And the LCWR potshots.
Perhaps just a few online Catholics seem to be sneering, jeering and cheering the idea of the LCWR coming under scrutiny by the CDF.
This reminds me of the story by Aldous Huxley, The Devils of Loudun. The novel is based on fact and offers an account of the monastery of Ursuline nuns, which was believed to be enchanted by demons, and the nuns possessed. The entire community was subjected to a visitation and subsequent exorcisms, which titillated the local citizens, including the nobility and clergy, who were entertained by the spectacle, sneering, jeering and cheering throughout the trials and rituals.
That's all.
I find the whole thing to be very distasteful. That is all...
ReplyDeleteI Corinthians 13:6 "Love does not rejoice in the (apparent) wrongdoings of others..." Sneering, jeering and cheering at the misfortunes of others is not the mark of a Christian. I am happy that your blog has not joined in the chorus. May many blessings be yours.
ReplyDeletea very good analogy of the current situation. thanks for the reminder. thanks parepidemos for the Corinithians quote reminder.
ReplyDeleteHere is one of the better posts about all of this: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/happycatholicbookshelf/2012/04/1st-corinthians-and-the-lcwr-mourning-and-a-wake-up-call-to-repentance/
ReplyDeleteRJH
After watching these women spit in the face of Christ for the last forty years, is it realistic to think that people would not be pleased that these enemies of the church have finally been taken to task?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to post a comment here, though the post above (about Divine Mercy) didn't have comments open, though I thought it worthwhile to say something:
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the specific priest you're referring to who complained about the Divine Mercy devotion extending meditation on the sorrowful passion through what is supposed to be the joy of Easter week, though from your original post on it, I thought you were referring to this article at the National Catholic Register:
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/steven-greydanus/when-devotions-arent-helpful
And if so, my sense was that the priest, "Fr. Ben" was not the one complaining but actually trying to plan St. Faustina's "advocate"; he commented twice, it looks like: Friday, Apr 13, 2012 10:02 AM and then Friday, Apr 13, 2012 10:40 AM.
It was actually the author of the article, Steven D. Greydanus, who had difficulty with focusing on the sorrowful passion even after Good Friday.
I may be wrong that that's what you were referring to, so please feel free to delete the comment if it's off-base; I just wanted to provide a clarification if I may.
For my part, I cannot understand what the big deal is about regarding the emphasis on the passion in the devotion. As Fr. Ben said, "I’m not sure basking in the glory of Easter (which is exactly what we should be doing, for 8 & for 50 days) means diminishing our awareness of those wounds or our need for salvation."
Plus, and I know this won't satisfy some people, but I think to myself, the Lord gave the devotion to St. Faustina and that's what He asked us to do, to pray in that manner - what's the problem?
RJH - thanks for the link - very good.
ReplyDeletePatrick - exactly - but if people do have a problem with it - and I know people who do - I hope they can be persuaded not to. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHis mercy endures forever.
ReplyDeleteObviously God's mercy should always be forefront in our minds, but where the issue lies with me, is that a private revelation, which Catholics are not required to believe, and a para-liturgical devotion, have taken precedence over the joy of the octave day of Pascha (and the whole week, if some parishes keep it that way). Devotions like this seem to fill a void where something is deficient for ordinary church-going people in what they perceive as church. If at this week of all weeks, something is missing and needs to be filled by something else, Houston, we have a problem.
ReplyDelete"It is the day of Resurrection. Let us be enlightened by the Feast and let us embrace one another. Let us call "Brethren" even those who hate us and in the Resurrection forgive everything and let us sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, He granted life!"
Copy and paste in your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpHRqA6vDI&feature=plcp&context=C4f0de97VDvjVQa1PpcFMfeHrvwwtZEgCd0T00BNZ60Tg7FU79H2Y%3D
If you study closely the liturgy and the daily readings during the Octave - and most especially the prayers - not just the litugical collects, post communion prayers, antiphons, and so on, but the Preface and Eucharistic prayers, you will see clearly that the devotion to Divine Mercy is acually embodied perfectly therein. The chaplet itself is actually a liturgical prayer in the sense that it permits the individual to take part in what the priest does at Mass, in persona Christi - he offers to the Father the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. The risen Christ lives to make intercession for us before the Eternal Father. The person who participates in the recitation of the chaplet unites himself to the priests who offer Mass throughout the world. Thus the person unites himself deeply to the prayer of the Church in union with the risen Christ.
ReplyDeleteThat said, - no one is obliged to participate in the novena or practice the devotion. The Second Sunday of Easter is what it is however.
What movie that photo from? The guy with the rug beater looks like Moe Howard. When I lived in Europe we used to take the big floor rugs out, hang them up and beat the dust out of them with those things. I can't imagine someone being hit with one; they were made of chorded wire into elaborate, wide designs and weren't too flexible.
ReplyDeleteOn second look, that ain't no rug beater but a whip. Just as bad.
ReplyDeleteDiane - the photos are from Ken Russell's film adaptation of the Huxley novel.
ReplyDeleteAlso - as I noted in another post on the subject of the LCWR and the 'intervention':
ReplyDelete"Very seriously, it must be remembered that within each congregation of women religious, whose superiors are members of the LCWR, there are very good religious who want to be faithful to the religious charism of their founders, as well as Roman Catholic teaching. I'm convinced there are generous, faithful, hidden souls even amongst the most progressive and secularized of congregations. Likewise there may be weaker souls, who 'went along' with the changes, who are most in need, and have been looking forward to such an intervention, offering direction and guidance."
Yes, I'm pleased that a reform MIGHT happen. In fact, I rejoiced! The sisters aren't getting packed up and sent off to the stake. There will be no excommunications. It's a simple process of reform. I'm thrilled that the poor sisters who have had to quietly endure the rebellion of their leaders against Christ's Church will finally (I hope) be freed from their suffering.
ReplyDeleteAnd I rejoice in the hope that some of these orders might be saved before they go extinct.