Briefly, this morning, online, I had a discussion with two Catholics in England about Walsingham. I need to clarify my thoughts in a medium which allows for developed thoughts.
The first point that I want to make is that there is only one, true, Catholic and apostolic Church, and that is the Catholic Church. The Anglicans are Protestants, no matter how they see themselves. They are not in union with us and we need to work to help them see this.
In other words, there can be no pretense regarding Anglican Orders or the apostolic continuity in the Anglican congregation.
Second, we are called to evangelize as lay people. We are called to pray, fast, do good works, include teaching to bring back our brothers to the Faith. There is no salvation outside the Church, and although the merits of the Catholic Church save others outside, this cannot be presumed.
Third, Walsingham was destroyed by the Anglican and although some good Anglican have built up their shrine there, it is a Protestant shrine, without holy water and without the sacraments. Until the Catholic shrine is built up again, it will remain in the shadow of the Protestant one.
Fourth, Catholics need to live and work there. To have pilgrimages and retreats coming in and out does not create a presence of Catholicism. We need lay people adoring Christ every hour of the day in Walsingham and we need penance being done there daily by Catholics for the Anglican community and others.
If we do not take back Walsingham, it will turn into a mecca for ssm and the types of businesses which cater to those involved. Do not kid yourselves about this.
Catholics in England need to see themselves as the Church Militant again and understand that the powers we fight are those unseen, working behind the trappings of lies and heresies.
If a person is in mortal sin, they cannot received graces. The natural law tells all humans what is right and wrong.
One is not converted by ambiance but by grace.
