself, mercy, and to make it the constant subject of his thoughts, meditations and affections.
“We should do everything from love and nothing from constraint. It is more essential to love obedience than to fear disobedience.” – St. Francis de Sales.
There is but one remedy for scruples and that is entire and courageous obedience. “It is secret pride,” says St. Francis de Sales, “that entertains and nourishes scruples, for the scrupulous person adheres to his opinion and inquietude in spite of his directors advice to the contrary. He always persuades himself in justification of his disobedience that some new and unforeseen circumstance has occurred to which this advice cannot be applicable. But submit,” adds the Saint, “without other reasoning than this: I should obey, and you will be delivered from this lamentable malady.
By sadness and anxiety the children of God do a great injury to their Heavenly Father. They thereby seem to bear witness that there is little happiness to be found in the service of a Master so full of love and mercy, and to give the lie to the words of Him who said: “Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you.”
“Woe to that narrow and self-absorbed soul that is always fearful, and because of fear has no time to love and go generously forward. O my God! I know it is your wish that the heart that loves you should be broad and free! Hence I shall act with confidence like to the child that plays in the arms of its mother; I shall rejoice in the Lord and try to make others rejoice; I shall pour forth my heart without fear in the assembly of the children of God. I wish for nothing but candor, innocence and joy of the Holy Ghost. Far, far from me, O my God, be that sad and cowardly wisdom which is ever consumed in self, ever holding the balance in hand in order to weigh atoms!… Such lack of simplicity in the soul’s dealings with Thee is truly an outrage against Thee: such rigour imputed to Thee is unworthy of Thy paternal heart.” – Fenelon.”
I hope these lines demonstrate sufficiently to you, CC, that these attacks of scruples are an attack of the devil on a good soul. The devil is trying very hard with this ruse to take away your peace of soul. Once you’ve recognised the fact, you will overcome the assault. But if you find it a difficult struggle then I suggest with WF that you seek the guidance of a good spiritual guide, a wise and holy priest.
Athanasius,
Thank you very much for your advice and counsel, and for those writings. So NO MORE General Confessions for the rest of my life? Not even before confirmation?
CC.
CC,
I’m glad I could be of help, or rather Padre Quadrupani could. Mind now, no more general confessions!!
God bless you.
Catholic Convert
I know exactly how you feel. Athanasius will tell you, I suffered terribly from scruples. The minute I came away from the Confessional I worried that I didn’t make a good enough Confession. Be consoled, because the devil is very cunning. He sees the progress you have made and this infuriates him. So, he looks for the most effective way he can disguise himself and rob you of the peace that Confession brings, hoping you will eventually give up in despair.
The wonderful thing is, you are now on to him. You are recognising his tactics and that’s what he hates. Don’t give him an inch! Once I started asking myself, “Have I deliberately left anything out of my Confession?” and realising that the answer was “no”, I stopped thinking any more about it. Believe me, he will get sick of this game before you will.
I also recommend “Words of Encouragement” by Fr Daniel Considine SJ. It’s a gem.
CC1,
Athanasius has given you wise counsel. Heed it. If you can’t find a spiritual director, I might suggest this book in the meantime:- http://www.booksforcatholics.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=B&Product_Code=GSD&Category_Code= Guidance in Spiritual Direction by Fr Charles Hugo Doyle. The company is in the USA, they are reliable, I have purchased from them more than once. They used to sell a great book on Confession by Fr Alfred Wilson called ‘Pardon and Peace’ which is excellent. They don’t seem to stock it at the moment, but they have other titles by the same author on Confession that I haven’t read. But try and find ‘Pardon and Peace’ if you can, I think it will help you.
Westminsterfly,
Thank you for bringing Roman Catholic Books back to my attention. I ordered books from them years ago, but nothing recently. Their website really is a treasure trove for the believing Catholic.
As for ‘Pardon and Peace’, it is available on amazon.co.uk
I forgot to add that the Sophia Institute Press is also a great online resource.
Westminster Fly
I hope the following link is a help. It contains excerpts from different chapters, if not the whole book, Pardon and Peace, by Father Alfred Wilson.
http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/pardon-peace.htm
Has anyone else heard the rumour doing the rounds that the Neocatechumenal Way is about to be allowed to open up a seminary in a Scottish diocese?
Oh dear. If the rumour is true, pray that the Kiko cult doesn’t get a foothold there.
Prognosticum,
Nope – haven’t heard that but wouldn’t be surprised. It’s hard for the Bishops to swallow that we don’t have a single seminary on Scottish soil any more, having modernised them all out of existence, and so – as long as it’s not a traditional group – I imagine they will grasp at any straw. Let’s hope, however, that this is nothing more than an unfounded rumour because we’d have to keep a very close eye on any such seminary. It could even make us unpopular… 😀
Info about the Kiko cult here for those who don’t know the background, and the dangers:-
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_1995/features_apr95.html
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_2000/features_feb00_1.html
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_1997/features_nov97.html
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_2002/features_oct02.html
This is interesting: http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/1569-the-weirdest-schism-in-history-ewtn-and-cmtv-on-the-sspx
WF,
Many thanks for that link to the Remnant article about the EWTN report on the SSPX which was a big surprise. Hope Michael Voris sees it! EWTN is the very last organisation anyone would expect to support or promote schism!
I thought I’d post the video here, just in case anyone misses it in the Remnant article.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHi5OcldIvc
To quote from the Remnant article: “Say what you will about the SSPX but if this is “schism” it’s the weirdest one in history.”
I think this story about an Irish bishop will take legs since the LGBT people are up in arms about it
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/catholic-bishop-sparks-outrage-claiming-5301563
Two items of interest:-
Muslim Action Forum Seeks to Brand Depictions of Mohammed as ‘Hate Speech’ http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/03/10/muslim-action-forum-seeks-to-brand-depictions-of-the-prophet-mohammed-as-hate-speech
Date announced for Archbishop Romero’s beatification http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=24292
Westminster Fly,
Those are two interesting links. I don’t think the Muslim thing will come to anything because as it says in the article, there is no “homogenous” Muslim community.
The date for Romero’s beatification, set in May, is just another rushed job and only adds to the feeling that being beatified and canonised in the Catholic Church is no big deal any more. It’s all very sad.
Words of Patriarch Krill of the Russian Orthodox church on liars. It is a shame that he cannot apply these wise words to his own President, who has just admitted on a Russian TV programme that the takeover of Crimea was ordered by himself and executed by the Russian Army and Special Services (having issued bare-faced denials fr weeks):
“Do you not think the commandment saying ‘Do not bear false witness’ prohibits lying? The Book of the Wisdom of Sirach states: “A thief is better than an inveterate liar, yet both will suffer ruin.” (Sirach, 20:25). Jesus called devil straightforwardly “a liar and the father of lies” (John, 8:44). And the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians calls on all the Christians: “Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor […]” (Ephesians, 4:25).
Some personal speculations (after having lived in Russia for more than twelve years and after a lot of thought) on Fatima and the conversion of Russia.
It’s clear of course that Russia has not yet been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart, nor that Russia has been converted, despite maybe 75% of Russians identifying themselves as Orthodox. For very many, it’s a cultural identification which doesn’t involve knowledge of Scripture or attendance at Mass or any religious life at all. Nevertheless, Fatima-lite Catholics contend that this is the conversion Our Lady spoke about, and that we must therefore be in the period of peace promised by the Blessed Mother.
Some readers here will know that Fr. Malachi Martin – who read the Third Secret together with Cardinal Bea in the very early 1960’s – in one of his radio interviews of thirty years ago dropped the information that the Third Secret is very terrible and that it involves “Kiev and Moscow”. He repeated this two or three times, evidently wishing to point to future events that mark the onset of the rest of the Secret (the terrible parts).
Now, most readers here will be aware that the medieval state of Muscovy – broadly the modern Russian State – grew out of Stariy Rus’, or Kievan Rus’, which was originally a Viking State carved out of an area of warring tribe by Swedes trading with Constantinople. These Swedish Vikings later adopted Orthodoxy. As their Kievan Rus’ disintegrated in the 11th century, the Russian State over time coalesced further north, which is broadly why we have today two countries, one called Russia and one called Ukraine.
The ‘Fatima Lite’ position is of course untenable. The world is aflame with war: indeed, the Argentinian Pope has claimed that the Third World War has already started. We see violence, insurrection, heinous acts and breakdown all around us, on every Continent. Some period of peace!
And now we have Fr. Martin’s “Kiev and Moscow” at each other’s throats.
My speculations:
1. The Blessed Mother, when she said that “Russia will be converted” (to the Catholic Faith OR to the Orthodox Church once again in communion with Rome, which is in effect the same thing) may have been referring to Ukraine (Stariy Rus’) and not to the modern Russian State.
2. The situation in Ukraine, though calmer at the moment, will flare up again, get out of control, and takes the world towards World War III.
3. At that point even the Modernist Conciliar Church takes notice and Francis consecrates Russia to the Immaculate Heart along with the world’s Bishops, as requested.
Well, of course, all that is only one layman’s speculation and isn’t worth anything.
But a question: given that Pius XII was “very worried” (his own words) about the message of Fatima even in the 1930’s, why did he not consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart back in his days? One cannot (it seems to me) criticise John Paul II for consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart a couple of times, nor even this Pope for doing the same, when Pius XII did not better.
Rome of course knows something that we don’t. But what is it?
Bencjcarter,
We need make no mistake that the real Third World War has been raging for 50 years already. It is the War against the Catholic Faith that was begun during Vatican II by the Church’s internal enemies, and which continues to this day as those Modernist “time bombs” of mass destruction continue to explode.
Look at the devastation in the Church in just five decades and you’ll see how universally catastrophic the Conciliar Revolution has been, bearing in mind that the loss of a single soul is more awful to God than the destruction of the entire created universe.
The Third Secret of Fatima, then, speaks of a supernatural chastisement of unparalleled proportions, against which a global nuclear conflagration is a Sunday picnic. In fine, it is a spiritual chastisement, a great universal apostasy from God, starting in the Church “from the top down” and resulting in the loss of tens of millions of souls worldwide.
If there is a threat of material Third Word War, nuclear, between Russia and the West, which I would not rule out as probable in the very near future, then this is related to the Second part of the Secret of Fatima, which treated of material wars and punishments.
The deadliest spread of “Russia’s errors” however, has already occurred in the atheism which has crept into the souls and minds of Catholic prelates and simultaneously asserted itself aggressively in the governments of all the former Christian nations of the West.
All sadly true Athanasius. But we must not ignore the material Great Chastisement either I think.
We are currently living through the spiritual Chastisement following the apostasy – clearly the apostasy – of a swathe of the last half century’s Catholic Hierarchy (a new eruption from the old Lutheran / Zwinglian / Calvinistic volcano). The material Chastisement will see most of the world’s population dead and the form of the world changed. May God and His Heavenly Mother protect all of us.
It’s interesting that many exegetes down the centuries have placed Gog and Magog in the far north.
Bencjcarter,
Indeed! But I try not to fixate too much on material wars, etc. I leave these things in God’s hands and just keep my eyes fixed on the truths of the Faith, upholding them and combating the grave errors of these apostate times.
I remember one holy priest saying that we should not worry too much about the end of the world, which is unknown to us. Rather, we should concern ourselves with the end of our world, which comes by death and is absolutely certain within our life time. That’s very wise counsel.
Yes, good advice from that priest, and I have had the same advice myself many years ago with regard to St. John’s Apocalypse.
None of us know the moment of our own death. It could be in a forthcoming World War III or it could be – God forbid – this afternoon in a traffic accident.
Either way, we all have to be ready.
Bencjcarter,
Well, please God our death will not come this afternoon or any afternoon for the foreseeable future!! Now if I were a saint I wouldn’t be saying that!
Very interesting post! Thank you, for the little history lesson on Kiev and Moscow. The escalating tension in that region fits in with Fr. Malachi’s warning.
But a question: given that Pius XII was “very worried” (his own words) about the message of Fatima even in the 1930’s, why did he not consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart back in his days?. I have wondered that myself.
The answer to the question about Pius XII is that he became uncertain of how best to proceed, thanks to the anti-Fatima writings of the Jesuit Fr. Eduard Dhanis and other deceivers around him in the Vatican.
In his Apostolic Letter Sacro Vergente Anno of 1952, Pius did attempt to fulfill Our Lady’s request in a roundabout way when he wrote thus:
“Just as a few years ago We consecrated the entire human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, so today We consecrate and in a most special manner We entrust all the peoples of Russia to this Immaculate Heart…”
Sadly, like John Paul II’s famous unscripted line added to the end of his 1984 consecration of the world, which read: “Enlighten especially that nation whose consecration you still await from Us,” Pius’ attempt at a discreet consecration of Russia without the world’s bishops achieved nothing. Russia only increased in its atheistic boldness.
Of all the Popes from Pius XI through to the present incumbent of the Chair of Peter, only Pius XII and John Paul II, to their credit, really wanted to obey the request of Our Lady in its entirety. These, however, were dissuaded from acting fully by Moscow’s agents in the Vatican hierarchy, as well as by a publicity campaign downplaying the Fatima Message and Secret, and so never actually fulfilled heaven’s requirement for the conversion of Russia and the time of global peace. Instead, the Conciliar Revolution went on and Russia’s errors spread all over the world to the extent today that atheism is now dominant everywhere.
What will it take to finally get a Pope and his bishops to obey Our Lady, as we know will happen eventually? Will it be a global war? Who knows. All we know is what Our Lady told us: “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, she will be converted and the world will be granted a period of peace”. So, the calm after the storm. But first, sadly, the storm!
Just a reminder also that Pius XII was appointed Archbishop on May 13, 1917, and John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981. These dates are not coincidental!
Athanasius, you are spot on I believe with all of that. Excellent summary.
Yes, Fr Dhanis did untold damage to Fatima, as catalogued in great detail in ‘The Whole Truth about Fatima: Volume I: Science and the Facts’ by Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite. Sadly it is out-of-print now but second-hand copies can be found on Amazon.
WF,
The real tragedy is that Fr. Dhanis, though now dead, continues to influence the Popes with his skewed opinions, to the ever greater detriment of the Church and the world.
Yes, I think he was the only theologian mentioned by name in the 2000 Vatican document ‘The Message of Fatima’.
Oops! Should also have said that I have read the excellent writings of Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite on Fatima. I would strongly recommend others to purchase his three-volume work.
Athanasius and other CT bloggers,
The Fatima trilogy of Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite can also be found online – I know it’s a lot to wade through on a computer, but the three books are such crucial reading, and they are out of print. At least people will be able to read them this way if they can’t get the actual books. WARNING: the webpages listed below link to a fourth volume. This fourth volume is NOT by Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite, contains crackpot theories, and I do not, under any circumstances recommend that anyone read it. It’s a shame that they’ve tacked this fourth unrelated volume onto Frere Michel’s masterly trilogy, but there you go. I urge people studying Fatima to read Frere Michel’s trilogy and then follow up with books from the Fatima Network (The Devil’s Final Battle, The Secret Still Hidden, False Friends of Fatima, The Consecration of Russia, etc)
The Whole Truth about Fatima Volume I: Science and the Facts http://www.catholicvoice.co.uk/fatima1
The Whole Truth about Fatima Volume II: The Secret and the Church
http://www.catholicvoice.co.uk/fatima2
The Whole Truth about Fatima Volume III: The Third Secret
http://www.catholicvoice.co.uk/fatima3
I think it is very interesting that the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has just said openly that Russia is the greatest threat to Britain’s security.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11461324/Putins-Russia-could-be-single-greatest-threat-to-Britains-security-Philip-Hammond-warns.html
Father Dhanis of course is only one whose writings have led so many Catholics astray over the years. Here is a short list of other writings all Catholics should steer clear of:
Fr. Teilhard de Chardin
Fr. Hans Kung:
Fr. Edward Schillebeeckx
Taize Community
Bishop Rembert Weakland
Cardinal Kasper
Cardinal Suenens
Editor: satirical titles removed for a number of reasons, not least among them the fact that our trolls would have a field day disrupting the thread if they remained.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g27OPB27WbQ
Interesting video by the Remnant of the FSSP doing great work in Mexico.
I’m not convinced by Matt’s points on what he calls internecine fighting within the traditionalist movement however.
The bottom line is the FSSP were created to directly undermine the Traditionalist movement; to divide and conquer; to neutralize the growing threat from the FSSPX.
It didn’t work.
However we have the embarrassing silence of the ‘In full Communion’ – Traditional Societies – who tacitly consent to N.O., communion in the hand and all the other abuses.
Medjugorje: Interesting and encouraging news. Apologies if you have it already. Particularly interesting that the alleged seer Ivan seems to be particularly warned about. Not before time . . .
http://www.sanctepater.com/2015/03/medjugorje-warning-from-archbishop.html
WF,
This is brilliant news. I hope the priest in Motherwell who keeps promoting this hoax, reads that. Also the hapless editors of the so called Catholic papers who advertise it.
I think he is mentioned specifically solely because he was to speak that day.
Personally, I have never taken these “apparitions” seriously.
However, any Catholic basing their faith, and claims, on even recognised Shrines, or clerics/authors who promote them, rather than on Holy Scripture and Tradition, and the teaching of The Magisterium. is likely to be misled, or to mislead others.
Further, it is childish to argue this private revelation demands assent is nonsense, as all private revelations remain that.
The warning about Ivan might also be because of the information revealed by Marco Corvaglia about his wealth and property portfolio, which is widely known now in the USA. Being a ‘seer’ is not bad work if you can get it! But did I miss something? Who is basing their faith on Medjugorje or any other apparition – approved or otherwise? Who is arguing that Medjugorje demands assent? Not me CS.
I think, even the slowest of folk, who read this blog, will know the real agenda in attacking Medjogorje, is solely to promote the private revelations, and the misguided obsession with Russia.
Lack of Common Sense
You better count Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in with those misguided people.
They were not obsessed with Fatima or Russia, and usually visited any National Marian Shrine on their worldwide pilgrimages.
Didn’t Pope John Paul II add an unscripted prayer at the end of his Consecration of the world? Didnt he attribute his survival after the assassinaton attempt to Our Lady of Fatima? Didn’t Pope Benedict XVI say that anyone who believed Fatima was in the past was deceived?
Unless I have got it wrong people here, other than me, are especially critical of the two you cite to support your claims. Secondly, it runs contrary to the general run against holders of the See of Rome since 1960, and the idea one mustn’t base too much on the personal opinion of a particular Pope. Thirdly, JPll was influenced by his very personal experience of May 13th 1981, and neither man was convinced enough to fulfil a principal claim about the consecration of Russia. Fourthly, Pope Benedict, more than other recent Popes, frequently invited us to make real connections with historical events, and their relevance today. Both surely knew the difference between a private revelation and what is binding on all.
Didn’t John Paul II also say Fatima placed an obligation on the Church?? Not getting this, are you? 😉
He was expressing a personal opinion, and, therefore, generally, in your own view totally irrelevant.
However, no personal revelation can place an obligation on The Church. A private revelation doesn’t even bind the seers.
CS,
Take care. You are on the border of blasphemy there. Our Lady requested the Consecration of Russia – not one of the popes has denied that. They just won’t obey.
It is not blasphemy if the revelation is private and not binding on The Church, and if it were binding they would of done it. Simple really.
CS,
I apologise. It’s not blasphemy upon which you’re bordering, it’s insanity! 😀
Listen, nobody but nobody could be that stupid to say that a public revelation, recognised by the Church, two of the three seers already beatified, isn’t binding on the Church when Pope Benedict said it places an obligation on the whole Church – can’t do that if it’s not “binding”.
As for “simple really” – yes, I can see that now. You really are… 😀
The letter you posted says nothing, at all, about a journalist (?) called Marco, or the private wealth of an individual.
So John Paul the Great was wrong? Dear oh dear. The great, saint pope is only wrong when he supports Fatima! Your papolatory isn’t even consistent! 😉
Pope Saint John Paul expressed a personal opinion on a private revelation, in relation to Fatima, however, for example, on Liturgy, Ecumenism, Inter-faith Dialogue, Human Sexuality, and countless other issues he was teaching, and leading, as the holder of a Sacred Office.
The thing is I don’t claim every thing, a man holding the Papal Office, says or writes is correct, but I do say, in so far, as he expounds, and re-asserts, and proclaims teaching binding on all, for all time, he is to be listened to.
Hence, the difference between you and me, is you quote Pope’s who agree with you, especially on matters of private revelations and idiosyncratic views of theology and liturgy, and I quote them when they are faithful to Holy Scripture, and real, not imagined or make believe, Tradition.
Dear lack of Common Sense. Your struggling, aren’t you? The litmus test is not who agrees with me or who disagrees with me. The litmus test is Catholic Tradition.
I can imagine you are a child trying to force the wrong ends of a jigsaw together. That’s what you are doing here. Doesn’t work!
Lack of Common Sense
If it’s “childish” to cling to Tradition, I am childish. You, on the other hand, cling to heresy.
Clearly it can be seen I promote Tradition, and only used the word childish about those who cling to private revelations over, and above, and sometimes contrary, to Holy Scripture and Tradition.
I don’t think you could spell Tradition never mind promote it! 😉
Well your post speaks to your honesty, as I use the word often.
My 2 year old son also calls his bear a baby….doesn’t make it a baby in reality 😉
CS,
I’m getting impatient with you now – you do NOT cling to Tradition, quite the reverse.
Breaking news: Elton John calls for a boycott of the goods of homosexual fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana. Why? Because they disagree about same-sex families! This is further evidence that the ‘tolerance’ and ‘diversity’ in society called for by the ‘gay’ lobby is a complete sham. You either toe party line, or else. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11473198/Sir-Elton-John-calls-for-Dolce-and-Gabbana-boycott-after-row-over-same-sex-families.html
Comment removed – inappropriate response to the point of being off topic.
Pope Francis is about as Traditional as the world wide Web! Lack of Common Sense is about as Catholic as Ganesha!
Someone here objected to the extraordinary Holy Year as they happen ever 25/50 years. As is often the case, such folk are wrong. Pope Pius Xl had one such in 1933. Vatican ll was not even a glint in God’s eye then.
Wasn’t a glint in God’s eye in 1962 either!
CS,
I said that it had been usual to have them every 25 years – there have always been Extraordinary Holy Years, however. I’ve never denied that, just suggested that the “Extraordinary” Holy Years, like Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are now very VERY “ordinary” – ten a penny.
Couldn’t you leave a comment which was actually germane to the previous comment, rather than using it as yet another opportunity to indulge in more de haut en bas sneering about those who use this blog?
I think the comment, of mine, you objected to is in keeping with Cardinal Sarah quoted on Rorate Caeli, and echoing Pope Benedict and Ecclesia Dei. Self proclaimed Trad’s have much in common with Elton John. Cardinal Sarah: “Yes, this is the meaning of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. Benedict XVI spent considerable energy and hope in this undertaking. Alas, he did not succeed completely, because ones and others have “clutched” to their rite by excluding themselves mutually. In the Church, each one must be able to celebrate according to his sensibility. It is one of the conditions for the reconciliation. It is also necessary to bring people to the beauty of the liturgy, to its sacrality. The Eucharist is not a “meal among mates”, it is a sacred mystery. If we celebrate it with beauty and fervor, we will reach a reconciliation, this is clear. Nevertheless, it cannot be forgotten that it is God who reconciles, and that will take time.”
Comedy gold!
Comment deleted. Falls into the category of “looking for a fight”.
This comment went into moderation of its own accord. However, CS, I’m afraid you are going to have to be moderated again as we again going round in circles. No point. Your beliefs are not in accord with the beliefs of the Catholics on this blog. Please stop wasting everyone’s time. Given your lack of response to my invitation, I’m concluding that you are not in good faith and only here to stir things up. Won’t happen.
I still haven’t read your invitation, and so I have no idea what you are talking about in relation to the invitation.
Editor: I do not believe you. When you said that on the blog, I took the trouble of digging out the post and giving you the link. However, stretching credulity to its limits, allow me to repeat it here: the invitation was to meet some of us for coffee to discuss the issues that are taking us round in circles, as we do that from time to time with bloggers who appear to be at odds with us, to put it mildly. Will you?
But none of this is germane to my original comment – which was about Elton John vs D&G so I don’t understand why you’re rambling on about trads and the liturgy, as I never mentioned either of these things. But then, I forgot. I don’t have to understand. You’re a troll, and it’s impossible to make sense of what motivates you and why you have an unhealthy obsession with this blog.
You wrote in criticising a particular lobby ” You either toe party line, or else”, but that is your attitude to The Pope and millions, nay billions, of Catholics worldwide. And yet they, not you, are in line.
It is of you, and people like you, Cardinal Sarah said: ” because ones and others have “clutched” to their rite by excluding themselves mutually”.
Whereas you are clutching at straws! 🙂
WF,
I’ve already deleted one such off topic comment, and will be on the look out for more. I am extremely irked having come in here for a quick check only to find I’m having to police the thread, thanks to CS and his nonsense. He’s overstepping the mark. Again.
Liturgy and those entrusted to protect it is never a joke.
It’s a shame no one told Paul VI and Archbishop Bugnini that! 😉
Pope Benedict, a theologian and scholar of the liturgy, I think answers your nonsense:
“There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books. The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.”
The comedy of errors is produced by those who reject Church teaching, and not those who exercising absolute, universal, authority expound great truths, in the light of Holy Scripture and Tradition, whilst fulfilling their Magisterial Office, and implementing the Teaching of one of The Great Councils of The Church.
More comedy gold. But if Pope John Paul the Almighty was wrong about Fatima….couldn’t Pope Benedict XVI be wrong about the two missals?
Watch you don’t trip after tying yourself in knots! 😉
No, the two Missals thing was based on The Teaching of a Church Council, and made in Communion with The College of Bishops, and Fatima remains a private revelation, which many Bishops do not seem unconcerned about, and no Pope has been convinced enough to fulfil a non binding request based on a wholly private revelation. Thus, the Church, in Communion with Rome, changed the liturgy, and some seers, following a private revelation, convinced some listen to them, and even those convinced of the revelation are not convinced enough to do what was supposedly asked of them.
Oh this will be good! Which document of which Church Council sanctioned two missals and said that both missals were different forms of the same rite???
CS,
You haven’t a clue. You are now being moderated again and frankly, I suggest you go quietly elsewhere. I will NOT be releasing any lengthy posts that require MY time and energy before releasing.
As I said above, the fact that you failed even to acknowledge my invitation, suggests to me that you are in bad faith.
You keep repeating ridiculous errors, including about Fatima, which Pope Benedict says “places an obligation on the whole Church” – never the case with purely private revelations – and you won’t take on board the fact that it’s a public prophetic revelation, given the miracle witnessed by upwards of 70,000 people, so we are done wasting time with you. By all means read this blog, but I would prefer if you stopped posting comments. As I explained above, there is no way in this world that I am going to be reading lengthy posts from you in moderation, taking time to correct your daft errors and then releasing. That happened last time, it will not happen again. Please read but do not contribute. If you do, you’ll have to wait until I can get time to release your posts and nothing, absolutely NOTHING that has been already corrected, whether on the subject of Fatima, Mass, Papal Authority, whatever, will be released. This is a Catholic blog. Get over it.
I recently bought a Missal from Baronius Press, finally, and I have a question regarding ribbons, and preventing them from fraying. Gabriel Syme recommended fray stop or clear nail varnish, but which works best? I’m looking for something reasonably permanent.
Hi CC
I cant fault “fray check” – its been on my ribbons for over 2 years and no issues whatsoever. My ribbons look great. (I secretly scoff at the frayed ribbons of my fellow worshippers at mass).
Its specifically designed for this purpose and, while other things may work (eg nail varnish) they are ultimately compromises and may not be as robust – e.g. nail varnish might chip off, over time.
You can get “fray check” for a few quid at a haberdashery / curtain / fabric store, or its easily found via ebay or google (though if bought online, watch out for added P&P).
Hi Gabriel,
This is the stuff which I bought from a haberdashers: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281578375529?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108
Will that do? Do I just dip the ends in?
That looks ideal CC.
Just put each ribbon-end on a paper towel (to catch any excess) and squeeze a small drop of the fluid out to cover the last 5mm of the ribbon. Do both sides. Make sure it goes on the bottom edge of the ribbon in particular, where fraying starts if untreated.
And leave to air dry. It may darken the fabric colour at first when wet, but it will return to normal when it dries out.
HI Gabriel,
Don’t you have to rub it in? I was just thinking because this fluid is white, and I didn’t want to leave the ribbons with white blobs at the ends.
Ah – the “fray check” fluid I used was a clear fluid, and it was absorbed easily into the fabric on its own, I didn’t have to rub it in.
In the link you provided, the blurb on the bottle says “dries clear” so I don’t think it will leave white marks – I would just make sure that the fluid you apply is well absorbed and don’t leave any large excess.
I put some on each ribbon, and removed the excess, and it has dried clear. It’s just ‘shiny’ and stiff now.
It seems Bishop Richard Williamson may be about to formally cut himself off from the Catholic Church.
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/03/breaking-exclusive-former-sspx-bishop.html#more
Athanasius,
That’s very sad, although not really unexpected.
Athanasius,
Thanks for alerting us to the Rorate breaking news about Bishop Williamson. If the event goes ahead, we’ll launch a thread on the subject, so hold fire everyone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X275oBsuwvc&list=PLZxhyk4vzzQ6EhWiBPIOGf3g72BEro5dh
Great discussion about the latest tripe to come from Rome
I wish Michael Matt wouldn’t call Paul VI “Blessed”. It undermines his position, IMHO.
I think he choked when he said it.
check out the video at 0:50
I know he hesitated to make the point but why not just say “Pope Paul VI”? I don’t understand it when people oppose something and then go along with it by using the language that approves it.
Summa,
Very interesting conversation – thanks for posting the Remnant Forum video.
I completely agree with both Michael Matt and Christopher Ferrara – Pope Francis is just unbelievable, and like Michael Matt, I am not fooled by his occasional “orthodoxy” which serves to keep the useful idiots happy.
Ed. I believe that the video represented that moment when there is nothing left but to laugh, rather than cry. Christopher Ferrara is an unconscious comic.
Summa,
We said that when we launched our newsletter – that we had to choose whether to laugh or cry at what was going on, hence the satire; we chose to laugh. And that was way back in 1999. How much more the need to “laugh” now. Albeit a (very) hollow laugh!
If Bishop Williamson consecrates a bishop (to play devil’s advocate) is this not similar to Archbishop’s Levrebe’s consecrations. For all bishop williamson’s faults I do believe he thinks that the SSPX will do a deal with Rome and has seen what has happened to other fraternities which has joined with Rome. Therefore he see’s he has to protect tradition at all cost’s.
John,
Bishop Williamson’s claim that the SSPX is ready to do a deal with Rome is a complete myth, invented by him to cause division at a crucial time for the Church and the SSPX. The fact is that the SSPX continues in the spirit of Archbishop Lefebvre to communicate with Rome (a perfectly Catholic thing to do) without compromising the Faith. When we get to the point of saying that all communication should stop, then we have arrived at formal schism with the Church’s legitimate authorities.
As for the consecration of a bishop or bishops that may occur on March 19th, such a scenario would in no way mirror the situation of 1988 and would, therefore, be a truly schismatic and excommunicable offence.
Remember that when Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated four bishops back in 1988, it was because there were no bishops in the Church prepared to ordain priests for the Traditional Mass. Indeed, the Mass itself was almost universally forbidden. Hence, the Archbishop’s actions were justified in Canon Law under a state of emergency.
Since that time we have seen the rise and spread of the likes of the FSSP, ICKSP, Opus Dei, Good Shepherd Society, etc., all of which institutions have bishops who are prepared to ordain priests for the Traditional Mass, which was finally liberated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 through Summorum Pontificum.
In addition to this the SSPX has three bishops and numerous seminaries for the formation and ordination of Traditional priests. Hence, there is no “state of emergency” in relation to the priesthood today and so bishop Williamson has no cause to illicitly consecrate a bishop. If he proceeds to do so, then it is absolutely certain that his act will be a schismatic one and that he and other participants will be automatically excommunicated from the Church. There is not a shadow of a doubt about this. I hope he pulls back from so deadly a move but my fear is that he and his followers are now completely hardened in their bitterness and blind to all reason.
Athanasius
I agree with all your points you make . why do you think Rome wants this continuous dialogue. Is it possibly to stop the SSPX from speaking out about Pope Francis the bishops have been quite quiet especially about the recent synod.
My concern is that there will be sweet talked into doing a deal with Rome.
John,
I admit that it’s something of a mystery that Pope Francis appears to be condoning discussions with the SSPX, especially in light of what he did to the FFI. But I don’t think it’s a trick of any kind, certainly not with Bishop Athanasius Schneider involved. There is no way he would get caught up in a scam to undermine Tradition, I know that much about him.
No, as far as I can see these are discussion that were agreed way back in Benedict’s reign when the imminently-expected Personal Prelature suddenly fell through. For me then, the discussions are just an opportunity for the SSPX to demonstrate the success of its mission based on the ancient Faith and to seek to impress upon these delegates from Rome the urgent need to re-visit Vatican II and the Liturgical reform. There will be no sweet talking the SSPX into compromise, that’s just a myth invented to cause division and unrest. Bishop Fellay and his fellow SSPX superiors are far too shrewd to fall foul of any trap.
Athanasius
Opus Dei priests do not celebrate the Traditional Mass.
Opus Dei priests do not celebrate the Traditional Mass.
Correct they celebrate traditional mass production though 😉
Boom boom.
Sorry editor I did not see your 11-10 am post
John,
That’s OK – no harm done. If the rumour turns out to be true, we’ll launch a thread and discuss the issues in some depth, hopefully.
Summa, thank you for that link. I’ve just watched it through, and once more thank God for Michael Matt and Christopher Ferrara and all those who have preceded them, and, I hope, will follow them in the defence of the faith against such seemingly impossible odds.
Re the meetings between Rome (Cardinal Brandmuller and Bishop Schneider) and the SSPX, I was heartened to see these prelates described as ‘more sympathetic individuals’ with whom to have discussions by the District Superior in his recent Letter.
Christina,
I suspect that the longer Pope Francis holds office, the greater will be the number of prelates becoming more sympathetic to the SSPX. Call it a gut feeling!
Could anyone tell me if seminarians just before ordination and those entering the religious life have to make general confessions? I know that prior to the abolition of tonsure and minor orders in 1972, seminarians had to recite the Seven Penitential Psalms.
Has anyone ever seen this before? “A Letter from Beyond”: This letter recounts the tragic story of the eternal damnation of a young woman named Ani. Both the narrative and the letter in the link below were found among the papers of a deceased nun, who in the world was known as Claire and worked with the condemned woman. This letter was revealed to Claire in a dream shortly after Ani was killed in a car accident.
The narrative received an Imprimatur from the diocese of Treves, Germany in 1953, authorizing its publication as highly instructive. While an Imprimatur is not an affirmation of authenticity, it guarantees that the text is free from doctrinal error. The letter first appeared in a book of revelations and prophecies. Fr. Bernhardin Krempel, Doctor of Theology, published it separately and lent it more authority with his footnotes showing the letter’s absolute concordance with Catholic Doctrine.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/ANF/2012-July/Letter+from+Beyond_Layout+2.pdf
NB: I have seen this document before, but this particular version came to me today via ‘America Needs Fatima’ who I do not support as they claim Russia has been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Westminster Fly,
I’ve just read that whole link right through and it is chilling. A great meditation on Hell.
There’s just one thing that puzzled me, right at the end, where it says the souls of the damned don’t see God at their judgment. The letter speaks about the “invisible Judge” but I thought that was the nub of their suffering – that they had seen God but were denied spending eternity with him?
WF
I too have seen this before. You state that both the narrative and the letter were found – but the narrative states that the letter burned up once the reader has finished reading it. I don’t argue with the orthodoxy contained within it, but I very much doubt it was a true event.
MM I found it truly terrifying – certainly more so than any sermon on hell that I recall. If I may presume to comment on your puzzlement, I believe that no soul that deserves damnation will see God at its judgement, the reason being that having died in mortal sin it lacks sanctifying grace and is thereby incapable of seeing Him. Though the analogies are inadequate, they made sense to me when the good nuns taught me long ago that just as a bird, to live its natural life, must be able to fly, and a fish must be able to swim, so we, to see God face to face, must possess the supernatural life of the soul which is sanctifying grace. Although we usually think, in terms of the parables, that God ‘sends’ us to hell if we die in mortal sin, we really send ourselves there by losing the very capacity to see Him which was given to us et Baptism.
I forgot to add that the worst pain of the damned is the pain of loss, which they can feel in dreadful intensity even though they haven’t actually been able to see the beatific vision.
I remember reading ( I can’t recall where ) it may have been by St John Bosco that souls would willingly throw themselves into hell than look into the face of the wrath of God. Has anybody else read that?
Madame Editor,
Fr. Grüner is promoting a 122 page book called Only She can help us. Evil forces are driving the world toward war by James Hanisch at $10 each copy plus a heavy postal cost.
This book deserves to be read, but obtaining a hard copy may put off many would-be readers.
Here is how to download a free .pdf copy of the book which can be read off line at leisure:
➣ Follow this link: http://www.evil-forces.org/reviews.html and double click the smaller of the two pictures (above where it says “Place your Order”).
➣ The 2Mb .pdf file will download to your screen, ready to be read.
➣ Go to the Menu bar at the top of your screen and click “File” and then select “Save Page As” and save it to Documents as “EvilForces”.
➣ From here you can open it to read on your computer.
However,
➣ If you have an iPad, you can email a copy of the file to yourself.
➣ Open Mail on your iPad and access the new email.
➣ Click the attachment and the file will download on to your iPad.
➣ Press and hold the icon which replaces the original icon as a downloaded file, and a set of choices will present itself.
➣ Choose: “Open in iBooks” and the book will open ready for you to start reading, and it will also install itself in the iBooks Library so that you can call it up at will on your iPad whenever convenient.
I am looking forward to reading it for myself, and hope these instructions will enable others to do the same.
Madame Editor,
I provided the information in my previous post on the basis of a long-standing admiration for the tireless efforts of Fr. Grüner in support of Our Lady of Fatima. I agree with your privately confided view that the above book represents a diversion from his usual line, and I would recommend bloggers to read instead what Fr. Karl Stehlin has to say about Fatima in his 4th newsletter, which can be viewed at this link:
http://Www.archivist2017.webspace.virginmedia.com
It is short, but full of suggested Catholic Action.
Leprechaun,
Thank you for that link. The newsletter was very interesting, and as Athanasius mentioned, some very interesting anniversaries coming up! I did not know St. Maximilian Kolbe, specifically commended the Freemasons to Our Lady in the ejaculation, O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee “
Leprechaun,
Thank you for that great link to Fr. Stehlin’s newsletter. I greatly admire Fr. Stehlin, a servant of Our Lady in the spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe. The linked newsletter named some very interesting anniversaries that all come together in 2017. Very intriguing!
I see that Bishop Richard Moth has been appointed to replace the recently disgraced Kieron Conroy in England.
+Moth moves from being Bishop of the Armed Forces to Conroys former Diocese.
Does anyone know anything about Bishop Moth? Is he in the same vein as +Egan and +Williams, or more aligned with the “magic circle” type of Bishops whom blight England?
More Magic Circle, I believe.
Fr Z reports that 8 major studies of identical twins prove homosexuality Is NOT genetic
From his source:
“Eight major studies of identical twins in Australia, the U.S., and Scandinavia during the last two decades all arrive at the same conclusion: gays were not born that way.”
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2015/03/8-major-studies-of-identital-twins-prove-homosexuality-is-not-genetic/
This news makes all those pandering, powder puff Bishops look even worse – and now stupid to boot!
I am sure this news will be largely ignored by the secular media, but it will be fun to refer to this work when debating with the usual dunderheids.
Gabriel Syme, thank you for that interesting link, and you’re right, of course, this research will be ignored by just about everyone.
The daft thing is that research was never necessary, as those of us who have lived a long time know perfectly well (though most of those who have lived a long tme have sadly allowed themselves to be brainwashed by the younger generation and have become sodomy’s useful idiots).
As the unbrainwashed elders will tell anyone who cares to listen, sodomy and lesbianism were rather rare vices before the middle of the C20th. An 80-something priest told me that it simply wasn’t known in the seminaries during his time, and he was puzzled as to what had happened to change sexual morality in this direction so dramatically since then. I know, from my own experience that many schoolgirls routinely had ‘crushes’ on older girls, grew out of them and emerged from puberty with no ‘orientation’ other than the one that corresponded to their gender. So what has changed? It is what Leo, in an inspired turn of phrase, labelled ‘hissing screeching Big Sodomy’. Truly the sodomitic lobby is a unspeakable monster whose many hissing screeching heads multiply exponentially with every passing day.
As a result of its seemingly unstoppable activity, a young girl who ‘has a crush’ on an older is told by all her peers, who hear the monster’s voice daily, that she is a lesbian. My granddaughter was bullied at school and told she was a lesbian because she was quite shy and withdrawn. Similarly boys, who are unusually sensitive, or have musical and artistic talents, attract the g word from their peers. It is easy to understand how such peer pressure during so important a stage in life, together with the sex-perversion education they are concurrently receiving, should persuade boys and girls, that they are homosexual, and later they are easily confirmed in their delusion by the easy acceptance of it and the near-adulation of their vice by society at large.
Sodomites and lesbians are not hapless victims of an ‘orientation’ – they indulge in vice which the pre-conciliar Church counted among those crying to heaven for vengeance, and no Catholic should think otherwise.
A great heart warming story of Christian Faith on CFN
http://www.cfnews.org/page88/files/7f4c125e374ad95e8c6acd5c3defa054-358.html
So much to depress at the moment. This has cheered me up immensely.
Cardinal Nichols at it again . . . http://spuc-director.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/cardinal-nichols-criticism-of-faithful.html
Westminster Fly,
There’s comments on the 500 priests and Cardinal Nichols rebuke to them over on the German Bishops thread.
It’s so typical of him, it’s unbelievable. He just won’t stand for orthodoxy at all.
MM
Sorry, didn’t see the comments on that thread. As for Nichols, you don’t know the half of it . . .
I should think many regular contributors to this blog will no doubt be praying their Stations of the Cross, as we approach Holy Week.
I’ve been using a Catholic Truth Society booklet – ‘Meditations on the Stations of the Cross’, by Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (ref D 600). I’d like to quote some of the text from the Sixth Station – Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus – this surely is enough to give the Tina Beatties of this world a hissy fit…
….’As Jesus toils along up the hill, covered with the sweat of death, a woman makes her way through the crowd, and wipes His face with a napkin. In reward of her piety the cloth retains the impression of the Sacred Countenance upon it. The relief which a mother’s tenderness secured is not yet all she did. Her prayers sent Veronica as well as Simon – Simon to do a man’s work, Veronica to do the part of a woman. The devout servant of Jesus did what she could. As Magdalen had poured the ointment at the feast , so Veronica now offered Him this napkin in His Passion. ‘Ah,’ she said, ‘would I could do more! Why have I not the strength of Simon, to take part in the burden of the Cross? But men only can serve the Great High Priest, now that He is celebrating the solemn act of sacrifice’….
Well, how dare he write such male chauvinist stuff! Next time the ‘noble’ Tina gets an invite to the Vatican, it will surely be to lobby for the revoking of Cardinal Newman’s Beatification…..
Allegations being made online that the pilot who crashed the plane was a recent muslim convert. This hasn’t appeared in the mainstream press yet – I wonder if it is true?
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2015/03/breaking-german-news-germanwings-airbus-co-pilot-was-muslim-convert
Looking again at the mainstream press, I think these allegations are almost certainly false. Other evidence is emerging which points to some kind of mental illness as being the likely reason for this tragedy
https://harvestingthefruit.com/a-masterstroke-of-evil-genius/
It’s hard to believe (I literally mean that) even though I know this crazy stuff is widespread. But when you see this stuff again, it still knocks you.
May everyone at Catholic Truth have a Blessed Holy Week and a Holy and Happy Easter!
The Phony Synod
http://www.fatimaperspectives.com/sv/perspective716.asp
After reading this, it reminds me so much about the Machiavellian Machinations of the Malignant Arian Malcontents who St. Athanasius fought tooth and nail.
Summa,
Thank you for posting that article by Christopher Ferrara – really excellent. He’s absolutely correct – commenting and correcting errors, notably the errors being spread abroad by the pro-Kasper camp at the Synod, is not “gossip”. It’s a basic Catholic duty. So, thank you again for posting the link.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-06/hadron-collider-successfully-restarts/6372158
More than 10,000 scientists work directly or indirectly on the LHC’s four experiments, while the facility itself operates on a budget of nearly $1.5 billion a year.
How about 10,000 folk working on $1,500,000,000 with a view to bringing about something that actually matters?
I could think of so many things.
Summa,
Well said. Like you, I can think of so VERY many better things on which to spend all that money.
Click here to read another interesting – to put it mildly – report. We used to say that the devil is in the detail. Now it seems more accurate to say the devil is in the synod cardinals… or at least some very obvious synod cardinals…
God help us all. Who needs enemies when we have friends like these?
That is shocking. It’s just beyond belief that he’s been put in a position to lead the synod on the family!
I was at CERN 5 years ago and it is a common misunderstanding that a vast amount of money is being wasted in the exploration and investigation into the structure of matter.
The same argument was used in the 1960s moon race.
The fact is that to explore the interactions of matter really sophisticated imaging techniques have been developed.
These techniques are then used by the medical profession to pinpoint emerging cancers that are so so small that they can be identified and treated before the patient is under any threat. Potentially eliminating that dread disease.
Why are these instruments not so widely available? You know the answer: Governments want to spend billions on weapons of mass destruction rather than on weapons for mass health.
The Good Lord has given us the intellect to explore and investigate His universe and the spin offs should be used for the advantage of people.
http://www.cfnews.org/page88/files/4612b11ab534bf6eabb520ccdec2da04-362.html
Interesting article on the Theological Structure proposed by Cardinal Muller.
Anyone else see the danger in this?
Yes, I see a danger because what if Cardinal Kasper or some other liberal was appointed head of the CDF – what sort of theological structure for a pontificate would he make?
The Pope used to be in charge of the CDF not the other way round. We can see diabolical disorientation everywhere, right to the top of the house now.
Well Margaret, Kasper is only one prominent member of a liberal majority in the Catholic Church unfortunately, so between that possibility and the possibility of another liberal Pope, we are in for the same old same old for a good time yet.
Would fellow bloggers join me in a prayer to St. Joseph for a very special intention?
Helen,
I will definitely join you in praying to St Joseph for your special intention.
Helen,
You may depend on my prayers for you intention. St. Joseph has just answered a petition of mine in a most incredible way, so be assured that you will be heard.
Helen,
I will join you in your prayers to St. Joseph for your special intention. He is a gentle and powerful saint!
Helen,
Yes, I will join in your prayer for a special intention. St Joseph is one of the most powerful intercessors in Heaven.
Thank you both so much! Athanasius, it is very heartwarming to hear that St. joseph answered your petition.
Helen,
Yes, I was deeply touched by St. Joseph’s response to my petition. And he answered it so quickly. I prayed for your intention at his altar today.
Editor,
“Goldmine”, eh? I never thought of that. My petition begins immediately for your ousting and my installation!!
Helen,
As long as your petition is not to oust me from my important position as Editor of Catholic Truth and associated website/blog of international renown, count me in! If, however, you are harbouring ambitions to take over the running of this goldmine, email me and we can arrange a private deal. No need to trouble St Joseph!
Helen
Of course. I hope your prayer is answered speedily.
Has there been any news lately about the court case against Father Matthew Despard?
Pew Catholic,
Nope! When my contacts ring me with an update, I’ll post it here right away, worry not your annoyingly sunny little head 😀
Editor
How dare you accuse Pew Catholic of worrying ! He will surely take offence and tell you not to assume he is worrying! Whatever you do, don’t try to help him! That will tip him over the edge. Mind your ps and qs now! 😉
Nay, Petrus, nay, nay, nay!
Pew Catholic is much more likely to report you to the Gender Discrimination Police. You’ve obviously forgotten about our discussions on women’s ordination, else you’d have remembered that “he” is, in fact, a “she”
Game, set and match to moi! Me as well!
Editor
I read that Michael Voris of ‘Church Militant TV’ is appearing in London again on May 1st this year. After his disgraceful attacks on the SSPX, the Remnant and traditional Catholics in general, I hope that Catholics will vote with their feet and stay away. I wonder who is sponsoring / promoting his appearance this time? I sincerely hope that no UK Catholic organisations are involved . . .
Westminster Fly,
I Googled just now and discovered that, according to the Catholic Herald “This initiative has been arranged by Paul Smeaton, son of John Smeaton of SPUC.”
I think it may be worth posting a thread on this soon to remind readers why they would gain nothing, except perhaps a headache, from attending any Voris event. His talk is about “living the faith radically” which is nothing short of hilarious – Voris is about as radical as fish ‘n chips on an outing to the seaside.
Rorate Caeli reports that Argentina has formally recognised the SSPX as part of the Catholic Church, at the request of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Poli.
The information presented says that the Society’s presence will be regarded as an “Association of Diocesan Right” until “it finds its definitive juridical framing within the Church Universal”.
Of course, that the SSPX is Catholic is hardly news to us here, but it provides a further slap-down to the enemies of the Society who maliciously claim it is not Catholic.
As Rorate notes, this does not mean a formal Canonical resolution is forthcoming for the SSPX, but it does indicate the resolve of the Society not to be seen as a separate entity and also Rome’s fundamental recognition of the Society as Catholic.
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/04/argentina-formally-recognizes-sspx-as.html#more
Gabriel Syme
That’s amazing news. Wonderful. I just hope it doesn’t turn out to be a hoax!
I certainly can’t believe that Pope Francis would want it. That’s a dream too far!
Editor,
Yes, I thought it was good news.
Earlier, I figured Francis was due some credit as he is on record as helping the Society in Argentina – even if he is no particular fan of the Society and tradition in general. But then I remembered what the FFI have been through and so wondered if I had been too optimistic (or naive!).
The news is on DICI and Ecclesia Dei has also commented (the usual blabber about full communion etc from ++Pozzo). Both sources agree that it is not a canonical or universal development.
DICI alludes that Francis would have indeed been involved in the decision, but plays down the event as a mere “administrative procedure” – which, from the SSPX point of view at least, is all it is.
Still, it is good that the Society appears on the official list of Catholic orders present in Argentina. A(nother) poke in the eye for those who would demonise or demean the Society.
Here is the DICI link:
http://www.dici.org/en/news/argentina-the-state-of-argentina-recognizes-the-society-of-st-pius-x-administratively/
CT should now demand that ++Tartaglia follow this good example! (or maybe not as he is still convalescing after his heart attack! 😉 )
Well it is the Year of Mercy!
Gabriel Syme,
That’s very good news indeed, then. Another piece of evidence, as you indicate, to answer the false allegation of “schism” still, amazingly, coming from the numpties who can’t tell a Church crisis from a bar of chocolate.
I can’t see Archbishop Tartaglia agreeing to do the same – as you hint, the very suggestion may even bring on another heart attack!
https://youtu.be/cq6HhvI-EcE
You may ask how low and sinful have the Voris Valetudinarians fallen?
Desperation? CMTV defends at all costs, a fantasy world depiction of a schismatic SSPX? Looks like it.
Summa, I haven’t been able to watch the video yet, but I did read this response to it from Chris Ferrara (on the remnant website):
The buffoonery of Voris and his crew of post-adolescent “reporters” continues. They continue to prattle on about a “schism” that is now recognized by Cardinal Poli and the Argentine Republic as a Society of Diocesan Right “within the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church.” That’s “within,” not” without. Within, you blockheads! Within!
More than buffoonery, this is sheer malice. Neither Cardinal Poli nor the Vatican has declared that there is any “schism” involved here. Voris and company are engaged in a childish grudge match, and Voris is literally using children to advance it as his spokesmen. CMTV has taken on the aspect of a bizarre personality cult.
I used to have a high regard for Voris and was impressed by him, when he came to Scotland (Carfin) a few years back.
But since then, he appears to have taken all leave of his senses; he seems somewhat disorientated as his repeated attacks on the SSPX clearly show.
Sometimes I wonder if these attacks are not born of a vainglorious concern that it will ultimately be the SSPX, and not Michael Voris, recognised as the saviour of the Catholic Church.
Editor, I think you may be wrong about Archbishop Tartaglia not agreeing to do the same in regards to the SSPX. He may not be over friendly towards Traditional matters but he is no apostate. It is possible that with some encouragement he may consider the proposition for the good of the Church. I don’t think he is a complete puppet as are some of the other Scottish bishops. Also, from his point of view it cannot be good for the Church to be splintered the way it is. SSPX chapels are crowded and becoming even more popular, so it would be good to bring them onboard, so to speak.
Mind you, I wouldn’t want to bring another heart attack on!
Helen,
Why don’t YOU write to him, then, with your suggestion. We’ll await his/your response with bated breath!
Alright then, I will. I’ll have to look out his email details. I’ll wait until the kiddies are in bed.
Great. Will listen for the hollow laughter!
For anyone who can make one of the venues, there are meetings about the Named Person Legislation scheduled for Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Elgin in the near future, organised by the No2NP group… Click here for details
I had to laugh (oh, the irony of it!) when I read a statement made by the German Cardinal, Brandmuller. Herewith:
Cardinal Brandmüller: Advocates for changing Catholic teaching on marriage are ‘heretics’ – even if they are bishops.
Now just WHO are the heretics?! Well, we have Cardinal Nichols for one. And THEY have the sheer nerve to shout “heretics” regarding the SSPX! So, the Church is full of heretical bishops and cardinals. It’s official.
At least our Archbishop, Tartaglia is not one of them!
Crofterlady,
I was encouraged by those remarks by Cardinal Brandmuller.
However, he (and others) need to drop the diplomacy and start calling out Bishops by name, instead of limiting himself to vague references.
Of course, informed and faithful Catholics know fine well who he is referring to, but more pointed statements will be required to awaken the sleeping majority.
Crofterlady,
Well spotted. I knew if we kept you long enough, you’d be useful 😀
Further to the thread supporting Archbishop Cordileone (of San Francisco), a few months back, Eponymous Flower reports that the news advert by “prominent Catholics” – asking for his removal as Archbishop – seems to have backfired.
A San Francisco news outlet ran a poll regarding the advert and found that the Archbishop enjoys a healthy support, he is not the unwanted pariah that homosexualists and wealthy quasi-catholics would have us believe.
The poll question was “Should Pope Francis remove Archbishop Cordileone from the Archdiocese of San Francisco?” and people had to chose a response from a list.
The % responses to the poll were:
76 percent, “No, the archbishop promotes the values of the Catholic Church”;
12 percent: “Yes, the Archbishop stoking a climate of intolerance”;
10 percent, “No, the archbishop is right to oppose same-sex marriage”;
2 percent, “Yes, his moral code for the teachers of Catholic schools is contrary to the law.”
http://eponymousflower.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/backfire-call-for-archbishop.html
As well as rubbishing the nonsensical advert from these self important “prominent Catholics”, the responses also highlight how the public image of San Francisco as a liberal place of depravity is deliberately engineering and maintained by a minority.
Gabriel Syme,
That poll result is very interesting indeed, given the “liberal” history of that archdiocese.
Having even one “traditional leaning” archbishop is proving to much for the “tolerance” brigade. It’s heartening that Archbishop Cordileone is so strong, and has even been known, shock horror, to offer the Traditional Latin Mass. Whatever next?!*!? 😯
Please pray for this family in America – a very sad story indeed. On way to hospital with wife due to deliver their 8th child, the father was killed in an accident. Very sad – please pray for them.
I think it’s interesting that the Pope is going to visit the Turin Shroud but not stopping at Medjugorje when he goes to that part of the world.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/04/20/pope-francis-to-visit-turin-shroud/
Yes! Medjugorje has also apparently been snubbed when he visits Bosnia-Hercegovina later this year. His schedule for that trip can be seen here:- http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/04/14/vatican-reveal-popes-itinerary-for-sarajevo-visit The Pope also made that comment a while back, about Our Lady not being a ‘postmistress’ delivering ‘messages’ every day http://protectthepope.com/?p=9160. But Francis seems so whimsical and inconsistent, you never know what he might say or do regarding Medjugorje. If he ever does show any sign of supporting the fraudulent Medjugorje cult, the damage done to Marian devotion will be incalculable.
(Ive seen this chilling story from France a few places, but here is the BBC version:)
An Algerian national (so presumably a muslim) has been arrested with firearms, on suspicion of planning attacks on Churches in Paris.
He seemingly shot himself by accident (!) and phoned for an ambulance. The authorities then found firearms in his possession and notes on planned targets. The Police say its “beyond doubt” that the man was planning an imminent attack on Churches.
He is also being questioned regarding the murder of a French Woman found dead at the weekend.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32409253
I thought this was an interesting article, (linked below), regarding the revival of female religious life in England and Wales.
(The article is aimed at a secular audience and is accordingly irritating in places (!) but I thought that some of the content was good news and encouraging).
Overall 45 women entered convents in England and Wales last year, officially a 12 per cent increase on the previous year but a 50 per cent rise if a contingent of former Anglican nuns who became Catholics in 2013 are excluded for that year’s total.
Overall it is the highest number of new entrants since 1990, when just over 50 women joined religious houses in England and Wales, and it contrasts dramatically with the situation just a decade ago when only seven women took vows. Meanwhile male religious orders also admitted 18 new members, all as priests.
There has now been a steady increase in new nuns in each of the last 10 years and the figures show rises both in both enclosed or “contemplative” orders and those dedicated to a more outwardly active or “apostolic” ministry.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11555763/Sister-Act-how-nuns-are-staging-a-surprise-comeback-in-UK.html
I am encouraged to read that contemplative communities are also experiencing a rise.
What is the general quality of female communities like in E&W? (Better than the American LCWR I hope!).
Of course, if these were all dismal, dissenting, modernist congregations receiving increases, then this would be bad news – but I don’t think that’s the case (?), given the mention of contemplative communities.
I know in America, the trend of new nuns is to join more traditional orders, leaving the dissenters as a dwindling band of aging, bitter crones.
Gabriel Syme,
I wonder about these new “vocations” to religious life. I saw one girl interviewed on TV and she appeared to be struggling to explain her choice coherently, until the interviewer mentioned “helping the poor”. So, that – coupled with her dress (a T shirt, not terribly low cut but not close to the neck either, wearing a tiny silver cross on a chain, like any girl might do) leaves me unconvinced about the genuine-ness of these “calls”. She was a postulant – first stage, used to last six months to a year, so time will tell. It’s interesting – and good news – that some girls still consider a religious vocation, of course, but given all the rest (new Mass, type of formation etc) I’m not convinced they will be solid vocations.
I agree Editor. Especially when I saw this. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11559321/Why-Im-giving-up-my-academic-career-to-become-a-nun.html The woman being interviewed is entering the Congregation of Jesus, and they are modernist to the core.
WF,
Many thanks for that link. That’s the girl I saw interviewed on TV, one and the same.
This comment from her article is extremely revealing:
“…this was an order where I could be myself, and where I could wholeheartedly give myself to the love of God and the service of others without becoming a less-than-human, plaster-cast saint.”
“Being oneself” is the very antithesis of what the religious life is all about. “Forgetting oneself” has traditionally been the basis for growth in the spiritual life. So, to take an example from the life of any of the great saints who offered up daily humiliations and made sacrifices to win grace, Theodora … er… won’t – unless it suits her. St Therese, for example, used to make a point of spending recreation time with a Sister to whom she felt less than attracted, for whatever reason, and was so kind to that Sister that on Therese’s death, she expressed the view that for some reason Sister Therese had a special liking for her! This new school of (non) religious thought means that St Therese would have avoided that annoying Sister and sought the company of one who was more fun, more interesting, whatever. Virtue? Not a mention of it in Theodora’s assessment of why she chose what she (mistakenly) thinks is religious life.
She won’t be dressing like a Sister (no Habit – so it’s odd that the photos in the article were all of nuns in Habits, and looked like Carmelites to me), no shared Divine Office, and I didn’t notice any details of community life, so looks to me like this is nothing more than a way to have a roof over her head and travel the world, without worrying her pretty little head about money or any the practicalities that the rest of us have to deal with day in and day out.
Vocation? I’m definitely not convinced, although I do not doubt the girl’s sincerity – she’s grown up in the modern Church so I am certain that SHE thinks she’s entering the religious life. Poor thing – shows the limitations of academic qualifications…. they’re not quite enough to place her on the right religious road, especially at this time of terrible crisis in the Church. Academic ability should never be confused with intelligence and/or insight.
St Therese of Lisieux, pray for her.
Can I please make a quick and belated appeal for readers to include in their Rosary intentions and other prayers, that the judgement concerning the way in which the Childrens Rights Referendum was conducted in Ireland last year, and which is to be handed down by the Irish Supreme Court tomorrow at noon, will be favourable before God. Strangely, or maybe not, there has been very, very little media coverage of the case, which may result in the referendum being declared void.
The referendum proposal, just one more sinister statist attempt to usurp the role of parents, was discussed on the blog at the time of the vote.
The brave souls who have placed their trust in God, in taking a legal challenge against the secular leviathan, certainly deserve our prayers and support.
Leo,
Be assured of my prayers for what they are worth; however, there was very little through to almost zero media coverage of the Named Person legislation here in Scotland prior to its passing in Parliament. I think that’s a strategy in itself, where the uncomprehending (some would say “useful idiots”) in the media are not given the information to report, until virtually the last minute.
Anyway, let’s hope and pray that tomorrow’s Irish Supreme Court ruling is right-thinking.
Has anyone seen this fiasco:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11559226/Catholic-girls-school-students-warned-sex-outside-marriage-can-destroy-their-soul.html You couldn’t make it up. Catholic school promotes Catholic moral teaching and everyone is having a fit. It also suggests how ineffective mainstream Catholic teaching is when ex-pupils are reportedly “up in arms” about such a basic thing. I wasn’t too impressed by the headmistress’s reported response either. She is quoted as saying that “God always forgives” but contrition/repentance and sacramental confession were nowhere mentioned.
WF,
I thought it was too good to be true. The warnings about sex outside marriage were given at talk delivered by an external group (Pure in Heart) and the Head stressed that she hadn’t seen their leaflet before being given out; she is clearly in the “haven’t a clue” category: She said: “Most of the ideas in the leaflet do fit in very well with our ethos. In parts, the leaflet says sex is great but it is best to have it in a stable, happy and long-term relationship, which many call marriage…” [Emphasise mine].
Honestly, trying to be an orthodox Catholic RE teacher in that sort of “ethos” is difficult through to impossible. And remember, the chances of those pupils encountering any orthodox Catholic teachers is slim, in the extreme, although the fact that Pure in Heart were invited to address a group is perhaps a clue that I’m not quite right about that. One lives in hope. One really does.
I wish someone would collate the figures for STDs with some examples from real life of people whose bodies have been made SO “sick” that they are either ruined or they’ve left this world.
At one time in my youth, I worked, for a short time, as a secretary in a clinic where the STD figures for the whole of Scotland were collated. My boss, a Consultant (and Church of Scotland member) said that when he told a young person they had an STD they never EVER asked if they would be able to be sexually active again. The first question was always: “will I live?”
Worth a try and certainly beats the “safer” (but not entirely safe) message that is being given out in schools today – unconscionably so.
Has anyone elde seen this?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32447603
Crofterlady,
There was a passing mention on the news yesterday but no details. Thank you for that link – pun appropriate, but not intended!
Madame Editor:
Concerning what makes it to the news headlines and what does not, how about this incident?
Queen Beatrix of The Netherland attended a concert in the capital of Holland, The Hague. The Conductor, who just happens to be Muslim, proceeds to give the Queen a lecture on the “beauty” of Islam. The entire orchestra got up and walked out, refusing to be associated with someone lecturing their queen. Staff of the music hall escorted the conductor off-stage and after questioning, out of the buiilding.
Now that took courage. Good for the people of Holland. Watch the walk out. Bet you didn’t see this on your local news.
Here’s the link: http://www.safeshare.tv/w/cqjiYhtiXs
Leprechaun,
Thanks for this – very interesting – although one suspects that the motive for their walk out was that this man’s rant offended Holland’s ultra-secularist outlook, rather than support for Christianity.
But whether Christian or non-religious/secular, it is right that people should protest – with their feet if necessary – at having this false religion crammed down their throats at every opportunity, as seems to be happening in this country. And yet the Vatican are urging even greater dialogue with Islam http://www.cfnews.org.uk/CF_News_2084.htm#2 Unbelievable.
Father Nicholas Gruner, RIP
April 29: It is my sad duty to announce the sudden death of Father Nicholas Gruner
He died suddenly late today of a heart attack while working at his Fatima Center office.
At the moment, I do not know more than this. Please re-visit our page for updates.
And please remember Father Gruner in your prayers, a good friend and a true Catholic Crusader.
– John Vennari http://www.cfnews.org/
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
CELEBRATING Divorce
Celebrant Jennifer Cram has performed nearly 50 divorce ceremonies over the past decade, and says they’re a healthy way to end a relationship.
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/i-now-pronounce-you-man-and-ex-wife/6428530
I have added a comment but not likely to get past moderation.
The Bishop of Northampton Diocese is ejecting a small religious community, the Black Hermits, on the grounds that they have “brought the Diocese into disrepute” via condemning homosexuality and abortion.
One of the Brothers was arrested for handing out leaflets against homosexuality. The content of the leaflets was passed as legal and no charges were brought. However, because some have complained about the leaflets – including two self-described “lesbian witches” who claim the leaflets constitute “harassment” – the Bishop is making the small group homeless. (This after inviting them to his diocese personally, a few years ago).
How unsurprising that a novus ordo Bishop would side with “lesbian witches” over people who promote Gods law.
From the Catholic Herald:
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/04/24/hermits-appeal-for-help-after-being-given-three-months-to-find-a-new-home/
(From looking at parts of the Hermits own website – http://www.trumpeteer.co.uk/# – they seem a little eccentric, but nevertheless they have still been badly failed by the Bishop).
Gabriel Syme,
Josephine posted this news (only a different source – taken from the Tablet I think) on the homosexuality thread. It’s a good idea to use any topic threads available before using the GD thread. That way, we can keep all topic information together in one place. No harm done, though – and there is an old saying that I very much adhere to: repetition is the mother of education!
The Green Party has said it is open to the idea of legalising polygamy. Unsurprisingly, this came during a Q&A session with homosexual perverts.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/green-party-open-legalising-polygamy-marriage-says-nicola-bennett-1499450
How shameless the perverts are, with the ink barely dry on gay marriage laws, they now set about demanding that which they insisted would “never happen” (and dismissed as scaremongering) during the campaign to distort marriage.
Its important to note that the Green party in each part of the EU has its own leadership, but they all work closely together and all come under the “COMINTERN” style European Green Party umbrella.
The German Greens have had to apologise recently for previously campaigning to legalise paedophilia / pederasty, which is another celebrated cause among homosexuals.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11226040/German-Green-party-admits-to-paedophile-links.html
It is very clear that the Greens are a party of perverts, more than they are an environmental movement.
The Green is simply a badly disguised pink, as shown by Scotland having its own homosexual MSP (Patrick Harvie) leading the Greens in this country
A prominent cold war defector has claimed that the KGB was behind liberation theology as a means of introducing marxism to latin america.
The movement was born in the KGB, and it had a KGB-invented name: Liberation Theology
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/former-soviet-spy-we-created-liberation-theology-83634/
The scandal continues . . .
Cardinal Nichols will celebrate “Soho Mass” on 10th May
http://spuc-director.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/cardinal-nichols-will-celebrate-soho.html
The content of that link is shocking and depressing in equal measure!
I read an article on Eponymous Flower recently, which stated how the Vatican homosexual lobby has grown stronger under Francis but has not yet “dropped its mask”.
I think Cardinal Nichols has certainly dropped his own mask, with this news and also his comments following the 2014 Synod.
Unfortunately, Cardinal Nichols does like to keep up a mask regarding this issue, at least to some. I well recall his disingenuous – to say the least – modus operandi regarding those who complained about the Soho Masses. If people wrote to him with a generalised complaint about the Soho Masses and provided no proof no dissent, he wrote to those people and assured them that all was well, that reports circulating about the Masses were not reliable, etc, etc. However, if people wrote to him and provided hard documentary proof of the dissent being promoted at and through these Masses, then he just ignored those letters and never responded to them. I know this to be correct as I saw first-hand evidence of it.
Why would the cardinal support such a Mass?
Crofterlady,
“Why would the cardinal support such a Mass?”
I’ve just seen your reply to Margaret Mary on the General Election thread. Putting that response together with this one, You’re right. You DEFINITELY need more sleep!
That’s not a reply!
Crofterlady,
The cardinal supports the gay Masses because he thinks that there’s nothing wrong with being gay. That’s obvious He made that clear when he said he wasn’t happy with the mid-way document at the synod last October, because it only said to be respectful etc towards gays. He thought it didn’t go far enough and it was interpreted, I think rightly, to mean that he wanted the Church to recognise same sex marriages.
Thanks, Nicky. I wondered about his own leanings as I don’t know even one full blooded man who would agree with active homosexuality.
I’m confident that the Cardinal does not have same-sex attraction issues himself. I think that many normal men, while privately finding the thought of same-sex acts repulsive, have become so conditioned by society, and want to be seen as ‘right on’, they appear to condone it, wanting to be seen as ‘gay-friendly’. It’s just another form of human respect – not wanting to be perceived as ‘narrow-minded’, ‘old-fashioned’ or the usual insult: ‘bigoted’.
WF,
That’s it EXACTLY! I think we can safely take it that Cardinal Nichols is not suffering from same-sex attraction, and leave it there 😀
“[being] ‘gay-friendly’ is just another form of human respect” – spot, absolutely, ON, WF. Spot on.
Nail on head, big time.
Book plug.
If you haven’t read The Reign of Christ the King – Michael Davies…. you should.
Inspiring
Well this isn’t private, for sure:- http://angelqueen.org/malachi-martin-files/malachi-martins-double-agent-status-documented To be honest, I don’t know anything about Fr Malachi Martin, although a friend of mine thought he was great, but I clearly remember my friend having a big change of heart about him. I think it was something to do with what is in the above link.
WF,
Thank you for posting that link. I’d never heard any of that about Malachi Martin, but reading the article has confirmed my gut feeling that he was not all that he seemed. I had the same gut reservations about the ex-SSPX bishop, Williamson, long before he caused mayhem in the Society. People would urge me to go onto YouTube and search for his sermons but I never did – not once. I felt a distinct aversion to him, for want of a better word, which I cannot explain. Same with Malachi Martin, so thank you for posting that article which confirms that my gut instinct was correct.
I also agree about the book Windswept House. Although I have a copy, I never finished it and have never recommended it to others as a work to be taken seriously, precisely because it didn’t ring true that he would know all these names and yet not publish them, using fiction as a means of “revealing all”. Not in the midst of a huge crisis in the Church such as we are experiencing at the moment.
And speaking of huge crises, I’ll be having one soon if I don’t get the June newsletter finished. So, head down today – back in due course…
This is a thought-provoking piece from the Lepanto Institute: Fatima, Noah and Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ http://www.lepantoinstitute.org/faith-and-life/fatima-noah-and-same-sex-marriage
WF that really is a thought provoking piece. I’ve started the novena but I’ll have to say it 4 times today to catch up!
I never made the “link” to abnormal “marriages” but I often wondered exactly what the passages in Scripture meant. Thanks for posting it.
Hi everyone,
Tonight is the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. For those who wish to join in with the pilgrims praying the Rosary at the Candlelight Procession, which is televised live from the Fatima Shrine, it starts at 9.30pm and can be seen on EWTN (not a channel I would normally recommend, but this is just a live transmission so should be OK) here:- http://ewtn.com/multimedia/live_player.asp?satname=ukirlnlp&telrad=t004&servertime=2015512513 or via the webcam at the Fatima shrine website here:- http://www.santuario-fatima.pt/portal/index.php?id=14924
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
Another interesting article on Fatima:-
http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/1726-the-known-light-1
CATCH 22: will we be caught in the Cameron anti-extremism legislation net – even worse than at present?
I was disgusted to learn, earlier today, via The Tablet, that one of the MPs who voted against same-sex “marriage” has now executed a spectacular U-turn on the subject. Below is my email to her, but note the futility of voting in elections for an allegedly “pro-life” candidate. I’ve said for a long time now, it’s party policy we vote for, not individual MPs like this Judas…
Ms Dineage,
I have just read about your shameful u-turn on homosexual “marriage” and that you are now – contrary to your pre-election position – “fully committed to advancing the cause of LGBT equality”.
I pass over in near silence the weakness of character and lack of moral substance which your about-turn reveals, to ask you now to issue a statement acknowledging that you no longer have the right to call yourself a Catholic. You have, ipso facto, placed yourself outside of Christ’s Church. Nobody can be a Catholic who openly and publicly opposes God’s Law, whether that be through denying a revealed dogma of the Faith or – as you have done – supporting moral evil.
Please confirm that you will issue a statement of clarification since it is likely that the media will use your defection from the Church to the “LGBT community” as evidence (rightly) that you have abandoned your Catholic Faith and true morals, of which the Catholic Church, not any political party or politician is the God-given guardian.
Please confirm that you will publish a statement affirming the fact that you are no longer a Catholic, as a matter of urgency.
I am copying this email to Sky News, although they are unlikely to report this unfavourably to you. They don’t care that you have made your choice between Christ and Pontius Pilate; washing your hands of the problem, you have given way to those calling for Christ to be crucified.
Signed…
Editor
Catholic Truth
Anyone can phone, write or email her – contact details here
Great letter Ed. I have emailed Mrs Dineage also.
Thank you Ed, I’ve just emailed her as well.
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/05/good-times-for-dissident-dominicans.html#more
Oh, come! What next? Richard Dawkins as Adviser on Scientific Matters.
I hear a lot of talk about Pope Francis being an ‘unknown quantity’ and being ‘unpredictable’.
Pope Francis is completely predictable. His policy is entirely permissive, completely liberal and thoroughly modernist.
No doubts about it.
That news boiled my blood when I saw it.
A pox on Francis and Radcliffe both!
Who could be any worse an appointment than that?
Summa,
A reader in England has emailed asking me to post a thread on the news of the Radcliffe appointment, and I am just about to post it, so could you hold fire to avoid having two discussions on the go at once. Thanks.
No bother, Ed. Thanks.
Summa,
I’ll post your Rorate link over on the new thread (in case, due to the time difference it gets overlooked) since it can only add to the debate. Thank you for alerting us to it.
Ok 🙂
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-17/church-of-scotland-allows-gay-clergy-in-civil-partnerships/6475548
For heretics, desperate times call for desperate measures!
I wonder, what scripture they would quote to support such abominations?
This is the latest example of the Church of Scotland (CofS) cravenly rushing to adopt the latest secular trends.
They have been doing this since at least the mid-20th century; they have repeatedly gone with Godless thinking over (what they understood as) Christianity.
This trend seems to have been due to two things:
(1) a misguided belief that continually affirming secular values – even at the cost of expressly over-ruling Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself (e./g. on marriage)- would somehow make the CofS relevant and credible, and so attractive to people.
(2) a craven nature which fears confrontation with the secular world. Both on account of the spiteful nature of the secular world, but also due to the natural lack of confidence existing in a religious organisation which has had its theology and outlook so thoroughly discredited over the years (this current event demonstrating that fact superbly).
Yet this trend has never paid off; caving-in doesn’t stop the decline, so even more values are abandoned as a knee-jerk response. A death spiral.
The CofS is 100% led by secular society and so one has to ask – what exactly does the CofS think it is offering to people? Or where and how does it think it is challenging people?
There was a young CofS minister on BBC radio this morning who justified the move – I could imagine him shrugging – saying “we are all sinners”. And then he went on to divulge that the CofS would soon move on to talking about blessing homosexual relationships. He was right that we are all sinners, but then he went on to proudly proclaim the CofS intention to actually celebrate sin. In for a penny, in for a pound, eh? He didn’t seem to realise that he had made himself look a fool.
The winning margin was 309 v 183 votes, indicating a stark rift. I wonder if the already impressive “Total number of different Presbyterian Churches in Scotland” is due another increase? (I have a mind to write on their behalf to the Guinness Book of Records.)
So, another nail in the coffin then.
While this is no surprise for the CofS, it is chilling that in some ways this seems to echo the family synod – the idea that truth might be decided by counting ballots and the transparent desire to be pleasing to the secular world more than anything else.
Also, it is the latest resounding example of what the worn out ecumenical movement has become. It has fallen to the level of an being an embarrassment – to the extent that Catholics should feel patronised, if asked to take part. Who could possibly suggest now that the CofS has even a passing concern for Christian unity? ((As with the Church of England). It is clear ecumenism produces the exact opposite result of what it claims to be aiming for.
Gabriel,
And they have the brass-neck to call the Catholic Church the Whore of Babylon and Mother of All Harlots. You couldn’t make it up. The ‘traditionalist’ Calvinist denominations in Scotland, i.e. the Free Church, Free Church (Continuing) and the Free Presbyterian Church oppose the homosexual lobby and have criticised the move by the CofS.
Gabriel Syme
“Also, it is the latest resounding example of what the worn out ecumenical movement has become. It has fallen to the level of an being an embarrassment – to the extent that Catholics should feel patronised, if asked to take part.”
Absolutely spot on. I completely agree. But the thing is, Catholics won’t feel patronised and will continue to take part. I believe the technical term is “useful idiots”
Summa,
“Judge not” …
It’s the only verse they ever invoke – and always to justify sexual misbehaviour.
They don’t ever apply it to traditional Catholics seeking to restore the Faith.
Yes, too true. Sadly true. More an example of bad leadership than anything of substance. This pseudo-mercy of course as you say only applies to those who have chosen to remain outside of the Church. If you want to remain in the Church of Christ, where He is High Priest, look out.
Has anyone read the Divine Intimacy from Baronius Press? I usually buy my books from them, but I’ve noticed some typos in some of their books, so I want to know if you’ve noticed any in Divine Intimacy.
CC,
Why not contact them to express your concerns about typos – that’s very bad for a publisher.
You won’t find those in Catholic Truth… at least not if the proof-readers are doing their job properly…
Listening, folks? 😀
breaking news..Asher’s bakery in Belfast has been found guilty of discrimination because they refused to bake a cake with an image of Bert & Ernie (sesame street) and the slogan “support gay marriage”
Spiritus,
I saw that on the news. So much for freedom of religion. I wonder if this will put people off starting various businesses if they have to accept every order that comes in?
Michaela
“So much for freedom of religion. I wonder if this will put people off starting various businesses if they have to accept every order that comes in?” May 19, 2015 at 11:10 am
Freedom of religion does not come in to it. The first Defendant in the County Court was a limited company, which had no religious principles listed in its Articles of Association. A company cannot invoke an ECHR Article 9 “freedom of religion” right since such rights are personal and cannot (fairly obviously) over-ride the law that a commercial business must not discriminate unlawfully. Judge Brownlie (para. 91 of her judgment) was not prepared to “allow religious belief to dictate what the law is”.
Rightly so.
A business has to obey the law: “ … it is unlawful to discriminate …”. Butchers, bakers, candlestick-makers, gay, straight, Marxists and Evangelicals, one and all, have to deal with orders without indulging in unlawful discrimination.
Muslims???
Therese,
Muslims as well but I meant Marxists, so no typo there.
There are still a few Marxists about in central and eastern Europe and in Russia these days they are ferociously and noisily homophobic. General line for these sad relics is that the world was wonderful till the Aggiornamento of the late 1950s. Downhill all the way after Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev, Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli and, come to think of it, John Frederick Wolfenden.
Bad old joke is that “things were better under Stalin: we were sixty years younger”.
What a stupid judge and stupid law – nothing you say makes the slightest sense about this but I can see that you use words like “homophobia” which are a giveaway. If you are pro-homosexual activity yourself then you will be very pleased with the “equality” law. I think it’s a very dangerous and discriminatory law. It seems to have been dreamt up to make sure nobody gets to criticise ‘gays’ and it’s definitely working by the looks of that Belfast case.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0519/702111-ashers-cake/
Spiritus,
Shocking. And I note this highly unprofessional remark from the judge, taken from your linked RTE report:
“The judge added: “They must have known or had the perception that the plaintiff was gay.”
Judges in courts usually cut off witnesses who say “He/she knew…” telling them that they can’t read minds so don’t say what they knew…
The family said consistently that it was the message on the cake to which they objected, so now, this ruling makes clear, no baker can refuse to take an order for a cake no matter the message. It would be great if bakers around the UK could be inundated with offensive messages about Judges, courts, politicians, and see how long it takes for this ruling to be stood squarely on its head.
It’s yet more homo-fascism. I wonder if a homosexual baker would accept an order for a cake with a message promoting traditional marriage as being ONLY between a man and a woman? Doubt it. It seems to be one law for them and another, much stricter and totally unreasonable, law for the rest of us.
Editor
“Shocking. And I note this highly unprofessional remark from the judge … ‘The judge added: “They must have known or had the perception that the plaintiff was gay.’ Judges in courts usually cut off witnesses who say ‘He/she knew…’ telling them that they can’t read minds so don’t say what they knew… ”
I can see people feel strongly on this one but it is shocking indeed to see so misguided a comment. One ought to be careful before accusing professional people of “highly unprofessional remarks”. Normal editorial practice is to check before commenting. On this one there is a summary for editors at http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/en-GB/Judicial%20Decisions/SummaryJudgments/Documents/Court%20Delivers%20Judgment%20in%20Ashers%20Bakery%20Case/j_j_Summary%20of%20judgment%20-%20Ashers%20Bakery.htm.
A cursory read would show it is not a case of “cutting off witnesses”. These were civil proceedings, not criminal, and Judge Brownlie was simply considering a point which had been put on behalf of the defendants by their lawyer – a QC. It was he who submitted that they “did not have any knowledge” of the Plaintiff’s sexual orientation. Considering this submission, the Judge decided it was, simply, not true. This was done on the basis of the actual evidence (solicitors’ letters and reports of long conversations). The details are set out in paragraphs 37-9 and 60-2 of the full judgment http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/en-GB/Judicial%20Decisions/PublishedByYear/Documents/2015/%5B2015%5D%20NICty%202/j_j_2015NICty2Final.htm. This finding is reasoned, based on the evidence before the learned judge and is highly professional.
As for “homo-fascism”, no. It is simply the law: “it is unlawful to discriminate”.
And as for your
“I wonder if a homosexual baker would accept an order for a cake with a message promoting traditional marriage …? Doubt it. It seems to be one law for them and another, much stricter and totally unreasonable, law for the rest of us”,
had you taken the trouble actually to read the judgment you would know the point had been discussed. Judge Brownlie explicitly said a gay baker would indeed be required to bake a “support heterosexual marriage” cake since to do otherwise would be discriminatory. This is a law “equal to and for all” (at para. 93). Totally reasonable.
If you think it is wise for Ulster to go back to a situation where people could discriminate at will, based on their religious perceptions, fine, argue for that and persuade a democratic majority. One cannot expect to win battles in the courts which have already been lost in elected parliaments.
This was a case where the order was accepted and the money taken. The graphic scanning is done by computer and two different members of staff could have done the work without difficulty. It was only later, when the wife spent the weekend “persuading” her unfortunate husband to change his mind, that the decision to return the money and discriminate was made, a notion costing the firm GBP 500 in damages and perhaps GBP 40,000 in legal costs. If the tale has a moral, it is that men do best to trust their judgement and not to give in, however much matrimonial pressure is applied.
There is no reason, however, to use any of this to launch a personal attack on the professionalism of a judge who simply states the law as it is. Shocking and unprofessional remarks.
“Judge Brownlie explicitly said a gay baker would indeed be required to bake a “support heterosexual marriage” cake since to do otherwise would be discriminatory. This is a law “equal to and for all”
If you really believe that I’ve got a rather nice bridge you might be interested in.
That is a bridge too far. Read the report – she said:
“If the Plaintiff was a gay man who ran a bakery business and the Defendants as Christians wanted him to bake a cake with the words “support heterosexual marriage” the Plaintiff would be required to do so as, otherwise; he would, according to the law be discriminating against the Defendants. This is not a law which is for one belief only but is equal to and for all. The Defendants are entitled to continue to hold their genuine and deeply held religious beliefs and to manifest them but, in accordance with the law, not to manifest them in the commercial sphere if it is contrary to the rights of others.
It is not a question of personal belief – it is a law report. She said it. The pity is that bloggers here feel free to comment without actually reading the report first. Nothing like this blog for fecund error.
I don’t believe that judge for a second. If any homosexual complains about anything, they are in the right. A couple placing an order for a cake that had a message that in any way suggested real marriage was better than homosexual “marriage”, they’d be hauled into court by the homosexual and they’d win the case again. It’s an abuse of the legal system to do this. Surely any business can refuse an order without being taken to court. It’s ridiculous.
As usual you’re being perverse.
I don’t doubt the judge said what she said. What I doubt is that she’s correct to suggest that the law would actually be applied in the same way if the boot was on the other foot.
Can you point to any case where a (known) homosexual has been sued/prosecuted for discrimination?
CD,
That’s what I call hitting a nail on the head !
Dowden,
“One ought to be careful before accusing professional people of “highly unprofessional remarks”. Normal editorial practice is to check before commenting. “
Your confidence in “professional people” is touching – but misplaced. I’ve very little confidence in any so called “professionals” today. Seldom has there been so much ignorance shared among so many people in such a relatively short time!
I simply do not have the time to check out every court judgment and if the judges are so careless as to allow the media to misquote them, then that’s their problem. I can only do what the majority of normal people do (no offence intended) and go by the information in the public domain via the media outlets.
The key point is that this is a non-event which should never have come to court. If I’d been that baker asked to bake a cake with an immoral message on it, whether it be to support “gay marriage” or ISIS, I’d have said “no, sorry”. And if they were stupid enough to think they were being personally discriminated against, instead of their message being unacceptable, and a judge followed their crackpot line of thinking, then so be it.
Don’t try to turn the tables and blame those of us with clear minds and a strong moral compass. There’s nothing “personal” in my comments about the Judge. She’s jumped on the PC bandwagon, like a lot of other folk, yourself included, and I’m entitled to say so (at least for now – that will soon change as the homo-fascism gets even more oppressive.)
I would remind readers that Dowden is an Anglican. He, therefore, does not believe what we believe, and – as you will have spotted by now – goes along with all the politically correct baloney taking up court time these days. If it’s off the wall, theologically and morally, he’s in favour of it.
God help Dowden! But don’t take him too seriously and don’t waste as much time as I’ve wasted responding to his daft posts. Remember, I could type at 78 wpm last time I was tested – in the seventies! I’ve got a bit faster since then so what you are reading took me all of five minutes. Now dashing off to keep an appointment.
More in due course!
Editor,
“I would remind readers that Dowden is an Anglican. He, therefore, does not believe what we believe, and – as you will have spotted by now – goes along with all the politically correct baloney taking up court time these days. If it’s off the wall, theologically and morally, he’s in favour of it. ”
Please don’t think I’m trying “to teach granny to suck eggs” but should a PC Protestant be allowed to blog here? If someone comes on who “does not believe what we believe”, what’s he got to contribute to the discussions? I do not mean to be disrespectful, but it seems strange that there are so many comments from a Protestant on an issue like homosexuality when he is obviously in favour of it.
Fidelis,
We allow anyone to participate in our discussions, in the hope that they will learn about true Catholicism – that’s our aim.
Despite the accusations of several trolls that I “censor” opinions and don’t let anyone disagree with me, I think it’s patently obvious that these allegations are untrue. Indeed, over the years, I’ve had emails from bloggers asking me to “ban” this one or that one, and sometimes discussions have been ruined by nasty remarks until an atmosphere of animosity has dominated the thread. At that point I have sometimes felt forced to close down a thread explaining that since my requests to end the dispute have been ignored, I will now close the thread. Several times I’ve had to accept the criticism that I allowed the animosity to go on for too long before acting. Mea culpa! However, believe it or not, my eventual action in closing down an unpleasant thread has sometimes been flung back in my face as me being determined to have the last word! As one friend said in sympathy recently, “damned if you do and damned if you don’t”
On the serious point which you raise, however, since we are an educational blog, there is an obligation on us all to make sure that Dowden’s errors – in this case about homosexuality and the immorality thereof – are corrected. I note that some of our bloggers have taken up some of his points to correct, and I thank them for that. It’s just too much for one person to do, and so I am blessed to have some very reliable helpers on the case.
Don’t get too frustrated with Dowden, however. I do think his heart is in the right place. It’s finding his brain that’s the problem 😀
A lot of people are attacking the professionalism of that judge. The following is from the Coalition for Marriage and there are links to a few papers questioning the judgment but I’m not sure if the links will carry through after copying.
COURT TELLS NI BAKERS
THEY MUST PROMOTE
GAY MARRIAGE
Dear marriage supporter,
A judge ruled this week that the pro-marriage owners of Ashers Baking Co. in Northern Ireland broke equality law when they declined to decorate a cake with the campaign slogan “Support Gay Marriage”.
The case had been brought with £40,000 of public money by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland – a taxpayer-funded quango that proudly declares its support for gay marriage on its website.
This is not a case about refusing to serve a customer because he was gay – Ashers serves gay customers all the time. This case is about whether a family-run business should be compelled to say something which is in total opposition to its strong and sincerely held belief that marriage is between a man and a woman.
The press has been quick to highlight that the ruling opens up a Pandora’s Box of similar cases in the future and has suggested that Parliament or a higher court should weigh in.
• Icing on the cake, Daily Telegraph (20/05/15)
• Stirring up prejudice (scroll down), Daily Mail (20/05/15)
• What a half-baked ruling (scroll down), Daily Express (20/05/15)
• Ashers ‘gay cake’ decision is a threat to our freedom of conscience, Belfast Telegraph (20/05/15)
• The ‘gay cake’ case highlights a new intolerance developing in Ireland, The Spectator (20/05/15)
Redefining marriage has been coercive
Far from promoting freedom, the introduction of same-sex marriage at Westminster has led to businesses being disrupted, and people losing their jobs and their free speech. This has happened even in Northern Ireland where same-sex marriage is still unlawful.
The NI Equality Commission is totally out of step with ordinary people. Some 90% of NI adults say equality laws ‘should be used to protect people from discrimination and not to force people to say something they oppose’.
They also echo the legal opinion of leading human rights barrister Aidan O’Neill QC, who noted that were Ashers to lose its case there could well be legal actions taken against:
• A Muslim printer refusing a contract requiring the printing of cartoons of Mohammed
• An atheist web designer refusing to design a website presenting as scientific fact the claim that God made the world in six days
• A Christian film company refusing to produce pornography
• A Christian baker refusing to take an order to make a cake celebrating Satanism
• A T-shirt company owned by lesbians declining to print T-shirts with a message describing gay marriage as an “abomination”
• A printing company run by Catholics declining an order to produce adverts calling for abortion on demand to be legalised.
We have always said that although redefining marriage was sold to the public as a permissive measure it would quickly become coercive – this ruling clearly shows that it already has.
Now, more than ever, we must stand up for the freedom to say that true marriage is only between a man and a woman.
Yours sincerely,
Colin Hart
Campaign Director
Coalition for Marriage
I go to see a very good and orthodox Priest of Opus Dei fairly regularly in Manchester, and he asks me every time if I do mental prayer, and I say I’ll do it and don’t. Then I feel guilty. I feel vocal prayer, i.e., rosary, litanies, stations, psalms are of greater profit to me as I am concentrating on reading something as I’m saying it. But if I’m sat in silence I get distracted easily.
If you have any advice, please can you tell me?
CC,
I see you mentioned Divine Intimacy in an earlier post, it happens to be one of my treasures, as it helped me through a difficult time in my life. I may be slightly prejudiced 😀 but I do think DI not only has an excellent section on prayer, it is set up to help you through the different stages of prayer, mental prayer being one of them.
My DI is an older one from TAN and it has a few typos, too. If you can get past the typos in your edition, you will not regret it.
CC,
Remember what the Little Flower (St Therese of Lisieux) wrote in her journal, when she recorded feeling guilty about falling asleep during prayer time in Carmel. She said she felt very bad about it until she remembered that a surgeon does his finest work while the patient is asleep!
In mental prayer you are simply trying to clear your mind to focus on the things of God by raising your mind and heart to Him, leaving all distractions aside, as best you can. I see Jobstears refers you to an excellent section on prayer in the Divine Intimacy, so take a look at that, reflect on St Therese’s insight as a means to prevent yourself being worried about distractions, and then do your best to practise what I preach!
CC,
Mental prayer is in fact contemplation, the highest and most perfect form of prayer. It does not require great effort and endless hours to achieve. Simply turn an interior loving gaze on Our Lord crucified or on the Mother of Sorrows; that’s mental prayer and it wins great graces for the soul. Words are not necessary.
Remember the grace St. Peter received just after the triple denial when he caught Our Lord’s gaze. No words were spoken, yet that one glance instilled such sorrow in him that he instantly repented of his fall with floods of tears and was restored to grace.
Our Lady of Fatima encouraged us to this perfect kind of prayer when she asked that we spend 15 minutes with her on the First Saturdays contemplating the mysteries of the rosary.