Holy Father: "In the net of Peter there are bad fish."

"Pope Benedict urged lapsed and lukewarm Roman Catholics on Thursday to rediscover their faith but acknowledged there are "bad fish" in the Church itself." - Source

I know!

The Holy Father repeatedly uses the traditional metaphor of the Church as a ship, aka the barque of Peter.  Naturally, I am once again reminded of the dream of St. John Bosco, which seems to be playing out these days, though skeptics of private revelations would dispute that.

I love how the Holy Father acknowledges the 'filth' in the Church once again, this time speaking more directly and acknowledging there are individuals or 'bad fish' amongst us... "that human fragility exists even in the Church." he said.

"The ship of the Church is navigating in strong headwinds, in storms that threaten the ship and sometimes we have gone as far as thinking that God is sleeping and he has forgotten us," he said.

I have a feeling the pope is very much aware of the Bosco prophecy.

Perhaps we ought to think of the rosary as our lifeline.  Pray the rosary every day for the conversion of sinners - the lost sheep.  Throw out your lifeline to help people return to the Church and the sacraments.  Don't throw them overboard and tell them to go to another church.  In Don Bosco's dream, the other churches - ships, were coming back to the barque of Peter.  We must do what we can to attract souls, not repel them.

How difficult it is for secular minds to accept Church teaching as grace and mercy, as light and love, when otherwise faithful Catholics demean and insult them.  Treating our so-called enemies with contempt, calling them names, telling them to get out of the Church and go to another sect.   How is that even Christian?

The fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire of Christ is never one that devours nor a destructive one. It's a quiet fire, a small flame of goodness, of goodness and truth, that transforms with its light and warmth. We have seen that the Lord doesn't forget us – even today, his way is humble. The Lord is present, he gives warmth to our hearts, shows us life, creates charisms of goodness and charity that shine in our world, which are for us a guarantee of the goodness of God. - Benedict XVI, 'Moonlight Encore'
 

Pray the Rosary every day.