Blasphemous Cartoon Highlights Urgency of First Saturdays Devotion…
The cartoon below was sent to me in an email, and I’ve been unable to trace in online. It was published in the Irish Independent and they’ve managed to hide it well. I am now familiar with every inch of that rag online, but still had to resort to my own amateur methods in order to publish the cartoon here. Which I do very reluctantly, because it is depicting the evil of the Irish abortion referendum is all its glory gory reality.
Note, the “obstruction” removed by the surgeon, is a rosary. Utterly shocking, but, ironically, makes the point – albeit unwittingly – that the rosary is, indeed, an obstruction to the diabolical drive to steal souls in Ireland – as elsewhere. No longer, it seems, is the Rosary to be allowed to keep alive the Faith in once-Catholic (now pagan) Ireland…
The reason for publishing it here at all is simply to urge readers to make the five First Saturdays as a matter of urgency. Briefly, to remind us all, the background to this devotion is as follows:
On July 13th 1917, Our Lady of Fatima, after showing the three Fatima seers a vision of hell, she said “You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my immaculate heart… I shall come to ask for… the Communion of reparation on the First Five Saturdays.”
On December 10, 1925, Our Lady said to Sister Lucia “Look, my daughter, at my heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me with your prayers and sacrifices. I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for their salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Why Five Saturdays?
Five first Saturdays of reparation were requested to atone for the five ways in which people offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
1. attacks upon Mary’s Immaculate Conception
2. attacks against her Perpetual Virginity
3. attacks upon her Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind
4. for those who try to publicly implant in children’s hearts indifference, contempt and even hatred of this Immaculate Mother
5. for those who insult her directly in her sacred images.
Extract from Letter of Sister Lucia
On 1 November, 1927, Sister Lucia wrote a letter to Doña Maria de Miranda, her Godmother, explaining this devotion::
“I don’t know if you already know about the reparatory devotion of the five Saturdays to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As it is still recent, I would like to inspire you to practise it, because it is requested by Our dear Heavenly Mother and Jesus has manifested a desire that it be practised. Also, it seems to me that you would be fortunate, dear Godmother, not only to know it and to give Jesus the consolation of practising it, but also to make it known and embraced by many other persons.
“It consists in this: During five months on the first Saturday, to receive Jesus in Communion, recite a Rosary, keep Our Lady company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, and make a confession. The confession can be made a few days earlier, and if in this previous confession you have forgotten the (required) intention the following intention can be offered, provided that on the first Saturday one receives Holy Communion in a state of grace, with the intention of repairing for offences against the Most Holy Virgin and which afflict Her Immaculate Heart.
Comment:
As well as resolving to make the First Saturdays as a matter of priority, readers are also encouraged to email the Irish Independent newspaper which published this disgraceful cartoon, to object, strongly, to this insult to the Mother of God. You can email at ‘[email protected]’
For the record, a couple of emails already sent…
From Editor, Catholic Truth
Dear Sir/ Madam
I write to express my disgust at your blasphemous cartoon mocking the Rosary, the prayer which Catholics in Ireland and beyond have prayed for centuries, and which, we are promised, has been given even greater efficacy in our times – little wonder, given the scandalous state of the world, with women in a formerly Catholic nation dancing in the streets with joy at the prospect of the introduction of the State-sanctioned killing of unborn babies. Given that the Hail Mary closes with the hopeful plea “pray for us, now and at the hour of our death…” I think, in your shoes, I would be a very nervous-through-to-quaking-with-fear individual indeed, having published such an offensive and blasphemous cartoon.
For, possibly the abused aside, which of us would not outraged to witness our mother being insulted? My mother died almost three years ago and I still treasure every memory of her – I could not promise to hold fast to my reputation as a law-abiding subject, were someone to insult my mother. God, be assured, will not allow this huge insult to His mother to go unpunished.
If you are possessed of even the minimal professionalism required to publish a profound apology for this blasphemous attack on the Rosary, and thus the Mother of God, I will be both surprised and pleased. Very surprised. Editor, Catholic Truth
From Wendy Walker, regular pro-life Catholic Truth blogger…
Editor [Irish Independent],
I cannot tell you how very disgusted I am to see a cartoon of the lowest order in your paper !
Can you tell me what is even funny about it ?
To dare to print this at a time when Ireland has gone from a sacred pro life Country to a rabid pro death one and which if /when implemented will cause the deaths of countless pre-borns and some unwilling mums to be …and multiple physical and mental traumas affecting them.
I am neither Catholic or Irish but I am pro life; here in The UK with 50 years of infant bloodlust under its belt I have seen and heard dreadful stories entrenched in the killing of these tiny precious infants.
I would ask you to have the decency to print an apology in your next Edition so the few people who purchase it can see some remorse
I really hope you get reported to Newspaper Standards Committees to ensure nothing like this occurs again
Yours disgustedly and Shocked
Readers are encouraged to sent their own emails to the newspaper and to copy them onto the blog.
Comments (87)
Here is a priest, Father Francis, singing the traditional hymn of reparation to Our Lady… Make the beautiful words of this hymn your own, as a first act of reparation to Our Lady. I think she will find that very pleasing indeed.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZaryeeNkng&w=854&h=480%5D
Editor
I think only an ecclesial authority can declare the cartoon blasphemous, and as far as I know no Bishop has.
The image is distasteful and wrong – and is to be regretted, but for decades now, in popular culture the rosary has been commonly worn as a fashion item. I think it came to “enjoy” that prominence when Madonna, a pop star, first wore one in a salacious video. (I have never seen the video but I have seen it referenced many times.) However it was worn by some long before that.
As someone whose work regularly brings them into contact with people, of all faiths and none, I can tell you with certainty not everyone connects it with Catholicism, and, even fewer with Mary. I would say in the image neither Mary, or the Rosary, is being attacked directly, or even explicitly, but the Church itself. It is amazing how many do not associate it with prayer, and think it is something to be worn.
Accepting, as we do that Mary, is the Mother, of God, and of The Church any attack on her is to be condemned. (The Church now celebrates The Feast of Mary, Mother of The Church, on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday.)
However, as I say, I would contend the cartoon is not attacking Mary, or The Rosary, but The Church itself, and is a commentary on the influence it once had in Ireland. Its loss of influence is a greater danger to souls than that the cartoon. (However, the cartoon is to be condemned.)
Any acts of reparation for our sins, or the sins of others, is to be commended.
I should get a proof reader. (However, my excuse is I have a f/t job and am involved in a myriad of other activities)
The above should read:
However,as I say, I would contend the cartoon is not attacking Mary, or The Rosary, but The Church itself, and is a commentary on the influence it once had in Ireland. Its loss of influence is a greater danger to souls than that the cartoon. (However, the cartoon is to be condemned.)
Petrus R
There is absolutely no chance that any Bishop either in Ireland or the UK will condemn this blasphemy.
It may not have been condemned as such by any ecclesial authority but that is exactly what it is.
Don`t be kidded either about the rosary being a fashion item. If it was meant to be taken in that context then surely a pair of torn jeans would have been equally as acceptable and a lot more safer for the saddo`s soul.
And probably no Bishop will call it out as blasphemous!
Especially the two Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin.
This is Blowback…….time to rub Traditional thinking Catholics noses in the dirt.
St Miguel,
Of course no bishop will say a word against the cartoon. That is a given. They’ve remained firmly silent about every other blasphemous attack on Our Lady and Our Lord – why would they speak about this cartoon when they remained firmly silent throughout the referendum?
Petrus Regnat,
Words fail.
Firstly, blasphemy, by the simplest definition, is any words, images or actions which are sacrilegious against God or sacred things; profane.
Take a look at that cartoon again and give me another definition – “distasteful and wrong” doesn’t cut it.
As for the episcopal duty to declare the cartoon blasphemous – you are either kidding or you think we’re all idiots. The Church is not a cult – we ARE allowed to think and act without permission from the “cult leader”. However, in case I’ve got it wrong, please do quote me where, in Canon Law, we are forbidden from recognising blasphemy and calling it out, or where there is a canon to identify that the bishop is the sole authority in the identification and condemnation of blasphemy. Our Lady seems not to have known that when she listed ways in which her Immaculate Heart is offended, and asked for the Five Saturdays in reparation. Or don’t you believe in the Fatima apparitions? Did the Pope canonise two little liars and hoaxers?
As for the rosary not being “connected with Catholicism” … Only the most uneducated, religiously illiterate person in Christendom would not be able to associate the rosary with Catholics. It’s one of the most common ways used to denigrate Catholics and, yes, the Church. Mocking Our Lady has always been one of the key ways to attack the Church (think of the routine comedy acts with references to the Virgin Birth, Immaculate Conception etc) so you are correct in that the cartoonist is getting at the Church, but you are wrong to ignore (or fail to understand) the significance of the fact that the cartoonist does so by mocking Our Lady and her rosary.
As for those clowns who wear it as a necklace… Doesn’t mean they don’t know it is a religious object; given that it contains a crucifix they’d have to be really REALLY stupid not to know that it’s not your common piece of costume jewellery.
Did I just call David Beckham (who once wore FOUR rosaries to a party, I believe) and his ilk, “clowns” Allow me to elaborate… Clowns, idiots, dopes, twits (not just of the Twitter brand), thickos, brainless – you pays your money and you takes your pick. They’re definitely NOT the brightest buttons in the box, but I suspect that they all know perfectly well that the rosary is a Catholic object of prayer and devotion, and that it is associated with Our Lady.
Now, I have no intention of writing lengthy replies to you today (or any other day) because I’m not convinced that you are here for the right reasons – call me judgmental if you like, or, as some do, just “mental” – I don’t care. I have neither the time, interest or energy to debate with someone who thinks only the episcopate can call out blasphemy – just think of the reaction in Heaven! Our Lady, the saints, Our Lord Himself abandoned to the merciless attacks of the Church’s enemies, at the very time when the Church is suffering a crisis precisely because of the weakness and cowardice of the hierarchy! Nor am I likely to change the mind of someone who thinks “not everyone” (you carefully omit stats, notice!) connects the rosary with either the Church or Our Lady. So, don’t waste your time with lengthy posts addressed to me, Petrus Regnat – quite apart from the fact that I will not be around my computer much today, I’m seriously questioning what you are about, here, on this blog, and this response to a manifestly evil attack on Our Lady, the Rosary and Christ’s Church merely confirms my concerns.
Have a nice day – miss you already!
The Church is what the cartoon is depicting, as such, and not anything to do with Mary, or the rosary.
You are without a doubt trying to stir it my man !
The cartoon explicitly says ‘Rosarerectomy’.
How can you not see the insult to Our Lady?
You act as if were are intellectually challenged.
As regards your day job, full time blather are we supposed to be impressed?
You seem to be just a full time apologist for failed Churchmen.
Petrus Regnat,
Since the cartoonist has chosen to depict a rosary, subject of surgery, would you like to explain how you know that the cartoon did not have “anything to do with Mary or the rosary.”
It seems pretty obvious that it has EVERYTHING to do with the rosary and Our Lady. Why did the cartoonist choose the rosary, if it had nothing to do with the rosary/Our Lady? Please don’t come back with the “it’s the Church” mantra – obviously the idiot cartoonist is attacking the Church but he has chosen to do so via the rosary and Our Lady which seems a brain-dead thing to do if their readerships doesn’t know that the rosary is connected to Catholicism in the first place, but is merely a piece of jewellery, unconnected with Catholicism, crucifix notwithstanding.
You’ve lost me. I mean, do you see how crazy your position sounds?
PS I did say on an earlier thread, that you do stretch our brains. We’re now at the stage where you are stretching our credulity, so I suggest that you stop going round in circles with this, certainly if you want to NOT see your posts disappear into cyberspace. I have very limited patience and most of my allowance for this year has been used up.
Editor
As you produce newsletters, and write a blog, perhaps you are familiar with the process of writing headlines and stuff.
Which of these puts across a message in a catchy memorable way:
“Keep The Church off our ovaries” or “Keep your rosaries off our ovaries”?
P Regnat
If the cartoon has nothing to do with the rosary then why is a rosary
being pulled out of a woman`s womb?
Why not an illustration of the Vatican if he wishes to offend the Church?
I think you like stirring the pot a little. It gives certain types a thrill that they can`t seem to find in the dark recesses of the mind.
Dare I suggest a rosary is easier to depict in a cartoon than the entire Vatican, and also the slogan used to link THE CHURCH to the issue, on banners and posters, was “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries”.
It isn’t hard to grasp why a rosary was used in such a context. It also a bit strange to say they attack the rosary because the rosary was such a powerful weapon in the fight. As the fight has been lost.
I would also like to highlight, once more, the referendum was lost but The Constitution has not yet, I think, been formally changed and no new abortion law has yet been passed. There is still everything to fight for.
P Regnat
I don`t think it would be too difficult for an illustrator to do a
mini-scale drawing of the Vatican. After all, the rosary beads in the so-called cartoon are hardly life sized.
You say there is still everything to fight for. With all due respect, I wouldn`t fancy doing much fighting with someone of your beliefs on my side.
Yes,the devil really is showing his hand now. As well as the First Saturdays, also remember the prayers of reparation given at Fatima by the Angel to the children. The prayers can be said in the form of a chaplet, which can be found here:- https://gloria.tv/text/B1bYPLtxZVxy2DALpJnmResUz
WF,
Thank you for that. Much appreciated.
I have e-mailed the Irish Independent newspaper and the Press Council of Ireland to complain against the Blasphemous cartoon.
http://www.presscouncil.ie/making-a-complaint
St. Gregory the Great says that priests and pastors will stand condemned before God as the murderers of any souls lost through neglect or silence. Tot occidimus, quot ad mortem ire tepidi et tacentes videmus. Elsewhere St. Gregory asserts that nothing more angers God than to see those whom He set aside for the correction of others, give bad example by a wicked and depraved life.’
John Smeaton (SPUC) has previously written
“Silence, and silence includes equivocal or half hearted words, in the face of the daily slaughter, the maiming of mothers’ and fathers’ lives, simply will not do
“It’s time,” he said, “for all responsible Catholics to challenge church officials at the highest level to appoint bishops who will carry out the duty spelled out for them”…
“Throughout Britain, Ireland and Europe, the failure of Catholic bishops to teach their flocks on matters relating to the fundamental right to life is directly responsible for great confusion and, consequently, for the failure of the overwhelming majority of Catholics, both clerical and lay, to provide truly effective resistance to the greatest legalized slaughter of human beings in the history of the world.”
http://protectthepope.com/?p=9953
This ugly incident – which is in the same blasphemous class as the BBC homosexualist video describing the Holy Eucharist as having the smell of hate – brings to mind the utter corruption of the public square engineered by Freemasonry in the years, months and days leading up to the French Revolution.
In fact, it is precisely the same technique. Back then, its inflammatory, seditious purpose – to overthrow the king – was accomplished via a steady bombardment of leaflets, pamphlets, newspaper articles and theater productions. Now, the influence of the media is even more deadly and pervasive…and outrageous.
The only difference is that now, the target, the Catholic Church, has already been brought down and reduced to a spineless, corrupt farce in the public eye. And if a few brave clergy here and there refuse to go along with the “UN Rubber-Stamp” status to which this Marxist Pope has reduced the Church, they are immediately intimidated or punished in one way or another, by either orchestrated outrage from the leftist media, or by their bishop, or, if a bishop, by the Pope.
The populist tide is turning in Europe and the USA, however. Now, if only the hierarchy would pull their heads out of unspeakably dark places and place themselves in the spiritual leadership role for which they have been anointed. Populism without the direction of the Church will end up badly. Example: 1776, the 13 colonies.
Here is a new video about populist developments in Italy:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WypsVFfrOPg&w=640&h=360%5D
RCA Victor,
That’s a brilliant video and makes me reinforced in my belief that we need to get out of the EU asap.
I was amazed to learn that the new coalition in Italy wants to restore Catholic values, there’s been no mention of that in the news reports here. In fact, there’s been very little on the news here except the impression that Italy is in chaos, no details like the ones in your video.
I’m really grateful you posted that video. Roll on Brexit, LOL!
Open blasphemy is becoming more commonplace now – even on the High Street. Watch out for an ice cream chain currently operating in Canada and the USA, but no doubt it will be in other countries before too long. It is called ‘Sweet Jesus’ and the adverts it uses are beyond belief – blasphemous, satanic and abusive to children. If they did this to Islam, the shops would have been closed down long ago and you would have heard the shrieking of the liberals about ‘Islamophobia’ from here to Mars (I never understand why liberals, of all people, frequently defend Islam . . .) Warning: this link contains offensive and blasphemous images. https://activistmommy.com/sweet-jesus-ice-cream-brand-blasphemes-christ-fetishizes-children
It’s the feast of the Sacred Heart this coming Friday, which Our Lord especially asked to be instituted to make reparation to His Sacred Heart.
WF,
Yes – I don’t recommend this, but if you search “blasphemous rosary cartoon” and look under “images,” you’ll get an entire page full of evil.
An article about that ice cream chain appeared not long ago on WorldNetDaily. It seems that the NWO advances by appealing to the lowest in our rebellious human nature.m Moreover, they don’t need to change tactics, because their historical one works so well.
Westminster Fly,
That’s really disgraceful, and as you say, they wouldn’t dare do this to Islam.
I’ve often thought what you say about liberals – it’s a mystery why liberals, of all people, defend Islam. I often think that because it doesn’t make sense.
Now if it wasn’t before it really is all systems go into putting the boot in to us Catholics. The above supposed Comedy Cartoon will Be laughed at and applauded in the Bars not only of Ireland but here it’s no wonder the Statue of Our Lady of Quadulupe weeps for if we weep for our Mother Mary how much more does she weep for us . The fact that The Rosary is worn by these idiotic celebrities is most certainly a Blasphemy also but hey it’s against us Catholics they don’t matter .
Editor
You wrote “As for the rosary not being “connected with Catholicism” … Only the most uneducated, religiously illiterate person in Christendom would not be able to associate the rosary with Catholics. It’s one of the most common ways used to denigrate Catholics and, yes, the Church. Mocking Our Lady…”
For decades, as the rosary has been used as a fashion accessory, it association with Catholicism has weakened, just as people can wear a cross (as compared to a crucifix) without associating it with Christianity. Strange but true. I can also tell you, in all honesty, that in my day job I regularly deal with people, who claim to be Christian, and people of other faiths and none, who do not associate it with Catholicism or with prayer.
I would say the image in the cartoon would only work in a “Catholic” Country, and, as with all things, an attempt is made to associate a person, or Institution, with others in the cartoon. I would say it is obvious the Rosary is used to represent The Church, as there are few other ways a cartoons could simply represent an entire institution with a patient in a bed.
You were in Ireland, and I would be surprised if you can with 100% honesty say the people you spoke to ever mentioned Mary, or The Rosary, in their criticisms of the cause you were, rightly, representing, but I often confident that often mentioned Bishops and The Church. If you can with absolute honesty, and conviction, say Mary and The Rosary, and not, or never, The Church were ever mentioned to you in Ireland I will happily concede I am wrong. But if not I ask you to take into account my experience, in my day job, and what was said to in Ireland.
If to criticise Bishops, and The Church, is blasphemy than some bloggers are in big trouble,
Without knowing what you day job is, it’s hard to believe what you say. How often do people in jobs have conversations about religion? I’m very puzzled by your comment.
I’ve met lots of people of various religions mostly socially, and when I mention the rosary which I do when I talk to them about Fatima, they seem to know what I’m talking about, never ask me why, as a Catholic, I’m talking about the rosary.
It is not necessary to know what my day job is. But I give a 100% cast iron guarantee that I have said with total honesty what conversations often transpire in that job.
Petrus Regnat, your last sentence takes the biscuit !
Also, as I rightly criticise bishops, I must be about to be struck by lightning!
I will respect bishops when they start to respect their office, which they have denigrated.
St Miguel,
Well said. I’m way past this ‘respect the office no matter what’. No. We don’t name-call or be nasty, but we may certainly be forthright and frank in our commentary on the bishops of the UK, the majority of whom – in the face of this, the worst ever crisis, worst ever pope, in the history of the Church – appear to be making a better job of hiding that the original 12 before Pentecost.
Petrus Regnat,
What is the point you are making? Are you saying that the Irish Independent has paid a cartoonist to produce a cartoon that nobody will “get”? Is that it? If hardly anyone associates the rosary with either Our Lady of Catholicism, what on earth was the point of the Irish Independent cartoon?
As for your concluding paragraph, I wasn’t IN Ireland to speak about the rosary or Our Lady or the Church – indeed, to the best of my recollection, the Church was only mentioned to me by one very nasty lady (and by one totally mad man) both of whom raised the abuse scandals and reacted with diabolical fury when I pointed out that the majority seemed to be priests – i.e. men abusing boys, and that the bishops had permitted homosexuals to enter the seminaries, contrary to Canon Law, so the outcome was not exactly rocket science etc.
Our group did pray a public rosary every day and nobody came over to ask what we were doing, no puzzled looks. Nope. At a wild guess I’d say everyone who saw us knew exactly what we were doing.
Frankly, it’s nothing short of ridiculous to suggest that few, if any, people associate the rosary with Catholicism/Our Lady etc. I can only speculate therefore about your “day job” and make an intelligent guess – if you are having regular conversations with people who are so ignorant about the rosary, you must be teaching in a Catholic school.
Tell your pupils/colleagues to Google “Rosary” and they’ll find the connection with Catholicism writ large on Wikipedia and various dictionaries.
Gimme patience!
Editor
The exact opposite. It is some here who don’t get the point.
The clue is in the “slogan get your rosaries off our ovaries”. The Rosaries in this case of a reference to The Church. The cartoon, as I say, would only work in an, even nominally, Catholic country.
It is a criticism of The Church, and not of Mary or the Rosary as a prayer.
I ask you to bear in mind on a daily basis, in one small facet of my work, I deal with people who do not know the rosary is a Catholic religious item, or that it intended for use in prayer. That would not be the same in Ireland (or in any household that did, or does, pray The Rosary).
Why don’t you just come out and tell us what you do for a living?
And yes it is relevant !
No what matters is that people speak the truth, and have a least basic knowledge of liturgy, the sacraments, Holy Scripture, Theology, Ecclesiology, Canon Law and, for example, the role of a Bishop as The Chief Shepherd in his Diocese.
Tut Tut !
Petrus R,
Right, so I think I get it now. The cartoonist either doesn’t know that Rosary and Mary are connected to the Church OR they really respect the Rosary and Mary, don’t mean to insult either, but for some incomprehensible reason – despite that respect – want to use Rosary and Mary to get at the Church.
You are one very confused guy.
PS please stop referring to your work/day job. Unless we know what the heck kind of work you do, we cannot believe – I DON’T believe (unless you work in a Catholic school or mental institution) – that you meet people daily who don’t know about the rosary. Gerragrip.
It is not me that is confused.
Cartoonists often use an image associated with the person, or institution, they wish to mock or attack. However, it is not the actual symbol they use that is the object of their attack. In this case the most likely symbol to use was suggested by the slogan “keep your rosaries off our ovaries”. No one who used that slogan would intend it would be taken literally. As to take it literally would not make sense.
Would it have the same memorability if they said “take your crozier/mitre, or what ever, off my ovaries”. The clear answer is no, but a memorable rhyming phrase would work, and stick in people memories.
Your inability to understand how cartoons work illustrate why quite often the cartoons you publish don’t work, at the level of humour. Although they do get the point across.
Petrus R
I said right away at the beginning of your mantra about the cartoonist getting at the Church – OBVIOUSLY!
That does not take away one iota from the FACT THAT THE CARTOONIST INSULTS THE ROSARY AND OUR LADY IN SO DOING. Don’t keep repeating the insulting rhyming blasphemy, we get it. Whoever made up THAT rhyme was ALSO either aware that she was insulting Our Lady, Rosary and Church – or, the only possible alternative – she was thick.
As is anyone who thinks that the cartoonist didn’t know the significance of the rosary and Our Lady when he drew that scandalously insulting cartoon.
Now, what about the key point of this thread – the First Five Saturdays. Have you managed to make them yet?
People use pen names on blogs because they generally wish to remain anonymous, and your blog should be no different.
I have given you an example of something I, almost daily, encounter at work. It is an honest answer/example. It is your right not to accept I am telling the truth, but you have no right, whatsoever, to ask me to reveal any biographical details of myself.
I gave the answer is good faith as you are clearly unaware of the reality in the world. On 7/12/2014 The Daily Mail, and other outlets, revealed 1/3 of children do not know what is celebrated at Christmas. (This is a country with a Christian heritage, in which advent calendars are freely on sale, and in the very season we are preparing for Christmas). In 2013 it was reported 53% of children don’t know what is celebrated at Easter.
Therefore, how likely is it then that EVERYONE, in any country, would know the specifics of any one faith, and in a world where rosaries are routinely worn/displayed , and tattooed on countless bodies, – even on atheists and people without any faith – would know it is Catholic devotion and a thing used for prayer?
The surveys I quote, and others, can be easily found.
Persist if you must in doubting my very simple claim that not everyone is religiously, and culturally, aware, but I am not the one who is confused on what any social or religious survey, in any country, could confirm.
P Regnat
The BBC and ITV certainly associate the rosary with Catholicism.
Every time the child abuse scandal is (constantly) mentioned in their news programmes, hands clasping a rosary, a crucifix or statue of The Sacred Heart or Our Lady fills the screen.
It`s called brainwashinjg.
Frankier
One would expect a religious journalist, at least, to be familiar with religious items/things associated with the news item they are dealing with, if it is based on a critique/ report about that religion. I believe not everyone in the world is a journalist.
Comment deleted.
Frankier,
Spot on. Apart from pupils in Catholic schools who know next to nothing about Catholicism – kids in non-denominational primary schools can name the items of clothing worn by Muslims and Jews, so, allowing for the ignorance in Catholic schools, even kids in non-denominational schools know about the rosary.
This is just despicable Anti-Catholic rabble rousing.Salinsky would have appoved.It is a tawdry reference to the feminist slogan”Get your rosaries off our ovaries”.All these papers promote Godless Cultural Marxism.
Tirrey
I don’t withdraw my knowledge of the reality on the ground as to how the rosary is generally seen today. I stand corrected as to a possible interpretation of the cartoon. However, I would still maintain rosaries in this context is an oblique reference to The Church and not the devotion/prayer itself. Likewise the carton would only work in a Catholic country such as Ireland.
PR,
Even if what you say is true, what possible difference does it make? Blasphemy is blasphemy, and is an OUTRIGHT (not “oblique”) attack on Christ’s Church, whether the mocking is directed at Our Lady, a saint, or Our Lord Himself.
Talk about mountains and molehills.
I have only just read this. I think an attack on practically the entire priesthood, the hierarchy, and almost every Catholic in the world who upholds the teaching and practice of the Church since 1962 is perhaps a pretty broad attack on Christ’s Church. I wouldn’t call them blasphemy but then neither is a cartoon representation of The Church by people who, equally think, for very different reasons believe that same Church, and its leaders, have failed their nation.
Your own magazine publishes cartoons lampooning attacking the hierarchy. In publishing those I am confident you are not attacking The Holy Family, The Saints in general, or The Sacraments. Your target is a leadership that has failed The Church, for different reasons than those represented by the Independent Cartoon, but the scale of the failure you see is no less great, and if your analysis is correct you believe it has cost more lives worldwide than any will, sadly, be ever aborted in Ireland.
PR go give it a rest my man! Do you honestly think that Ireland will NOT follow through with the Law…..the Prime Minister Leo Varadkar would be lynched by the baying mob of pro-aborts. Agent provocateur and time wasting troll.
If this is any help to you all, my guess a Priest, too old to be Cardinal Vincent Nichols private secretary, but someone in that vicinity.
Mandate is: “To Keep the rabble, (according to bloggers attitude) in order and have them running around in circles.” In other words, if the ‘natives’ are restless they must be ‘herded away from the Bishops and Cardinal failures’
When was the action to subdue this blogsite taken?
Possibly during the baby Alfie debacle, I think someone was badly damaged by the episode and what was said on this blog.
I have already thought of the possibility of an agent provocateur…..Editor has sussed this out already anyway.
In the vernacular, ‘a wind up merchant’.
Jim,
You may be right, as Cardinal Nichols publicly jumped in bed with the killers of Baby Alfie without hesitation. A very curious follow-up to his alleged Consecration of England to the Immaculate Heart, eh?
RCA Victor, Jim et al,
Petrus Regnat is a troll. That’s for sure. He’s being monitored, trust me, and don’t encourage him. But, I wouldn’t imagine for a second that he’s working for anyone, certainly not the hierarchy who won’t care a jot about a wee blog like ours. They’re brazen now, they have a pope who is an outright modernist – why would they care about us? Dissenters from the dissent are no big deal any more, so I wouldn’t spend any more time speculating about PR. Leave him to me, she said ominously. I will deal with him in due course…
Until then…
http://www.evilenglish.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/keep-your-cool-logo.jpg
Alleged consecration of England to the Immaculate Heart indeed. And now we’ve got the alleged ‘rededication of England as Mary’s Dowry’ coming up in 2020. They gave the game away on the http://www.dowrytour.org.uk website:-
“The re-dedication in 2020, unlike the dedication of King Richard II in 1381, will not be the gift of the country of England, but the personal gift of the faith of the people of England to the Mother of God, to seek her help in building a strong spiritual foundation for the New Evangelisation”.
New Evangelisation?
I thought the Pope was against us trying to evangelise?
St Miguel
The ‘New Evangelisation’ is simply a delusional term beloved of so-called ‘Pollyanna Catholics’ who live in a false ‘new springtime’ and fail to see that the only way to stop the auto-demolition of the Church is a full return to Tradition. It is often characterised by costly and ineffective schemes that run in dioceses from time to time, such as the utterly futile ‘At Your Word Lord’ scheme that ran in Westminster a while back, with the aim of ‘renewing’ the diocese – which it didn’t. It’s in worse shape than ever, take my word for it.
Read up about that…failure after failure…there is NO other organisation on this planet with such a dismal track record of failure.
WF, well down in your neck of the woods, the biggest news today on every news channel is that Peter Stringfellow, owner of Gentlemens Clubs (lap dancing etc) has died..where are the feminists now.???…Stringfellow is being lionised by celebs saying how wonderful he was while his business was only about objectifying women…!
AND THE WORLD WE LIVE IN……Top of the news this morning is that Peter Stringfellow has died aged 77…..non stop plaudits for the famous owner of strip/lap dancing clubs in UK.
Where are the feminists??
Right now the media are lionising this character, where another part of the media are going after the the men who objectify women !
The people who need evangelising are the Bishops, Cardinal and the Pope who after a full return to Tradition, as WF rightly pointed out can then start doing their job which they have abandoned for over 50yrs.
And it came to pass…..here we go folks !
https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/fetzen-fliegen/item/3924-the-left-is-coming-after-humanae-vitae-this-summer-time-to-fight-back
St. Miguel,
Sorry to repeat my post to Gabriel Syme on another thread, but I think we need to look at the Novus Ordo Church through the other end of the telescope. The purpose of all this rubbish like “New Evangelization,” the New, New, New Mass, etc. is to destroy the Faith, destroy the hierarchical Church, and destroy the Catholic identity – not to renew it, reinvigorate it, “reform” it, or whatever other false label the enemies of the Church and their useful idiots come up with.
Therefore, as I posted before, it is not a failure at all, but a smashing (pun intended) success, and a facade where words no longer have any meaning, or mean the opposite of their traditional meaning. As HJA Sire said in an interview, the human element of the Church is now completely hollow.
Consistent with that perspective, I think another apt name for Francis, besides “The Dictator Pope,” would be “The Destroyer Pope.” He has dropped the pretense of the Great Facade completely, and so the plan has been laid bare in all its vulgarity, corruption and Satanic darkness – no longer any attempt to hide the true mission.
(As if to confirm this, now we hear that Cdl. Parolin will be attending the Bilderberg Conference, which begins today in Italy.)
Thank you RCAVictor what you say now makes perfect sense, the jigsaw falls in to place….as regards Cdnl Parolin…..he will probably be the next Pope…The vile BIlderbergers are the King Makers.Only those and such as those make that list.
BIlderbergers, news black outs, hidden lists….what happened to that much overused word TRANSPARENCY…..the new word everywhere is ‘challenges.
RCA Victor,
Well said – yet again, you have said it all…
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ae/75/f4/ae75f487e678493c5e3458b5365d427b.jpg
Can I remind people here The Referendum in Ireland answered one question: should we repeal the Eighth Amendment.
That amendment has not yet been repealed, and until it is no new law on abortion can be introduced.
There is still much to work, and pray for in Ireland. That is what new abortion law will be implanted.
Instead of a pointless argument about blasphemy relating to a cartoon in which The Church is represented by a Rosary, people should still be working with, and praying for the people of Ireland, especially its legislators, that any new law will be as restrictive as possible.
Pray too that Ireland will be re-evangelised as speedy as possible, and, in line with its stance of neutrality in international conflicts that lead to war, they rediscover their pro-life nerve/moral compass.
Work to save life, and do not squander valuable on irrelevant arguments about an tasteless article.
Petrus R,
What about the key part of this blog thread that you have entirely ignored. The First Five Saturdays of reparation.
Have you made the First Five Saturdays or do you intend to make them now, with this latest affront to Our Lady in the newsletter of once-Catholic Ireland?
I haven’t ignored the call for reparation. I said in one of my earliest posts of this thread, we should do reparation for all sins. At 17:53 on 6/6/18 I wrote “Any acts of reparation for our sins, or the sins of others, is to be commended.”
If I had a quibble about the proposal realistically, you will surely agree, I would have mentioned it more than once by now. LOL
Petrus R,
I didn’t ask for your opinion on reparation. I asked for your opinion on the Fatima First Five Saturdays. I will presume you are not a believer and haven’t made nor ever intend to make the First Five Saturdays in compliance with Our Lady’s request. If the truth were otherwise, you’d be the first to say so.
Petrus R,
I see. So, there’s a chance that the 8th amendment may NOT be repealed and / or that only a LITTLE bit of abortion may be introduced..
Where do you live? I want to move there. Planet?
Editor
I have not set the Constitution won’t change. I have said it hasn’t changed.
I haven’t said Ireland won’t get an Abortion Law. I have said it hasn’t yet got one.
The date they set for an upper limit on abortion, and the reasons why abortion might be allowed, and any exceptions to the general rule will all dictate, in part, how many abortions will take place.
They could for example stick with the majority of Europe and give a general upper limit of 12 weeks, or go for the UK upper limit of 24 weeks.
If you can’t grasp these facts it is difficult to see why you are posting about a tacky cartoon, and not concentrating on the pro-life fight.
Any, and every abortion, is wrong, but you are, as it were, fiddling whilst Rome burns, and in attacking The Church you are doing your opponents work for them.
Your posts are increasingly confused and confusing.
For starters, this thread isn’t about a “tacky cartoon” – it’s about the First Five Saturdays.
What do you think of that request of Our Lady?
PS “Fiddling while Rome burns”? At least you admit that Rome is burning! Step forward for any papolatrist!
I repeat you are confused.
You won’t accept that the legal battle in Ireland has a long way to go and there is much, still, to fight for, and more especially lives said. Lives, many lives, van still be saved depending on what final law is passed.
You won’t acknowledge your belief every social and religious survey would disprove there is universal knowledge of The Catholic Church, it devotions and its symbols.
I note in fact you never told me how many people in Ireland spoke to you about “The Church” being wrong without ever mentioning Mary or The Rosary in their criticism. I have good reason it was 100% who didn’t.
Instead you go on about blasphemy and provide no evidence whatsoever that the Cartoonist, or the Editor, has provided you with an answer that says you are spot on, with regards their intent. Whereas common says it is an attack on the hierarchy, and clergy, and you can hardly condemn them on that score.
Your first paragraph is self-evidently delusional.
Second paragraph – I responded to your question about people in Ireland speaking to me about the Church. I said only TWO people mentioned the Church and that was in the light of the abuse scandals. There was no mention of Our Lady or the Rosary – if you seek to twist that fact into proof that 100% don’t associate the rosary or Our Lady with the Church, go ahead. The men in white coats, oops, people in white coats are on their way!
In my reply to you, I also pointed out that we prayed a public rosary every morning in O’Connell Street and nobody looked puzzled, nobody asked what we were doing. Why don’t you read my responses – I’m only writing this all again because I’ve now got you in moderation so I want to make sure the record is straight as I never EVER permit a troll to have the last word and mislead people. In the next week or so I’ll be going through all of your comments to make sure every error or ambiguity is corrected. You have come on here for some sport – but we’ll have the last laugh. We always do with trolls. You’ll be in moderation for a day or two at most – then you’ll be switched to my favourite folder, the one which I need never check. You’ll be GONE!
And what’s this baloney about surveys showing lack of knowledge of Catholic devotions and symbols? Who cares? That’s not the issue. You think the Irish Independent paid a cartoonist to make a mockery of the rosary and Our Lady despite the fact (you say) that the majority of people don’t associate these with the Catholic Church! Crackers!
Editor
The first paragraph of your blog post are about blasphemy, The two emails that head this thread are about blasphemy and so are by far the majority of comments on this thread written by anyone but me. The act of reparation are barely mentioned by anyone posting here.
Petrus R,
Key part of blog introduction…
The reason for publishing [the cartoon] here at all is simply to urge readers to make the five First Saturdays as a matter of urgency. Briefly, to remind us all, the background to this devotion is as follows:
On July 13th 1917, Our Lady of Fatima, after showing the three Fatima seers a vision of hell, she said “You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my immaculate heart… I shall come to ask for… the Communion of reparation on the First Five Saturdays.”
On December 10, 1925, Our Lady said to Sister Lucia “Look, my daughter, at my heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me with your prayers and sacrifices. I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for their salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Why Five Saturdays?
Five first Saturdays of reparation were requested to atone for the five ways in which people offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
1. attacks upon Mary’s Immaculate Conception
2. attacks against her Perpetual Virginity
3. attacks upon her Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind
4. for those who try to publicly implant in children’s hearts indifference, contempt and even hatred of this Immaculate Mother
5. for those who insult her directly in her sacred images.
Extract from Letter of Sister Lucia
On 1 November, 1927, Sister Lucia wrote a letter to Doña Maria de Miranda, her Godmother, explaining this devotion::
“I don’t know if you already know about the reparatory devotion of the five Saturdays to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As it is still recent, I would like to inspire you to practise it, because it is requested by Our dear Heavenly Mother and Jesus has manifested a desire that it be practised. Also, it seems to me that you would be fortunate, dear Godmother, not only to know it and to give Jesus the consolation of practising it, but also to make it known and embraced by many other persons.
“It consists in this: During five months on the first Saturday, to receive Jesus in Communion, recite a Rosary, keep Our Lady company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, and make a confession. The confession can be made a few days earlier, and if in this previous confession you have forgotten the (required) intention the following intention can be offered, provided that on the first Saturday one receives Holy Communion in a state of grace, with the intention of repairing for offences against the Most Holy Virgin and which afflict Her Immaculate Heart.
Comment:
As well as resolving to make the First Saturdays as a matter of priority, readers are also encouraged to email the Irish Independent newspaper which published this disgraceful cartoon, to object, strongly, to this insult to the Mother of God. You can email at ‘[email protected]’ END.
You have created a huge distraction with your nonsense about few people associating the rosary with Catholicism, thus taking us off-guard and allowing you to do your trolling with our unwitting help. Not to mention your ridiculous comments about the Irish referendum… abortion not legal yet, blah blah. We’re really not stupid people here, you know.
Your fun finishes here – only posts from you which are contributing to the discussion will be released from now on and that will happen only when I can be bothered to check the moderation queue.
Petrus Regnat,
That’s because you are saying the daftest things and people are rising to your bait! If the feminists making up their horrible “ovaries” posters and the cartoonists didn’t associate the rosary and Mary with the Church, they wouldn’t use them to denigrate Catholicism. That’s very obvious, LOL!
Editor: this comment went into moderation because you used the blogger’s name – his posts are now moderated (and, for his information, the first one to be submitted by him since being put into moderation is not going to be released), so be careful; anyone who wishes to reply to any of his posts already published (not recommended – I would prefer you just ignore them now) should avoid using his username, because if you do, your post will go into the moderation file, where it will remain until I see it.
Instead of pointless trolling about the topics initiated by the Editor for her blog site, why don’t you petition the Clergy in Westminster to speak out publicly regarding the horrors that now await the Irish babies. Ask them to publicly address the MP’s who, down the road from Vaughan House, are baying for the killing of babies in Northern Ireland.
Pray too that the Catholic hierarchy will be re-evangelised and take a stance in situations like Ealing Abortion Chamber, where peaceful pro-lifers found themselves in conflict with pro choice and Ealing Councillors who wanted and succeeded in stopping their peaceful rescue of babies from death. Where was Cardinal Nichols at this crucial time? – nowhere, silent, hushed, inaudible, noiseless, unspeaking, wordless, voiceless, dumb, tight-lipped, mute, unforthcoming, uncommunicative.
So don’t preach to us about squandering valuable on irrelevant arguments on a blog, start with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop McMahon, Catholic Education Service, Archbishop Smith, The Bishop of Armagh and Dublin etc etc. You’re trolling the wrong people!
Chloe,
Well said. Although you omitted one thing from your Cardinal Nichols list. Last time I saw him, was in his presence, I mean (have seen him on TV, of course, from time to time) he was cosying up to some fanatical feminists. So, to the final item on your list (“uncommunicative”) I would add except when sitting in rapt attention at a meeting of crackpot feminists
Chloe, will you please avoid using this blog to vent your anger against the English bishops – I take it you live south of the border. We have a strictish rule about sticking to the topic of the thread. There are plenty of opportunities to discuss other things, and there’s always the General Discussion thread if you want to post local news, but this thread is about the First Saturdays devotion.
Anything to say to encourage others to make the First Five Saturdays?
This is an offencive of the demon… it is signed Lucifer!
Comment deleted – off topic.
The Fatima children were shown a vision of Hell, where poor sinners go.However this POPE denies the existence of Hell, therefore why would he believe in Fatima, ergo the Consecration of Russia?
He won’t even genuflect or kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament, although he can wash the feet of prisoners on Holy Thursday.
I have made the five Saturday Reparations more than once, so just wonder if you can keep making the same Reparation ?
St Miguel,
I just go to the First Saturday Masses as often as I can, since there was nothing said by Our Lady about only making the devotion once. I would think the more often we do them, the more pleasing that will be to God.
Agreed.
St Miguel,
Fr Joseph Chaplain of EWTN replies to a question of continuing the Five Holy Saturdays Devotion.
What if you’ve already made the Five First Saturdays? Should you do it again?
Father Joseph: “There is always a need for reparation. Although we can trust in the promises of Our Lady that we have satisfied her desires for ourselves personally, nonetheless, it will still be beneficial for us in making reparation for sins which continue against her Immaculate Heart and for obtaining world peace.”
http://www.ewtn.com/wings/2013/may2/wings0502Feature.htm
I also seem to remember Fr Gruner saying about through the Rosary and the First Five Holy Saturdays we can hasten the triumph of Marys reign. Reparation is always needed and as Lily rightly says the more we practise this Devotion the more pleasing to God it will be.
Saint Louis de Montfort writes, “We never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour His Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour Him all the more perfectly”.
Thank you Chloe !
Editor,
The fact that PR attempted to sign up under a different username demonstrates that he is not only confused and ignorant, he is a person of ill will, out to disrupt this blog.
RCA Victor
As ever, you have you finger on the pulse…
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2d/c6/24/2dc624711c1e88ff542e36a373bf3447.jpg
Meanwhile back at the ranch…
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16251552.Prayers_for_the_ill_curbed_in_Scots_Catholic_churches_due_to_new_EU_privacy_rules/?ref=ar
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6167231/Spanish-actor-face-trial-blasphemy-Facebook-posts.html
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