What’s Wrong With The World? Climate Change? Nope… I am! – GK Chesterton…
Comment:
Enjoy the above excellent talk by Irish priest, Father David Sherry, SSPX, Superior of the District of Canada. At 46 minutes, it’s a bit longer than we usually post, but well worth watching right through.
Father Sherry served in the Scottish SSPX churches for a while (not long enough!) soon after his ordination. As evident in the above talk, this is one priest who knows how to teach difficult concepts very simply and clearly. It’s a real gift.
Having had the pleasure of many conversations with Father Sherry, I’m confident that he won’t mind if I make a debatable point up front.
Firstly, I’ve noticed for a while that the SSPX clergy in general do not speak much in sermons about Fatima. At this point in time, it is my belief that Our Lady’s warnings in 1917 should be at the forefront of every Catholic mind in the world, all the time. There is just no other event in recent history which matches the Fatima apparitions and subsequent apparitions to Sr Lucia. Father Nicholas Gruner RIP – “the Fatima priest” – would often describe Fatima as the single most important event in the twentieth century. Thus, it is a little surprising to hear Father Sherry say, in an oblique reference to Fatima, that he “thinks” the Church will be restored through the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
I’m not sure why priests appear to be reluctant to speak about Fatima because it’s as clear as the day is long that those prophecies are unfolding before our very eyes – goodness, the three child-seers reported Our Lady’s warning that Communism would spread from Russia before Communism was established in Russia! And it’s spreading like wildfire across the world right now. It’s already arrived here in the UK. It’s the easiest of all apparitions to explain: two of the three seers are already canonised – and they were able to reveal that Our Lady had affirmed Catholic dogmas from papal authority to the reality of Hell, by letting them actually see the tormented souls in Hell. There was a public miracle, witnessed by over 70,000 people and reported – with photographs of the massive crowd – in the local newspapers at the time. Atheists converted on the spot.
It is a little puzzling, then, that priests don’t seem to have Fatima at the front of their minds in preaching and in conversations. In the case of Fr Sherry, I know it can’t be for lack of belief in the apparitions – he gladly attended our Fatima Conference some years ago when we had the privilege of welcoming Father Gruner RIP to address a Catholic Truth audience and I have heard him speak of the apparitions, with conviction. I’m sure there will be other videos in which Fr Sherry does, in fact, speak of Fatima, but should not the Fatima Message be right at the forefront of all Catholic minds today, and shouldn’t we – priests especially – never assume that we are speaking to the already converted or informed? Repetition is the mother of education, as the saying goes…
Maybe our commentators will disagree – share your thoughts on that, but don’t forget, either, to comment on the excellence of the information in the above video, not to mention Father Sherry’s superb professional delivery – he is a natural communicator and a first class teacher.
I’ll send the link to this thread to Father Sherry, so if I disappear without explanation, start a crowd-funding campaign to pay the ransom 😀
Comments (44)
There’s not been time to view the whole video yet but I think I know the answer to why priests (not just SSPX, BTW) don’t preach about Fatima, and it’s because they think it’s a private revelation, and since we don’t need to believe private revelations, they think it’s better not to make too much of them. A friend told me her priest said that years ago when her husband asked him why he never mentioned Fatima. He said he had a statue of Our Lady of Fatima in his bedroom, he did believe it, but didn’t preach because it’s a private revelation which nobody needs to believe.
Father Gruner wrote about this and he said it wasn’t a private revelation because the message is obviously for the whole world, and there was a public miracle. A private revelation is when God gives a message intended for one person, maybe to spread a devotion, but that’s not what Fatima is about. It’s about literally saving the world from tyranny which would mean we couldn’t worship the one true God.
I do sympathise with priests on this because, especially if their superiors think Fatima is private revelation then they’d be in hot water for preaching about it. It also involves criticising the popes for not doing the Consecration of Russia, so we have to cut them some slack.
I will contribute to the crowd-funding, though, LOL!
There’s a misunderstanding about Private Revelation here: “Private Revelation”is any revelation which occurs out with the Apostolic Age and does not constitute not part of Sacred Scripture or Apostolic Tradition.
Only Sacred Scripture and Tradition comprise the Public Revelation of the Church.
There is no quibble room here: it has been the constant teaching of the Church that no Catholic is required to believe anything which lies outside Public Revelation.
Some apparitions, like Fatima, and the private devotion to Our Lady which springs from the apparitions, are approved by the Vatican for devotion, because there is nothing in the apparitions and devotions which opposes the faith.
Caution is advised, as trying to promote the apparitions of Fatima as Public Revelation could constitute the sin of excess, something I have been accused of myself, perhaps reasonably, in other sections of this blog.
Sarto
I agree with your distinctions between public and private revelation but I disagree that promoting Fatima as more than a simple private revelation is tantamount to excess.
There is no question that Fatima is in a category all on its own, not least because it confirms what is already revealed by public revelation, i.e., that we are living through the last times of the world. Indeed, Fatima even quotes Apocalypse, chapters 8 – 13 in reference to the unfolding Third Secret.
We have to consider that the great miracle of the sun was the first public miracle, predicted beforehand, since the days of the Apostles. That alone puts Fatima in a different category from all other Marian apparitions. We also have to weigh the fact that every Pope since Fatima, perhaps excluding the present incumbent, has spoken of the importance of the Fatima Message, a phenomenon not witnessed at any other time in relation to any other apparition.
Given all of this, and also the pilgrim virgin travels around the world that brought millions to Our Lady’s feet in public devotion, with so many miracles associated that Pius XII declared “Our eyes cannot believe what they are seeing”, I think it is absolutely a case that Fatima be considered as unique in terms of Marian apparitions, much more important than just private revelation, as the Popes themselves have demonstrated.
Although we have not had the actual consecration of Russia as Our Lady requested, there have nevertheless been many public consecrations of sorts by Pius XII and John Paul II, again indicating that these Popes did not consider Fatima to be a mere private revelation. Then there was Pius XII’s testimony that he was granted the grace of a solar miracle by Our Lady while praying in the Vatican gardens.
On the subject of the SSPX priests, I remember well that almost every priest we had in the UK preached consistently on Fatima and devotion to Our Lady. Nowadays we don’t hear this as much as before. I still hear some priests, sadly not all, preach on Marian devotion, particularly the rosary, but I can’t remember the last time I heard a sermon on the urgency of Fatima. Yet another sign for me that the SSPX has slipped a bit spiritually. The priests need to enliven their Marian devotion if they want to sanctify themselves and the faithful, otherwise it will all falll into indifferent routine.
Athanasius,
True to form, you explain the difference between public and private revelation perfectly.
I would add that what you say about the SSPX priests and Our Lady really applies to the majority of the parishes as well. I don’t see it as a coincidence that the crisis in the Church is at such a horrendous level, at the same time as there is a loss of devotion to Our Blessed Lady.
Father Sherry mentioned the triumph of the Immaculate Heart so I don’t think he is not devoted to Our Lady – I think he’s been focused on the topic from a different angle, that’s all. Editor might be being a wee bit hard on him about that! I’m ducking now, LOL!
Laura
I agree on all points. I know Fr. Sherry has a devotion to Our Lady of Fatima so I wasn’t really meaning him. I was speaking in general terms about SSPX priests not preaching so much these days on Fatima.
RCAVictor makes the point further down the comments that it was once a common subject with SSPX priests, but not so much today. That’s worrying.
Athanasius,
I’ve been wondering about why priests don’t preach about Fatima and I think one reason might be that they’d get stick from some parishioners because, yes, right, it’s more than a private revelation, that’s for sure, Pope JP II said Fatima places an obligation on the whole world, but on the other hand, a person who says they don’t believe in Fatima, isn’t committing a sin or an excommunicable offence, so maybe priests think they ought to hold back from making too much of it, in case it worries people who are not given to following private revelations (as they would see it).
Personally, I think they should speak about it often and explain it all clearly, but that’s maybe why they are not so keen. Saying that, some of them speak plenty about Celtic football teams, and it’s definitely not a sin to want nothing to do with football, LOL!
Fidelis
That may be true of the modern parishes, for sure, but not the Traditional parishes. If fear of worrying people was the motivation then I doubt if they’d ever mention Hell! No, I think many have just not kept up a strong enough Marian devotion to compel them to preach about Fatima. Too many with their heads in the clouds about Gregorian chant!
Athanasius,
A man who gets to the point and stays there!
Well said.
Athanasius,
I agree that Fatima is in a class of its own. Fr Gruner RIP, while distinguishing it from that which has been defined as Public Revelation, termed it ‘Public Prophetic Revelation’ – i.e. in a class of its own above ordinary Private Revelation. Similar, I think, to the same way that the worship due to God alone is known as ‘latria’, the veneration due to the saints is known as ‘dulia’, but the Mother of God has Her own special category known as ‘hyperdulia’. Also, Pope John Paul II publicly declared at Fatima in 1982 that the message of Fatima “imposes an obligation on the Church”. What Pope in history has ever said that a Private Revelation ‘imposes an obligation’? https://fatima.org/about/fatima-opposed/consecration-of-russia-disinformation It saddens me that so few organisations, with the exception of the Fatima Network http://www.fatima.org are promoting the full Fatima message as the panacea to the problems of the world. Our Lady said at Fatima, speaking of Herself: “ONLY She can help you now”. In other words, God has entrusted the future peace of the world to Our Lady and Her Fatima message and no other way is going to get us out of this jam. Especially those groups like World Apostolate of Fatima who misrepresent the Fatima message.
From Abp Schneider:-
https://www.gloriadei.io/prayer-for-the-holy-father-to-consecrate-russia
Westminster Fly,
That’s great – I didn’t know Bishop Schneider had a site like that. He is one of the few members of the hierarchy calling for the Consecration of Russia.
There’s only one problem with that prayer: it doesn’t mention that the Pope must do the Consecration of Russia *in union with all the bishops of the world*, which is what Our Lady asked for on June 13, 1929 in the Presence of the Most Holy Trinity.
@Athanasius
@Lily
FOOF
I absolutely agree with you, Fatima is the urgent message for our time and the devil seems to have even managed to get many good priests not to talk too much about it. We need a few more tens of thousands of Fr. Gruners, God rest his soul.
AMEN.
Sarto2010,
In this video, Father Gruner explains why Fatima is not a private revelation, it’s a public prophetic revelation – that’s different from public revelation which ended with the death of the last apostle.
Laura,
Thank you for that – it should be very clear by now that Fatima is not a mere private revelation.
St Catherine Laboure had a private revelation when she was asked by Our Lady to spread the devotion of the Miraculous Medal. But Fatima is in a totally different category as Father Gruner explains in the video you posted, for which thank you!
Spot on, Laura.
Sarto,
As Father Gruner explains in the video posted below (and in his writings on the subject) there is another category in addition to public revelation which constitutes the Deposit of Faith to which nothing may be added, and private revelation where an individual receives a visit from a saint or even Our Lord, Himself. There’s a third category into which Fatima falls – public prophetic revelation.
The spread of atheistic Communism across the world, clearly requires a divine intervention to restore order in the world – and, as is clearly the case, in the Church as well.
The very nature of the Fatima Message, which seeks public action on the part of [an obedient] pope, and the public miracle performed by God for the specific intention of proving to the world that the Fatima apparitions are authentic, confirms that this is not a “mere” private revelation – important as these are, in their own right.
God has decided that, since Russia is the first nation ever to public disown the very existence of God in its governance, then it has to be given back to God through a public act of consecration conducted by the Pope and the Bishops of the Catholic Church, as explained by Our Lady to Sr Lucia in the apparition at Tuy in Spain in 1929.
I’m sure, on reflection, you will see that Fatima is, indeed, unique among apparitions and that it fits clearly into the category of a public, prophetic revelation, intended for the whole world.
+Fr. Gruner said that Fatima is a public prophetic revelation. It’s not private revelation nor is it public Revelation (i.e. that closed with the falling asleep of St. John, the last Apostle). So one can’t just dismiss it just because it’s not part of Divine Revelation per se.
Check out http://www.fatima.org. They’re the best resource on Fatima (plus CTS of course 😉).
Margaret USA
Abolutely agreed.
Lily,
Yes, I think it is fair to cut some slack – your comment reminds me that there was an item in one of the UK SSPX bulletins in which the District Superior of the day remarked on Fatima as “a private revelation”. I remember being surprised and disappointed at the time – it seems crystal clear to me that it is no such thing and Father Gruner RIP – the recognised expert on all things Fatima – was adamant that it was not simply a private revelation. There’s more on this further down the thread so I won’t repeat myself. I know I do that sometimes, because, as I get older, my memory is not good. And my memory is not good… 😀
I watched the full video and the one thing that is now clear in this World is That We Have The Cart Before The Horse .Man first and God a distant second if a second at all .As for Fatima we as Catholics ( and this one in particular ) know that through Our Blessed Lady we will be saved .Also as Father said if we don’t seek God we will seek an alternative I know this because I sought the Alternative .My 20s were most certainly roaring and I most certainly did my OWN thing and where did it lead me .It led me standing at the Gates of Hell .What saved me and I mean not just my Soul but my Life ,prayers constantly said for me to Our Blessed Mother .I was nearly drowned ,almost burned to Death in a Caravan ,the workmate I was with was ,God Rest Him .And those are only two as i could go on and on .As Father says above if you don’t believe in Gods Will then Mans Will -will eventually kill you . Also I know without a doubt and I felt the Power and Peace of Christ return to my Heart and my Body once I returned to him .O of course it was not an overnight thing and for that I hope i will be eternally grateful .For what is quickly given is just as quickly forgotten .Christ as we know speaks of this in the Parable of the Sower .As for these Plastic Dictators like Sturgeon. Biden .Harris .Pelosi Etc they are dried up Bones who are already rotting away . Thanks Ed for the Video .
Faith of our Fathers,
“roaring 20s” – LOL! That’s hilarious!
Your whole post made me LOL!
Thanks for the reply Laura and they were certainly roaring .I of course was The Black Sheep in my family and unfortunately put my Parents especially through Hell .I worked away most of the time and God were they not half glad to see the back of me when I came home for the odd weekend .Its only my Belief and again Christ has it Beautifully described in The Parable of The Prodigal Son .I remember the day well .I was in Peterhead ( not the prison I must add ) when I had that moment of clarity .Why I don’t I go home where I can have a real meal and a real bed .Am not bragging but I was making a Fortune compared to the wages down here ,it done me no good at all .Ad like to say I came home got a nice job and everything was then hunky dory unfortunately life isn’t a Fairy Story and I put them and myself through another 2 years of Hell . God was very good to Me He gave me many years to more than make it up to them ( their words not mine ) .I remember this day also very well where I was going to put my arms around them and tell them that I Loved Them .Funny that I could put my Arms around my Mother and say ” I love you and am very sorry for all the grief and trouble I brought you ” but when it came to my Father I couldn’t do it .Put my arms around him, I did of course say I loved Him .So for all you Broken Families who are out there make it up ASAP you may not have tomorrow .As for me God was good enough to give me time to make restitution .
Faith of Our Fathers,
That is what I think was at the heart of Fr Sherry’s message – that we may not have tomorrow, so reconcile with God now. It was a beautiful talk, I loved it.
You are very honest (again – you always are!) and you are very blessed to have made it up to your parents, whatever you did in your youth. I’m sure you gave them plenty of laughs as well as any heartache you caused along the way.
Thanks Josephine but also in Father Sherrys Video he talks about the Sins of the Fathers Etc .I have 3 Granddaughters aged 9 – 8 and the Baby of 6 Months . The oldest one is unfortunately the spitting image of me not just in looks but in character so one can only Pray and Hope .It actually scared me when Fr Sherry mentioned the Man who Married The Protestant and had I think the number was 180 descendants of which not one was a Catholic .My Daughter has left the Catholic Faith although she still believes in God but neither of my 2 Granddaughters are Catholics which saddens me .I know our so called Catholic Schools and Teachers have lots to learn of The Faith and of course I mean the real faith .Especially now when this Vaccine is being given out to have a difference of opinion practically makes us Lepers .To lots of us now -This Is The True Mark of The Beast –
And Jesus said to his Disciples -. All Authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Me . Christ is our Authority- not Sturgeon not Johnson not Masks and certainly not Pope Francis but Christ .He is the one who Governs us and Father Sherrry makes this plain and simple .Global Warming or Climate Weather Change or whatever Mythical Gods are not for us .When you know the Truth really know the Truth it is a terrible Sin to turn our backs on it .
FOOF,
You have my sympathy about your grandchildren not being raised in the Faith – I think we all have similar situations in our families.
I’ve heard that “I don’t need the Church but I believe in God” – and the answer is chilling. Even the Devil “believes” in God – that’s no guarantee of salvation.
I say that to Her Ed but of course it falls on deaf ears . The situation sort of reminds me of a Story a Priest told me years ago . He was called to a Home where the Baby was extremely Sick ,they were Catholics and asked the Priest to Baptise their Very Sick Child which he duly done . He said to them that ” If or when your Child gets well again arrange for a Formal Christening ” Weeks went by and the Priest heard nothing. He then seen the Father of the Child from his car stopped and said ” How are things ” the Child’s Dad said ” O the Child’s great Now Father he’s 100 % recovered ” in other words. Don’t need God anymore Child OK . World OK don’t need God . Of course She lost Her Mother when She was young and maybe blames God am not trying to make an Excuse Their. But a Guy across the road from me who’s about 77 and going downhill faster than myself. Lost his wife when She was about 45 and He Blamed God . He has only been in a Catholic Church since then for family funerals . My Sister is also not getting any younger and I try to Prod her so to speak back to Mass . She of course says she prays in The House and God is everywhere. Which is true ,but I say to Her the Sacrements aren’t everywhere that doesn’t resonate with Her unfortunately. Am obviously writing this early morning and can’t sleep the good thing about it is it gives One time to reflect on the uselessness of this Life without our Catholic Faith. I actually had a talk with my Parish Priest yesterday and told him that Francis is certainly off of my Christmas List . Give him his due . He never said he ( Francis) wasn’t a Catholic but a bad Pope . That’s an understatement. We need our Churches open and we need to not take The Mark of The Beast . I know your Of the same opinion of me on this Vaccine. But we will have to be prepared as You as well as I know we will at some time down the line be Persecuted for not taking it .
What a great priest! I think that video talk is exceptional.
There is so much in it that applies to my own family, I’m sorry to say, so many have turned away from God and they mean it to be permanent.
I loved the explanation of God hardening the heart – it makes perfect sense that he would withdraw his grace when it is clearly being rejected anyway.
I’m making notes to use as and when I can do so when the opportunity arises.
It is also heartening to know that good priests like Fr Sherry are still out there. It makes me want to move to Canada, LOL!
Josephine,
I think most families are experiencing the sad sight of family members who are turning away from God which will certainly become permanent unless they repent… without delay.
I’ve watched the podcast right through and I agree, it is exceptional.
It was very useful to have the text on the sidebar as well – you can go back a little to check by reading the text alongside the voice.
What came across to me full force was the quote from Fulton Sheen that “if you don’t live as you believe you end up believing as you live.” That’s what is happening – I can see that in my own circle, family and former friends who are e.g. cohabiting and living a life at odds with the Gospel in all sorts of ways.
It is also mind-blowing, the quote from Exodus, that God hardened the heart of the pharaoh, meaning he withdrew his grace, and that he does this to sinners who continually reject him.
Personally, I think this is exactly what we are witnessing in the Church right now. So many serious sins and even crimes being committed by clergy and it looks like all is lost, in human terms. We know that God won’t abandon the Church, but he will withdraw his grace from individuals and I think that is what we are seeing today.
It’s a fantastic talk – if only we had priests like that here in Scotland, who can teach important doctrines in a simple fashion that is easy to understand (for dopes like me, LOL!)
I thoroughly enjoyed that video, and I learned a lot from it.
Lily,
The withdrawal of grace – evident for a long time now, in the Church – is what few people can accept, so, I agree, Father Sherry explained that perfectly.
I have to agree – that is a great talk by Fr Sherry.
It breaks down the whole “mystery of iniquity” thing, to be easily understood, so that we can understand how we come to be so misled, taken in by the devil. I was rivetted by the whole thing and I found the explanation of the relationship between Church and State the best I’ve heard.
Nicky,
“Rivetting” is the word – it really is a terrific sermon.
I especially appreciated Father’s discussion on the separation of Church and State – if that Church is the true Church, then this is an absurdity, like calling for the separation of body and soul while still alive on earth. In fact, the Catholic Church is the soul of the State, and a crucial part of her mission is to nourish the State with the eternal laws of God.
As for the relative disappearance of presentations on Fatima, my experience while in the SSPX was the opposite: it was constantly discussed and we were constantly reminded of it. In fact, I recall the opinion of an acquaintance who seemed to be perpetually disgruntled about something. He once blurted out “Fatima? That’s all they ever talk about!”
RCA Victor,
You go to the heart of the matter in your first paragraph – and the second is quite a surprise; here in the UK, the District Superior has categorised Fatima as a private revelation which is why, with one or two exceptions, there’s been very little said about it in all the years I’ve been attending. So, that’s interesting and very good news that somewhere in the world priests ARE speaking about it.
The attitude of the complainer, of course, is typical of those who really do not get it. Maybe at that time it was less obvious (you don’t say how long ago since you attended the SSPX) but now, it’s so absolutely clear that the Fatima prophecies are unfolding, that I think priests should be shouting it from the rooftops. Goodness, here in Glasgow, I’m reliably informed, there are a group of Protestants who – obviously before the Covid “crisis” – formed themselves into a Fatima group!
For those who still don’t see the truth of what is going on, understanding that we were prepared for our plight through the Fatima warnings, they will see, soon enough…
Editor,
My first reaction to the news about the Protestant Fatima group was surprise, but then I remembered that certain Protestant denominations – especially the fundamentalist variety – are quite keen on “end times” prophecies, the “rapture,” pole shift, etc.
Meanwhile, the disoriented Catholic clergy can only think about their carbon footprint, and telling us to get vaccinated to save the planet, the NHS, and ourselves. I wish they’d stop making fools of themselves.
RCAVictor
I remember being shocked to the core when someone told me that Rev. Ian Paisley said the rosary was based on Scripture. He was right of course but I didn’t expect a Protestant to delcare the fact.
Ed just a quick post . Remember the Parable of Lazarus and the Poor Man . Of course it ended with Christ saying ” If they do not believe in Moses and the Prophets then they will not believe even if someone comes back from the Dead ” when we look at this Magnificent Universe that God Created and our Own Especially so near that the more Modern Science studies it the more remarkable it is . Yet people do not believe it was created. So how do we expect them to believe in Fatima. When we see the Miracle of a Solar Eclipse it is God Saying. ” Man you could Never have arranged The Planets up so perfectly ” yet they do not believe. The Sun the Moon and the Earth all at the same time during a Full Eclipse Perfectly in Line with one Another. It is truly Miraculous. Yet the so called great Science Minds say it just Happens. The great minds study so called Black Holes Billions of Light Years away yet won’t look into their own Hardened Hearts .
I agree that Fr Sherry’s talk on Fatima is excellent.
‘If Only’ the Pope and Bishops would Consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After all, Russia became the first atheistic country in the world – and that atheistic revolution began in October 1917, the same month as the Miracle of the Sun.
Fatima is ignored by many, and since 1929 when Our Lady made her request for the Consecration of Russia, yes, the world may have been consecrated by one or two Popes. We see the result of the errors of Russia have been spread throughout the world. How simple it would be if the Pope and Bishops responded to Our Lady by complying with her simple request.
If we look at Portugal itself, in 1917 the country was under the grip of a Masonic government and all the problems that were imposed upon the Catholic Church at the time.
Fast forward to 1931 and again in 1938, in those particular years Portugal was Consecrated to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, and the changes and return to the Catholic Faith happened. Plus, the country did not enter World War II.
https://fatima.org/news-views/a-night-illumined-by-an-unknown-light/?fbclid=IwAR3xYtI694L3yxWndeMQdkswS5w82IbfMx9SK16f-bn-PrHWjXyWIG0NoVo
And, do not forget that in 1938 there was an unknown light was seen in a good part of Europe. The world was about to enter a another war.
I think the video talk by Fr Sherry is first class. I learned loads myself and I am encouraging lapsed family members to watch it as well. As others have already said, just the information about the hardness of heart and the withdrawal of God’s grace is enough, I hope, to make people who are lapsed and living in sin, think again.
As the intro mentions Fatima, here is a recent article about Fatima, the Biden Presidency and the Church from a few days ago.
I have only skimmed it, but will go back to read in more detail. I don’t know a thing about the author or the (new) magazine carrying it (its not a religious publication, I am sure).
I found the article via Damian Thomson of the Spectator, (a Catholic), who describes it as “terrific” – is he right?
https://thecritic.co.uk/catholicism-at-its-most-bonkers-and-prescient/
(I have not managed to watch the Fr Sherry video yet, but will get around to it!).
Gabriel Syme,
I can only imagine that Thompson thinks that article is “terrific” because he is mentioned in it.
I have seldom read such a load of ignorant nonsense all in one place. The piece begins by describing Fatima as “Disneyland for Catholics” – ordinarily I would have closed down right there, but I wanted to be able to respond to your question.
No, it is FAR from terrific. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to list the many errors right now, the number of mocking statements, but the writer didn’t even pick up on the way Pope Benedict is quoted as downplaying the UN-released part of the Third Secret, claiming it did not live up to the “speculation” it has stirred. Well, why not release it then and END said speculation? Seems an obvious question to me, but this writer seems glad to use it to debunk the notion that there is anything of importance in it, when what it more than likely includes, amounts to a rebuke to the modernism which has infected the Church throughout – as Cardinal Ciappi says: “the Third Secret reveals that the crisis in the Church begins at the top”. Despite Cardinal Ciappi having been spiritual director to the previous 5 popes, he is not quoted in the article. I wonder why not? I’m good at sarcasm 😀
No, that’s one of the worst ever articles I’ve read but I’m not surprised. I am not a fan of Damian Thompson – he is almost never on the right lines. In fact, I think it would be safe to scrub the “almost” 😀
Any thinking Catholic who has studied, even at a basic level, the apparitions at Fatima and the few thereafter to Lucia privately, know that Fatima is the single most important event in the 20 century, with a message for the entire world which Pope John Paul II said “imposes an obligation on the Church.”
To mock that, puts a question mark over anyone’s claim to be a Catholic. Including Thompson.
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