Yet nothing has changed for me.
Years ago when I returned to the Church and the sacraments, progressives and dissidents were establishing their roots. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady and the rosary, as well as obedience to the Holy Father were considered pre-Vatican II. The Holy Father was often derided - especially Paul VI after Humanae Vitae - it all went downhill from there. Odd visionaries and locutionists - ostensibly traditional Catholics, promoting devotion to Our Lady, promulgating their private revelations, and so on, also distanced themselves from the Pope, claiming the Pope had been replaced by an impostor, who allowed heresy to flourish. Their silly messages continue to be spread, and people continue to be led astray.
I didn't follow them.
Today the same old thing is happening again - this time by faithful Catholics, who claim the rights of apostles and saints to resist the Holy Father to his face, claiming he is teaching error, that he may be a heretic, or even deranged.
I don't follow them.
At Fatima in 1917, Our Lady told the children that if her requests for conversion, penance and reparation were ignored, among other suffering, the "Holy Father will have much to suffer." All of the Popes since the Council have had much to suffer. For me that's pretty much a sign the Holy Father remains Christ's vicar on earth. No matter how bad things get.
At Akita - if the message is to be believed - Our Lady said that in the end the only thing that will remain will be the sign left by her Son, and the prayers of the Rosary. What could that sign be but the Holy Eucharist.
I have the Rosary, the Eucharist, and the Pope. That is what I have always had since I returned to the Church.
I do not follow blogs that malign the Pope or foment doubt as to how the Holy Father is guiding the Church. I especially do not read posts by anyone presuming to resist the Holy Father to his face or by those who have the audacity to take upon themselves the task of publicly correcting what he says, or pointing out that which he may not do. Be they priest or layman. Therefore, please do not embed links to such websites in my combox. Get your own blog.
Thanks.
A blessed Triduum to all.
Thank you for this post, Terry. I too have come to the conclusion that the only thing that sustains me is fidelity to the Magesterium and most particularly to the Holy Father, and to the Sacraments and the Rosary. I have also discovered that no matter how pious someone may seem, if they start bashing the Holy Father in any way, it's time to make a quick exit. Many of the websites and blogs that you reference have a great veneer of piety, promoting the Rosary, devotion to the Sacred Heart, etc., and yet will bash the Pope in no uncertain terms.
ReplyDeleteWe have had very good and holy popes in our lifetime. Two of them are being declared saints in less than two weeks, which has to be almost unprecedented in Church history. Truly we as a Church have been very blessed in these evil times, and yet so many reject these great graces.
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ReplyDeleteAll of your recent posts are very good and have helped me in prayer and reflection, Terry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Have a holy and joyfilled Easter.
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