Fr. Z - Was he targeted by liberals?

Assassination attempt in Paris?

I think it may be breaking news tomorrow ...

Ze Peup - il est Catholique!

Toldja so...

The Pope said he is concerned about the issue of evaluating and forming people with homosexual tendencies in the clergy and consecrated life.

“The issue of homosexuality is a very serious issue that must be adequately discerned from the beginning with the candidates, if that is the case. We have to be exacting. In our societies it even seems that homosexuality is fashionable and that mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the Church,” the Pope says in the book The Strength of a Vocation, set to be released Dec. 3 in 10 languages.

In an excerpt from the book, released Friday by Religión Digital, the Pope said he is concerned about the issue of evaluating and forming people with homosexual tendencies in the clergy and consecrated life.

“This is something I am concerned about, because perhaps at one time it did not receive much attention,” he said.

Francis said that with candidates for the priesthood or religious life “we have to take great care during formation in the human and affective maturity. We have to seriously discern, and listen to the voice of experience that the Church also has. When care is not taken in discerning all of this, problems increase. As I said before, it can happen that at the time perhaps they didn't exhibit [that tendency], but later on it comes out.”

“The issue of homosexuality is a very serious issue that must be adequately discerned from the beginning with the candidates, if that is the case,” the Pope reiterated. - Source

Works for me. 

Hello darkness my old friend.

Deposition of St. Andrew

Anthony Visco

I was brought to nothing...

Very seriously I'm not sure what is going on in the world and the Church, a lot of stuff is way over my head.  Yet it's a wonderful grace, let me tell you.

I never listen to talk radio.  Never listened to Rush Limbaugh or followed conservative commentators online or off.  Some people I know on FB admire people like Ben Shapiro and others I know nothing about.  I don't follow or read conservative-liberal sites, except on occasion.  I don't do Crisis, nor do I follow James Martin - I'll visit sometimes, I may link, but I don't 'follow'. 

I think that is why I am able to keep praying, believing  and trusting. 

On the other hand, when I do allow myself to get sucked in, I lose my peace, as the Carmelite saints would say.  There is an awful lot that I have no need to know.  I still have confidence in the Church, the Pope, the Magisterium, and so on.  I believe in the promises of Christ.

That said, 'it was good to be afflicted'.

To be brought to nothing.  To have every support removed.  To be left alone in faith ... naked in faith.  It's what I love in Visco's charcoal of St. Andrew.

Happy feast day!

Don't look too closely ...

I read that someplace.

I think the Queen Mother said it about looking too closely at monarchy, that if you do, all the mystery disappears.  That's what is happening these days, as we examine one another too closely, we see all the faults, all the inconsistencies, and so on.  John of the Cross warned about that as well: Never take a man for your example - however holy he may be - for the devil will show you his faults.  

I came across an article suggesting the crisis in the Church is a crisis of mystical theology, I kind of agree.  It's also a problem of ascetical theology.  If a person read and followed some of the guidance John of the Cross offers in his advice to beginners and his precautions to religious, I doubt they would be so busy looking for the speck in each other's eye, much less see themselves as judges and qualified to condemn one another.

I did a quick scan of some news aggregates and blogs and noted that some people seem to be distancing themselves from Ann Barnhardt and her 'crazy train' claiming Francis is an anti-pope.  That's a good sign.  Although scanning some of her long-time supporters, I noted they still cling to their Grand Inquisition propaganda and work outing Church leaders.

That is not the faith.

Though it is not my business, I have to wonder how many of these folks can practice their faith?  Do they pray?  Examine their conscience?  If they constantly judge by appearance, or by excerpts from a letter or article, or a pull-quote from an interview, how can they judge?

I often think of what our Lord said in the Gospel: How can you believe when you seek approval from one another?  I have written about this stuff so often, it never gets old for me.  It's always a reminder to me to avoid the trap of looking too closely.  The devil - the accuser - only shows what is wicked.  He only seeks to discredit.  He inspires false zeal, and in the process plunges the soul into darkness, depression and acedia.  He hates devotion.

I have nothing to add any longer.  Not much left to say that hasn't been said already.

"What the devil can't do himself he does by using other people. He takes up his position on the tongues and in the hearts of his servants and before their mind's eye. He makes them see what doesn't exist. So they conceive within their hearts all sorts of evil thoughts and resentments regarding their neighbors - often regarding those they most love." - S. Catherine of Siena

Take warning from the example of Lot's wife who, because she was disturbed at the destruction of Sodom, turned back to look at it. God punished her for this, and she was 'turned into a pillar of salt' (Genesis 19.26). This teaches you that it is the will of God, even if you were living among devils, you should so live as not to turn back in thought to consider what they are doing, but forget them utterly. You are to keep your soul wholly to God, and not to suffer the thought of this or that to disturb you. - John of the Cross

Cooking shows ...

I always loved this show, Cooking With Dorothy... God Among the Pots and Pans.

What will happen to Fr. Z now?

Out of sync ...

Random reflections.

Yesterday, while at Mass I found myself missing the traditional Mass. That rarely happens to me. (It was most likely because it was the Feast of Christ the King and the Ordinary Form isn't able to project that mystery very well.)

Likewise, with all the squabbles going on in the Church, I some days do not know what to think, much less who to believe. The priest's homily was about apologetics and how important it is to read books by apologists. I had to wonder if he goes online - I know he does.  But I thought, how can you read an apologist's defense of the faith when they are all fighting one another, dissing every word, dismissing one another as alt-right/alt-left, and many, if not most, questioning everything the Pope and the Magisterium have to say? (I stand with the Pope and bishops in communion with him, BTW.) In a boast for apologetics, Father said, "Catholics are smart!" He kind of lost me there ... I couldn't help but recall what St. Paul had to say about the simple ones Christ called: "God chose the foolish of the world to confound the wise ..."  To be sure, there is nothing wrong with reading, but I will stick to the solid and true - those I can trust - and bypass those who are trying to write a best seller, while denigrating the competition.

Catholic apologists can get pretty 'puffed up'.  And Catholics are so proud of being intellectual and smarter than anyone else on earth.

"You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.  But you do not want to come to me to have life."

Missionary position.

Another squabble onliners are quibbling about is the missionary guy who set out to evangelize the Sentinelese tribe and got shot with arrows. The guy was a self-appointed 'missionary' and his visit was illegal. The tribe made their preference to be left alone clear and authorities have thus far honored their wishes, making it illegal to approach them or visit their island.  In a sense they were simply protecting their homeland from invasion.

"John Allen Chau, 27, was killed with arrows as he illegally set foot on North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean after paddling there in a kayak last week." - Source

Initially I thought Chau was foolish to do what he did, after all, the Sentelese made it clear they weren't interested in outsiders disturbing their peace and well-being, and they probably long ago rejected Christianity.  Missionaries maybe left them alone and shook the island dust from their sandals.

That said, contrary to popular Christianity-today opinion and policy of not proselytizing, few people seem to know that witnessing to Christ and the Gospel is still something Christians do. In fact, Christians are called to be missionaries. Though this man's actions were unusual and imprudent, to say the least - his going to a place where he could be martyred was never uncommon among the martyrs of ages past. 

St. Francis went to North Africa to proclaim the Gospel with the hope of being martyred, and yes - it was illegal for him to do so. In fact, it has always been illegal to proclaim the Gospel among peoples who rejected it. The Jesuits who went back to Protestant England and the English martyrs are excellent examples of domestic martyrdom.  Then we have the example of Japanese and Korean martyrs, and more recently, the Martyrs of Algiers, who will soon be beatified. Not forgetting the recent innumerable martyrs of ISIS in Egypt, and the Middle East, as well as the Nigerian Christians dying for the faith.  

So, make fun of John Allen Chau, but he just might be a martyr for the Christ in God's eyes.

"When the Son of Man returns will he find any faith at all on earth?"

Bishop Morlino

Dear Bishop Morlino died tonight.

Diocese of Madison1 hr · 
It is our sad duty to inform you of the death of Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison. Bishop Morlino died tonight, Saturday, November 24th, at approximately 9:15 pm at St. Mary Hospital in Madison at the age of 71. Funeral plans are pending and you will be notified via email of final arrangements.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Prayers for the repose of his soul.  May God reward him.  Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

I am so sorry that he has passed away.  An excellent bishop!