For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

‘The Church is opposed, and the priests are despised because of the bad ones who give scandal. Help Me, by suffering, to repair for so many offenses, and thus save AT LEAST IN PART, humanity precipitated in a slough of corruption and death’. - Our Lord to Blessed Elena Aiello (1954)

Infinitely sad ...

Imagine how many souls are led astray ...

Sometimes I get really, really scared. 

Gotta give it up ...

This is good - from Bishop Barron.

I have to let my participation in any discussion fade away.  I hurt too many feelings with my commentary.  I'm so sorry.

The McCarrick Mess | Word on Fire

So what should be done? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has no juridical or canonical authority to discipline bishops. And even if it tried to launch an investigation, it has, at the moment, very little credibility. Only the Pope has juridical and disciplinary powers in regard to bishops. Hence, I would suggest (as a lowly back-bencher auxiliary) that the bishops of the United States—all of us—petition the Holy Father to form a team, made up mostly of faithful lay Catholics skilled in forensic investigation, and to empower them to have access to all of the relevant documentation and financial records. Their task should be to determine how Archbishop McCarrick managed, despite his widespread reputation for iniquity, to rise through the ranks of the hierarchy and to continue, in his retirement years, to function as a roving ambassador for the Church and to have a disproportionate influence on the appointment of bishops. They should ask the ecclesial version of Sen. Howard Baker’s famous questions: “What did the responsible parties know and when did they know it?” Only after these matters are settled will we know what the next steps ought to be. - Read more here

Will our sons be safe in seminary? Who wants to know?

1994 film "Priest"

Will our children be safe in the Church, and will our sons be safe in seminary?

In 1994 there was a film Catholics called out as blasphemous and anti-Catholic. I saw it and thought it played true, the only negative for me initially is that it seemed to be a film arguing against clerical celibacy. There was more to the film than that however, which seems now almost prophetic.

The opening scene, if I remember correctly, featured a parish priest going across town with a huge crucifix that he smashed through the bishop's mansion window. It played out featuring a pastor with a 'wife' and a young curate attracted to men who acts out when the going gets tough ... just like real life folks.

So we gotta get a grip and stop and think - the film many resisted turned out to be pretty true to life. In fact, we were all told about what was going on way before the news stories broke. I was told too. Now every one of us seems to be reacting in anger as the priest in the opening credits did, when he attacked the corrupt bishop. Sometimes, as the film suggests, there is reason for that.

Remnant 

Watch out for the fanatics.

What's happening, right now, today, is online pundits and critics are talking about 'decimating' the bishops in a way that sounds more like the posse marching over to burn down Dr. Frankenstein's lab and kill the monster than thinking adults discussing what to do. Granted, bishops like Wuerl are suggesting some pretty dumb fixes, but so are people like those who call for an 'inquisition' - I'm not sure we know of what spirit we are when we suggest that type of thing.

Something needs to be done, that is for sure, but I think the crazy talk doesn't do much. I really think people need to listen to moms and dads this time. Real Catholic parents - faithful Catholic parents, like Katrina R Fernandez for one. The very worst thing about bishops and priests is they usually dismiss the women - like Christ's disciples did in the Gospel, they usually say, 'get rid of her'!  Like the corrupt judge in the Gospel, they won't even give them a hearing ...

What Cardinal McCarrick's abuse represents is an attack upon the family. He slithered into the trust of parents and corrupted their kids - the swimsuit photo makes that perfectly clear.

Start listening to parents, to moms and dads, now.

Recruiting vocations.

The wind was against them ...

For I am the LORD, your God,

who grasp your right hand;

It is I who say to you, Do not fear,

I will help you.

We have the choice of two Gospels today.  Both uniquely sufficient for the day - and the evil thereof.

The wind was against them, and they were terrified.  Anxious.  Attempting to cross over the lake amid a tempest, all by themselves.  Jesus demonstrates we can't do it alone - we need to remain where we are, with the companionship he permits, and he pulls us to himself, not letting one of his little ones to be lost... scolding us gently, calming the tempest, his face so close to ours, we can feel his breath - his lips speaking against ours.  "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

"Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  So let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind ..."

I have grasped you by the hand in the depths of your misery, I know how to heal you, I know you, I have come to save sinners, I grasp you.  No one who comes to me will I ever reject.

If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.

Song for this post here.

Charlotte Rae

1926 - 2018

She played Sylvia in Car 54 Where Are You?

She was my favorite character.

RIP

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Hiroshima

It was the strangest thing ...

This morning at prayer, I began lectio with Exodus 24 - when the Glory of the Lord covered Sinai and God called Moses ... the Lord was seen as a consuming fire ...

My first thought was 'this is so amazing that this reading is used to commemorate Hiroshima.  I knew it was the feast of the Transfiguration, but I remembered  it is also the anniversary of Hiroshima, and in my mind ...  My 'confusion' was disconcerting for a moment - at my age that's a genuine concern.  However, I've long wondered about the mystery of light which occurred on Mt. Tabor, foreshadowed in Moses' encounter on Mt. Sinai, and the 'mystery of iniquity' which detonated over Hiroshima on this date.

The mystery of iniquity.

That was the word I woke up to this morning - and it influenced my meditation - hence my idea that Hiroshima was a sort of 'epiphany' of the mystery of iniquity... fortunately, my personal meditations are not to be trusted. 

Today is the anniversary of the death of Bl. Paul VI as well.  Now he was a prophet... 'somehow, through some fissure, the smoke of Satan has entered the Church ...'

I wonder what could mean?

Mass Chat

Never mind.