The Impostor Cardinal Burke did it.

BREAKING:   Cardinal Burke has been replaced by an impostor
 - just like Pope Paul VI and Sr. Lucia had been!

          ^The real deal.                                                            The impostor.^

From "Locutions to the Whirled"

"Someone else, disguised as Cardinal Burke is asking for a re-consecration of Russia.  Oh!  Oh!  I see him - wending his way to the front of the College, grabbing the cappa magna and bolero off the body of the aged C. Burke - feigning humility - he carries his own purse.  Oh! Oh! It's a sign!  Judas took care of the purse!  The impostor Cardinal had the real Cardinal removed from his job and exiled him to wander about the world like an imigrant!" - Anonymous Mystic who knew someone who met Padre Pio and that person knew someone who met Mother Teresa and Dody Goodman.

Uncanny.

It's been raining all day here.

As a boy, did Cardinal Burke engage in cow-tipping?

Cardinal Burke grew up on a farm in Wisconsin.

Because he seems to have a knack for upsetting people...

Just yesterday LifeSite published the following: 

 Cardinal Raymond Burke issued a call this morning for the Catholic faithful to “work for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” LifeSite

At first I thought, along with others who read the story, that Cardinal Burke is calling for the consecration of Russia according to OL's request at Fatima. Yet Sr. Lucia assured everyone the consecration had been done, the consecration/entrustment by St. John Paul II was accepted by Heaven, and so on. Now Cardinal Burke is calling for it to be done because the one by JPII didn't meet the requirements Our Lady asked for?  I thought he's beginning to sound like Fr. Gruner.  I was troubled.  Does this mean Sr. Lucia and the Popes, including Benedict XVI lied to us?  Is 1P5 right?  Is Marian Horvat, PhD right?  Did Sr. Lucia have a double?  Is the Vatican the great facade?  Did all those churchmen lie?  Is Cardinal Maradiagito right?  Burke wrong?  Holy crap!

So, prayer obtains all.

Never lose your peace over this stuff.  Cardinal Burke is not the Pope, nor is he all by himself the magisterium - nor is the Cardinal from Honduras.

Having said that, I looked more closely at what Burke said and discovered he doesn't deny the consecration wasn't accomplished.  He was pretty much saying it would good to renew it, more or less. Asking Catholic to pray for that intention.  (I don't think Our Lady specifically requested we pray for that intention though.)

It would be nice to do another consecration, perhaps for Oct. 13? Designating Russia. Especially now since the political situation has changed in Russia and atheism has given way to greater religious freedom, and so on. We think.  There are still theological problems concerning language, some theologians have problems with the word 'consecration' hence the term 'entrustment' is used. Likewise the Orthodox do not seem to accept the notion of 'heart' as focus for devotion, and since they are already Catholic, albeit separate from Rome, the notion they will be 'converted' is not well received. These are the real difficulties 'theologians' fear - but I trust Our Lady will settle all of that.

It could happen, I suppose, without discrediting the veracity of the consecration Lucia said was accepted.  If it is done, it could be a great finale to the Fatima Centenary.

It's quite obvious from this photo which one is the

real Sr. Lucia - the one on the viewer's left is 

an impostor.

What?

IPity5

If the Cardinal Burke Fatimists are looking for a great reversal of all that is wrong with the world, they may be mistaken, since Our Lord already told Lucia that the consecration would be made (it was) but it would be late (it was). I'm of the opinion that means the errors were spread, ingrained in world politics and religious 'apostasy'.  In other words, the damage has been done. So we are living through the results. The consecration to the Sacred Heart in France was late, and the monarchy lost their heads, and the Revolution triumphed.

Part of the problems with apparition people is they think that if the whole world does this, that, and the other thing, according to the letter, God will have to reverse the consequences - on some level that may be true - as they say, 'if enough people' do it, it can be mitigated. Mitigated means the effects are lessened, but there will still be effects.  The resolution to the problems - especially the loss of souls - has been given and made public since the apparitions at Fatima in 1917.  The message of Fatima has been explicitly promoted by all of the Popes since Pius XII.  It seems to me we need to continue to heed Our Lady's catechesis and peace plan, and accept whatever consequences there happen to be for not having followed Our Lady's requests from the outset.

To repeat the consecration of Russia (and the entire world) would be good to do as an act of reparation perhaps, but 'Fatimists' still won't be satisfied, they'll blame the popes and bishops for not having done so according their exact prescriptions - they will continue to insist it had never been accomplished before - even though Sr. Lucia said it had, but she was an impostor, and so on. 

Yeah.  So.

What?

Catholics Online - or, 7 Quick Takes, as 'they' like to say.

Afraid to leave the house for church.

Thank God the Church is not a democracy ...

Yet U.S. Catholics act as if it were.  Amazing discussions online - not always by stupid people - but more frequently than ever by people with stupid, crackpot ideas and conspiracy theories.

Promoting my blog.  So I posted a response to a Fr. Z-1P5 groupie about 1P5's obsession with the disorientation of the Fatima messages and interpretations of the secrets, heavily influenced by dubious LaSalette secrets, Katherine Emmerich's imagination, and the unapproved OL Good Success of Quito claims for the 20th-21st centuries apostasy.  (Don't forget that Akita is only kind of approved and doesn't have the same type of canonical recognition as Fatima, Lourdes, Rue du Bac, or official LaSalette.)  Because I mentioned photos on my blog, which I could not post at 1P5, demonstrating a consistent facial recognition in a series of photos showing that Sr. Lucia was not replaced by a double, the lady said I was promoting my blog.  LOL!  I have never, would never, ever, promote this blog.   Which is why I refer to it as a dump.  This is a web-log, I document things here, for me - you can read it if you want.

It's my blog.

That's like 7 quick takes right there.  But I am not finished.

Fr. Z - bless his heart - and I'm not turning on him here - posted excerpts from a Crux article on some critical things Cardinal Maradiaga said against Cardinal Burke.  It should never have been published, except for the fact Catholics for whom Maradiaga speaks, also need to know that someone not only speaks for them, but have confidence the Pope is still the head of the Church.

I may not agree with what Maradiaga says about Burke personally, yet it is definitely my experience that what he says definitely can apply to those who have created a sort of cult following, or political party around Cardinal Burke.  Again - I'm not criticizing Burke, but some of his following fit the descriptions Maradiaga attribute to the Cardinal.  (Those who insist the Vatican, CDF, and the Popes have been lying about the Secret of Fatima are included in this sect.)

A few quick takes from Maradiagito.

“He’s not the magisterium,” Maradiaga said, referring to the authority to issue official teaching. “The Holy Father is the magisterium, and he’s the one who teaches the whole Church. This other [person] speaks only his own thoughts, which don’t merit further comment.

That's true - except Cardinal Burke is not speaking his own thoughts, but rather seeks clarity on Catholic teaching.  On the other hand, the criticism easily can be applied for the Burke defense team.  Some of his followers, as well as Fatimists and several others 'speak only their own thoughts' or the thoughts generated by private revelation and other unreliable sources - accusing the magisterium of being infiltrated by enemies of the Church, and therefore no longer to be trusted.  That's crazy.

Maradiagito says it better than I can.

He also has just as much authority to do so as any other Cardinal...

Maradiaga also criticized conservative schools of thought in Catholicism, of which Burke is often seen as a symbol.

“These currents of the Catholic right are persons who seek power and not the truth, and the truth is one,” he said. “If they claim to find some ‘heresy’ in the words of Francis, they’re making a big mistake, because they’re thinking only like men and not as the Lord wants.

“What sense does it have to publish writings against the pope, which don’t damage him but ordinary people? What does a right-wing closed on certain points accomplish? Nothing!

“Ordinary people are with the pope, this is completely clear,” Maradiaga said. “I see that everywhere.

Pewsitters with their big pulpits and huge vocis (you know who you are) might think they are launching the tenth crusade but it is the Church, the Pope and the bishops in communion with him - the Magisterium - which is solely responsible  for Catholic teaching, defining doctrine and dogma and Canon Law and Scripture, approving or rejecting private revelation, calling a crusade, approving any para-militant movement, and so on.  The Catholic blogosterium has no authority, no matter how many degrees from Steubenville or Catholic U or any other distance degree program you got those authoritative and impressive initials after your name from.

Song for this post here.

Blogosteriously unauthorized.

Catholic blogs credit themselves with a great deal of authority, convinced they have influenced a sort of reform of the reform of the reform.  No doubt they have influence, which pretty much contributes to the very disorientation they fearfully warn about in spreading their misinterpretations of private revelations.

Read their com-boxes and see the confusion and hostile culture their conspiracy theories and schism inducing gossip generates among ordinary people.  Thanks be to God, only a minority of ordinary, faithful Catholics waste their time on Catholic social media gossiping.  'They' need to be careful when they mock and condemn popes, cardinals, and bishops.  Just saying.

“The greatest problem, however, is the disorientation that’s created among people when they read affirmations of bishops and cardinals against the Holy Father.” - Cardinal Maradiaga

Catholic Militants

I was called before the Inquisition today.

Detail - R. Kenton Nelson

The artist said:

“One of my first "watch" paintings. 

I use a watch on a man, so he can avoid reality."

What?

I met with my pastor, finally after 27 years, several pastors, over at least ten years of saying I'd like to sign up, and at least one cancellation of an appointment to do so.  I was hoping I could just fill out paperwork rather than make an appointment to 'talk'.

So today I actually showed up for a scheduled appointment.  Fr. wasn't there yet - he arrived 20 minutes late.  I almost left and was going to tell the secretary I'd be back another time.  But he came in before I could do so.  I felt trapped.  I was sweating - it's only in the 50's in Minneapolis today and I'm sweating.  I told him I felt like I was being called in to the office to be reprimanded.

"So tell me about yourself ..."

I told him everything.  I was surprised how many periods of my life I forgot about - "Oh!  I lived in Boston too."  "Oh!  I suppose I should tell you ..."

So anyway.  I will now get envelopes and I can be buried from there, my neighborhood parish.  I also learned that the icon will be installed in  the Marian-Adoration chapel, which is exactly where I hoped it would be place.

He's a great priest BTW.

I stayed for adoration.

Letting go ...

"When an activity or a person fills our lives, inspires us or gives us a zest for life, their absence can plunge us into this feeling of total emptiness. We live a kind of inner death. Life no longer flows forth in us. We are filled with a sense of loss and of grief; a heaviness, which resembles depression, permeates our whole being. This pain and this heaviness are not a sickness but a normal, natural reaction to a loss that touches the very meaning of our lives." - Jean Vanier, Seeing Beyond Depression

Communion and Liberation finally comes for the Archdiocese of St. Paul ... kinda-sorta

Passion for the Glory of Christ.

From the Catholic Spirit:

An Italy-based fraternity of priests will assume pastoral care of St. Peter in North St. Paul July 1, Archbishop Bernard Hebda announced May 13. 

Two priests of Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo will begin serving the parish this summer, and a third will join them in the fall. Also known as the Fraternity of St. Charles or simply “the Fraternity,” the order has about 130 priests serving around the world, including in Boston, Denver and Washington, D.C. - Catholic Spirit

This is very good news.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis has the best priests in the country.  We are getting more good priests with the addition of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo, founded by S.E. MONS.MASSIMO CAMISASCA of the Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla.  They have ties to the lay movement Communion and Liberation and the spirituality of the Servant of God Luigi Giussani.  They also have vocations!

It is an incredible blessing for the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis.  Signs of the new springtime.

The Fatimystics and their urban legends.

The holy maid is mad.

When Pope John XXIII cried.

Not.  I grew up with these stories, circulated by the very, very devout spreading tales about the as yet undisclosed 'Third Secret'.  The first stupid story had it that John XXIII wept when he read the secret.  In fact, he read it, said it didn't apply to his papacy, but to the future, and filed it away.  It was sent to the Vatican in the first place for the pope to read and it was left up to his discretion as to what to do with it.  Since he did not reveal the secret in 1960, many disappointed Fatimists were deeply disappointed.  Then speculation broke out, prophecies from other dubious apparitions and private revelations-locutions, spread far and wide.  Often endorsed by this mystic, that bishop and priest, and even entire communities of contemplative nuns - as well as members of the Blue Army and friends of Padre Pio.  The worst are the Grunerites of course.

I was up too late last night and commented on a couple of websites which posted on the subject of the Fatima secret, and one site posted what I call stupid conspiratorial theories regarding Fatima and the popes, including the absolutely absurd idea that Sr. Lucia had been replaced by an impostor nun.  The theory involves the Vatican in an effort to cover up the true nature of the secrets.  The conspiracy, to be true would involve the Carmelite nuns of Lucia's monastery, her family and those who knew her before entering, and even the bishops of Fatima.  The claim is substantiated based upon photos taken of Lucia as a child, as a Dorothean sister, and those photos of her in Carmel.

These sad people believe the photos of Sr. Lucia prove that she was replaced by an impostor, a theory promoted by sedevacantists and radical traditionalists.  They simply do not take into account changes to a person's face as they mature and age.  I'm not privy to any secret files as these people claim to be, but common sense would dictate that if there was any change in her appearance, in all probability Sr. Lucia probably had denture work done, since she had very crooked teeth.  It could well have affected her 'bite' or alignment, interfering with eating and so on.  Any denture work, including false teeth can alter the chin structure at times - in her case for the good.  It is possible Lucia may have had minor dental surgery to correct alignment.  I have a friend who had such surgery.  I'm convinced one could easily verify these theories by contacting the Carmel, as well as obtaining the testimony of Lucia's living relatives in Portugal.  Otherwise, people who spread these stories are guilty of presumption and even calumny.  It's scandalous to suggest there is a cover-up, that the popes, and the Carmelites are liars.  These writers are completely off the rails with these fantasies.

I noted one person commenting on the thread at 1P5 stated that it was like Bayside revisited.  Indeed it is a synthesis of those false apparitions which has gained a foothold today - included in the category are the alleged visions of Neceedah and San Damiano in Italy - all have been condemned by the Church - yet their claims circulate and become legend.  It fuels a sort of medieval superstitious mentality that doesn't fit in with Catholic teaching or belief.  Just today one site speculates that President Trump's political woes can be attributed to a curse.  Notwithstanding the fact a group of witches cast a curse, or spell to destroy Trump, I think he's doing that just fine all by himself.

That said, I continue to believe what we need to know about Fatima has always been there for us to know: the call to cease offending God, to repentance, prayer, penance and true devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  I remember as a child when the secret was not revealed in 1960 many Fatima devotees were not just disappointed, but angry. It was then that a series of private revelations began to be pieced together to become the secret many expected. Even after JPII had the secret read, many were greatly disappointed that more terrible chastisements were not revealed, that Vatican II wasn't condemned, and the existing conspiracy theories gained more strength - once again based upon other private revelations, as well as annotated secrets from earlier apparition sites.

Today we have Medjugorje and Garabandal competing for verification and ratification of great chastisements and social upheaval, fire from the sky, and so on.

All we have is the present moment folks.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  God is present, he is in the present moment.  St. John of the Cross also wrote about how greatly displeased and offended God is by our seeking out private revelations and messages:  "The reason lies in the illicitness of transcending the natural boundaries God has established for the governing of creatures. He has fixed natural and rational limits by which man is to be ruled. A desire to transcend them, hence, is unlawful... consequently, God who is offended ... is displeased."  [...]  "Although God's visions and locutions are true and certain in themselves, they are not always so for us. The first reason is because of our defective manner of understanding them, and the second because their basic causes are sometimes variable."

Everything necessary for salvation has been revealed and can be found in the Church.  Study your catechism.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Sr. Lucia entered Carmel in 1948 

where she lived for 57 years.

The Fatimists want us to believe the entire community 

and the bishop(s) harbored an

impostor Sr. Lucia.

About that peace the world gives.

‘When worldly people remain quiet, while going about in serious sin, and so tranquil about their vices, for their consciences don’t feel remorseful about anything, their peace is a sign that they and the devil are friends. While they live, the devil does not wage war against them.’ - Teresa of Avila

"The world teaches us the way to anesthetized peace..."

I have friends who always tell me that they are happy and content and very much at peace ... they only remember the good things, never dwell on the unhappy memories and experiences.  They don't have time for the pain.

I'm happy for them.  They have, or have had great careers.  They have nice lives, nice houses and cars, and are seemingly delighted with their lives.  They have left the past in the past, they keep themselves busy, with projects, or at the gym, social life filled with select friends and family, and so on.  They are very much at peace.

They have made peace with the 'world'.  Some - even many I know - have found peace in a lifestyle without religion.  They may be spiritual, or even active in a church setting, while rejecting traditional morality, they live an evolved good life.  They just don't believe in that other stuff.  They are at peace with that.  Several friends have told me most of my problems stem from religion - specifically Catholicism.  Especially if there is some sort of suffering which can sometimes now, and to be sure, did so in the past, trip me up.     Some of my friends just never deal with their past, others have anesthetized their past, insisting religion would only disturb their peace.  Imagine, no religion too ...

Pope Francis talked about that today.

"The peace that the world offers us," the Pope said, "is a peace without tribulations. It offers us an artificial peace "reduced to "tranquility". It is a peace "that is only concerned about one’s affairs and one’s security, lacking in nothing,” a bit like the peace of the rich Dives in the parable of Lazarus, a tranquility that “shuts” oneself without seeing "beyond":

"The world teaches us the way to anesthetized peace: it anesthetizes us from seeing another reality of life: the Cross. This is why Paul says that one must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven on the road with many tribulations. But is it possible to obtain peace amidst tribulation? From our side, no; we are unable to make peace that is tranquility, a psychological peace, our peace, because tribulations are there, whether pain, illness or death. But the peace that Jesus gives is a gift: it is a gift of the Holy Spirit; and this peace lasts through tribulations and beyond. It's not a sort of stoicism of the ‘fakir’. No. it’s something else.”

"God's peace is real peace, that enters the reality of life, that does not deny life; that is life. There is suffering, there are the sick people, there are many bad things, there are wars ... but that peace within, which is a gift, is not lost, but goes ahead bearing the Cross and suffering. Peace without the Cross is not the peace of Jesus: it is a peace that can be bought, that can make. But it does not last; it comes to an end. " - VR

Feeling good about yourself, having a nice life is not always a guarantee of peace.

Windswept House

The storm fizzled.  I have no excuse for not doing anything.  The shade garden needs work.

Storms in Minneapolis!

Mother's Day Treat

My surprise for Mrs. Rabitowitz!

A delicious Lamb's mâche lettuce salad platter for Mrs. R and all the other mommie rabbits in my back yard.  (They breed like rabbits you know.)