Thursday 17 April 2014
On Intercessory Prayer: Breaking through the permanent solitary confinement of lies.
In the book I have been sharing with you this week, The Yes of Jesus Christ, Benedict has covered the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.
One of the most moving sections he writes concerns helping a loved one get through a darkness of addiction or pain.
The example the Pope Emeritus uses is that of chemical addiction, but the message is applicable to anyone caught in an idolatry, a falsehood, a life distorting lie.
Benedict notes that love makes it possible to accept and endure with another the death of a lie.
He notes that, "The correct pastoral approach leads to the truth, arouses love for the truth and helps people accept the pain of the truth."
I stopped reading there for a minute or two and thought, "But, what of those, whom I love, who do not want to face the truth, who have refused to walk with me through the lies to truth, through love?"
I have several people in my life whom I love dearly who have refused the truth in their lives which I have tried to bring to them. These six people are caught in lies, perhaps at first built by others into a prison, but then accepted by themselves as the way they choose to live-in their chosen prisons of lies.
I cannot change their perspective as they have rejected me. This is the position of Christ on the Cross. His Own People rejected Him.
They did not want the love and salvation He came to bring. We, too, can bring love and truth into people's lives, and the tragedy of such people turning away is part of our cross.
You can see this daily-those in our families who have left the Church and are close to the message of truth found in the Catholic Faith; those who have left the way of personal encounters with love and seek, rather, there own small worlds of fear and, sometimes hate, especially self-hatred. These people live in the permanent solitary confinement of lies.
The only thing I can do is to pray and do penance for these six people so dear to me. That is the only way I know to lead them out of the darkness of addictions and lies.
On Good Friday, after commemorating the Death of Christ, and on Holy Saturday, as we contemplate the world of the apostles without Christ, that entire day of Christ in the tomb, can we reach out and pray for those in the prisons of their souls and minds?
Christ said this, one of my favorite passages in the New Testament:
Intercessory prayer is hard work. It is the work of the Church Militant. Sometimes we cannot see the fruit of these prayers. But, there will be a resurrection, if the wills of those for whom we pray turn towards life.
Christ's death freed the captives of sin. That is one of the messages of the Harrowing of Hell. He set prisoners free, both those in hell and those on earth in their private hells of deceit.
Kyrie, elieson.
One of the most moving sections he writes concerns helping a loved one get through a darkness of addiction or pain.
The example the Pope Emeritus uses is that of chemical addiction, but the message is applicable to anyone caught in an idolatry, a falsehood, a life distorting lie.
Benedict notes that love makes it possible to accept and endure with another the death of a lie.
He notes that, "The correct pastoral approach leads to the truth, arouses love for the truth and helps people accept the pain of the truth."
I stopped reading there for a minute or two and thought, "But, what of those, whom I love, who do not want to face the truth, who have refused to walk with me through the lies to truth, through love?"
I have several people in my life whom I love dearly who have refused the truth in their lives which I have tried to bring to them. These six people are caught in lies, perhaps at first built by others into a prison, but then accepted by themselves as the way they choose to live-in their chosen prisons of lies.
I cannot change their perspective as they have rejected me. This is the position of Christ on the Cross. His Own People rejected Him.
They did not want the love and salvation He came to bring. We, too, can bring love and truth into people's lives, and the tragedy of such people turning away is part of our cross.
You can see this daily-those in our families who have left the Church and are close to the message of truth found in the Catholic Faith; those who have left the way of personal encounters with love and seek, rather, there own small worlds of fear and, sometimes hate, especially self-hatred. These people live in the permanent solitary confinement of lies.
The only thing I can do is to pray and do penance for these six people so dear to me. That is the only way I know to lead them out of the darkness of addictions and lies.
On Good Friday, after commemorating the Death of Christ, and on Holy Saturday, as we contemplate the world of the apostles without Christ, that entire day of Christ in the tomb, can we reach out and pray for those in the prisons of their souls and minds?
Christ said this, one of my favorite passages in the New Testament:
Luke 4:18-21
Douay-Rheims
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart,
19 To preach deliverance to the captives, and sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of reward.
20 And when he had folded the book, he restored it to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 And he began to say to them: This day is fulfilled this scripture in your ears
Intercessory prayer is hard work. It is the work of the Church Militant. Sometimes we cannot see the fruit of these prayers. But, there will be a resurrection, if the wills of those for whom we pray turn towards life.
Christ's death freed the captives of sin. That is one of the messages of the Harrowing of Hell. He set prisoners free, both those in hell and those on earth in their private hells of deceit.
Kyrie, elieson.
Catholics in America Do Not Get This
The national churches of the Russian Orthodox and the Greek Orthodox hate the Roman Catholic Church. If one is on the ground in the Ukraine, or a Catholic in Russia, or a Catholic in Greece, or a Catholic visiting the Holy Land, one sees this hatred daily.
Recently, a friend of mine was in the Holy Land. She was in a pilgrimage with lit candles in the Church of the Sepulcher. An Orthodox nun came up and asked if the group was Catholic. When she said "yes", the nun blew out their candles.
Watch what happens in the Ukraine to the Catholics, the Uniate Byzantines who fled so long ago from the Russia invasion in 1919.
Do not be blinded by a media which does not understand the hand-in-glove relationship of church and state in Russia.
Recently, a friend of mine was in the Holy Land. She was in a pilgrimage with lit candles in the Church of the Sepulcher. An Orthodox nun came up and asked if the group was Catholic. When she said "yes", the nun blew out their candles.
Watch what happens in the Ukraine to the Catholics, the Uniate Byzantines who fled so long ago from the Russia invasion in 1919.
Do not be blinded by a media which does not understand the hand-in-glove relationship of church and state in Russia.
This is serious--holocaust on the horizon?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/
Consequences for non-compliance will result in citizenship being revoked "and you will be forced outside the country with a confiscation of property." A registration fee of $50 would be required, it said...
"The message is a message to all the people that is we're going to exert our power over you," he said. "Jews are the default scapegoat throughout history for despots to send a message to the general public: Don't step out of line."
From the pamphlet....The leaflet then described which documents Jews should provide: "ID and passport are required to register your Jewish religion, religious documents of family members, as well as documents establishing the rights to all real estate property that belongs to you, including vehicles."
Readers, registry in Nazi Germany happened before transportation to the concentration camps.
Consequences for non-compliance will result in citizenship being revoked "and you will be forced outside the country with a confiscation of property." A registration fee of $50 would be required, it said...
"The message is a message to all the people that is we're going to exert our power over you," he said. "Jews are the default scapegoat throughout history for despots to send a message to the general public: Don't step out of line."
From the pamphlet....The leaflet then described which documents Jews should provide: "ID and passport are required to register your Jewish religion, religious documents of family members, as well as documents establishing the rights to all real estate property that belongs to you, including vehicles."
Readers, registry in Nazi Germany happened before transportation to the concentration camps.
Note this, Catholics, there was genocide in the Vendee
Check out this video through here or on the link below-not the same one as posted. I had trouble posting the one I wanted....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swALctbUbpo
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-hidden-rebellion-phase-ii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swALctbUbpo
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-hidden-rebellion-phase-ii
Yet Another Meditation from Caravaggio for Today
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_at_the_Column_(Caravaggio) |
Another Meditation by Caravaggio for Today
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flagellation_of_Christ_(Caravaggio)
Great Confusion
The Catholic Church does not and has never accepted the idea, the rule of law concerning same-sex marriage. This idea has been rejected over and over by Rome. If leaders in a nation who are bishops speak as if the Church accepts this idea, and if lay people state such, both are wrong.
The passage of such a bill in Illinois last year led the good bishop of Springfield to hold an exorcism. See many links on that. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-21/news/ct-gay-marriage-excorcism-illinois-1121-20131121_1_marriage-law-exorcism-civil-marriage
Those laity and clergy who "push" for civil unions simply do not know the Church's teaching, or understand the danger of accepting rights and privileges given to same-sex couples. Sin has no rights.
The CCC is clear that all acts of homosexuality are "depraved". Therefore, civil unions cannot be considered, as the Church would then be cooperating with evil. And, this evil is an objective evil, one judged by natural law and the laws of God.
It is of the utmost importance for the laity to form right reason on this matter. Formation of conscience is a duty for each lay Catholic.
The passage of such a bill in Illinois last year led the good bishop of Springfield to hold an exorcism. See many links on that. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-21/news/ct-gay-marriage-excorcism-illinois-1121-20131121_1_marriage-law-exorcism-civil-marriage
Those laity and clergy who "push" for civil unions simply do not know the Church's teaching, or understand the danger of accepting rights and privileges given to same-sex couples. Sin has no rights.
The CCC is clear that all acts of homosexuality are "depraved". Therefore, civil unions cannot be considered, as the Church would then be cooperating with evil. And, this evil is an objective evil, one judged by natural law and the laws of God.
It is of the utmost importance for the laity to form right reason on this matter. Formation of conscience is a duty for each lay Catholic.
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection
Malta Legalized Same Sex "Marriage"
http://www.dw.de/catholic-malta-legalizes-same-sex-civil-unions/a-17567045
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/04/15/malta-passes-law-allowing-gay-couples-adopt
And gay couples can adopt. I am grieving over this news. So ends the great Catholic heritage of a beautiful country.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140414/local/same-sex-unions-approved-celebrations-in-valletta-opposition-abstains-because-of-adoptions.514992
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-04-15/news/global-reaction-to-introduction-of-gay-marriage-in-malta-4637556740/
Tears for Malta.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/04/15/malta-passes-law-allowing-gay-couples-adopt
And gay couples can adopt. I am grieving over this news. So ends the great Catholic heritage of a beautiful country.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140414/local/same-sex-unions-approved-celebrations-in-valletta-opposition-abstains-because-of-adoptions.514992
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-04-15/news/global-reaction-to-introduction-of-gay-marriage-in-malta-4637556740/
Tears for Malta.
The Coming Quiet Day: Thoughts for Parents
Holy Saturday in my house growing up was always a quiet day. We colored eggs, quietly. We cleaned the house for Easter Day, quietly. We helped get the large Easter dinner, quietly. We read and went to our rooms, quietly.
I highly suggest you do not shop, do not watch TV or use the computer, do not allow your children to be loud. Christ is in the tomb. One can plan ahead and not be running out at the last minute for things or food.
Teach your children to meditate on the Cross and the Death of Christ, so that they can appreciate the Resurrection.
Their world, after you are gone, will be ruthless towards Catholics. Train them now in the way to go.
For we are buried together with him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 DR
The Day of The Institution of Holy Orders-Holy Thursday
A friend of mine had a dream of a priest standing in front of an altar, ad orientem. On the back of his rather modern chasuble, was a large red cross, perhaps like the Maltese Cross. The cross also resembled to the dreamer a rifle target. The sky behind the altar was blood red and misty; one could not make out the surroundings of this priest saying Mass. But, above him was a semi-circular sunburst like a golden crown.
The white tabernacle was located under dark wooden arches, rather Gothic, but the tabernacle was narrow and high, shaped life a white bishop's mitre.
On the white linened altar rested a radiant Sacred Heart. The sun set, perhaps quickly, behind a triangular high mountain. All went dark.
This is a personal dream of the times to come when a priest will be joined to the Sacred Heart through martyrdom.
Pray for our priests and pray for our seminarians who love God enough to be offerings for the remnant Church.
On The Coming Canonizations
Lay people are getting uppity, as we say in the Midwest.
The upcoming canonizations, once done, are infallible.
The procedures have never been set in stone on how a person can become saints. Some have been declared saints merely by holy wells, or miracles at certain locations.
Popes do not have to follow guidelines. Popes have broken the tradition in the past on the procedures. This is not new. Saints can become canonized for various reasons and in various ways.
The Church in the name of the Pope can clarify situations to make people at ease about the canonizations.
I repeat that such things are not in the authority of the laity. Lay off....people!
The clergy, including the bishops and cardinals, are in charge of some things and we are in charge of other things, like evangelizing the world.
If the laity appropriated their own role, the world would be Catholic.
I was not a John Paul II fan for various reasons. But, I saw that he experienced his purgatory on earth. I bend to the will of Holy Mother Church and have asked forgiveness for my judgement. This great man showed us the way of purgation clearly in his long struggle with his health at the end.
As to John XXIII, again I trust in God and in His Church.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2014/03/are-you-fighting-wrong-battles-could-be.html
Benedict on Security and False Hope
Continuation of the reading of the writings of the Pope Emeritus proves to be most rewarding. As a trad, I am justly reminded by him in the book I have been reading this week, that rules and regulations do not save us. The security people seek in either traditional liturgies or in their own worlds is not the same as the virtue of hope.
Only the virtue of hope leads to love, whereas relying on rules and regulations to bring one to heaven is the position of the Pharisee. The Pope Emeritus states this:
"The denial of hope in favor of security that we are faced with here rests on teh inability to bear the tension of waiting for what is to come and to abandon oneself to God's goodness."
Control freaks do not understand that their worlds, which they think are secure, deny entrance to the God Who is Love. Benedict notes that this attitude is a type of Pelagianism, wherein a person hardens the heart against himself, others and God.
I know too many people who fall into this category, wanting the security of visions, rules, even cults.
They are afraid of love.
The Pope Emeritus states that "The core of this Pelagianism is a religion without love that in this way degenerates into a sad and miserable caricature of religion."
Egos get in the way. Benedict writes that, "the egotistic person does not want to entrust himself or herself to its kind of certainty that can always only be a certainty of dialogue." He is referring to hope and love.
The person seeking security thinks he is saved by works. However, risk is necessary in order to be open to love. Love is risk, and security lies in works. Those who want security, do not want fear of the Lord-they want to feel without courage and live without hope.
Those seeking security only want to be approved, to have others make a good opinion of them, to be "slaves of appearance."
I grew up in a state where appearance was more important than truth in many families and among many clergyman. Appearances cause a dying of the soul, as the soul must deny truth to "keep up appearances."
Those who know me know that I am a free spirit, not caring about appearances, if these appearances cause deceit or lying to one's self.
But, then, I know God loves me as I am and He wants to purify my soul so that what is seen, who is seen is God, not me.
Benedict states that "Opinion, untruth gains domination." Such is the hypocrisy of so many Church leaders.
Such could be my own hypocrisy if I did not submit to the purification of the senses and the soul...
to be continued...
Catholic Teaching on Marriage
There is a lot of confusion on the blogosphere about Catholic teaching on marriage.
Marriage is a loving union between and man and a woman. Period.
St. Thomas Aquinas is clear that Mary and Joseph had a real marriage despite not having children or not consummating the marriage. See my previous blogs on Josephite Marriages completely accepted by the Church.
The Maritains had such a marriage.
Children are the goal, but if God does not bless a couple with children, the marriage is still valid.
Do not be confused. We cannot argue against ssm from the role of parents, but from the sacrament of marriage. The sacrament of marriage is between two people with the blessings and openness to children. But, as I know many married couples who cannot have children and have adopted, one can see the grace of the sacrament in infertility.
The Catholic Church has organized adoption agencies for centuries, and supports adoption.
And there are several saints who were couples who chose Josephite Marriages.
Check Casti Connubii and the CCC. And my previous blogs on this....
Weeping Over Jersusalem
It is time to mourn. But, many are not doing so. Too many Catholics are still hiding their heads in the sand. There will be famine, pestilence, and other disasters for one reason.
God will not be mocked. The nation of the United States more and more is a nation of mockery. One only has to look at the media, entertainment, even old and venerable newspapers. Schools will mock God in the Common Core. Children will turn against their parents, being brainwashed in a philosophy of cynicism and mockery unknown to their elders.
So, what are you doing about this mockery? Are you praying, doing penance?
If you are not joining Christ in weeping over Jerusalem, the capital of your nation, you have missed the point.
Too many people have distanced themselves from reality. Reality is shunned as too hard, too difficult. The race into pleasure is a race away from reality.
When I was in high school, there was a popular phrase created by a popular boy, who is now a priest. His phrase, "Be real and face the situation" became the rallying cry of those of us who did not fall into hippiedom.
Christ wept over Jerusalem. He was facing the reality of those of His own tribe, His own people, turning against Him.
A tragedy beyond words is this turning away from Christ, from God. This turning away is not facing reality.
Because of where I am
I shall miss Holy Thursday Mass. I am grieved. Pray I can be where there is daily Mass, please. Do not waste suffering, people. I shall offer up my loss of liturgy for two people.
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