YES! On Curiosity.

Art: Jeff Faust

From Monsignor Pope on Sinful Curiosity:

Curiosity is one of those qualities of the human person that are double-edged swords. It can cut a path to glory or it can be like a dagger of sin that cuts deep into the soul. 

Of itself, curiosity can be a magnificent quality, rooted in the gifts of wonder and awe as well as in the deeply profound gift of man’s intellect or rational nature. 

However, as a double-edged sword, curiosity can also wound us very deeply and mire us in serious sin. Indeed, it can be a very sinful drive within us. Eve grew curious of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and thus Satan was easily able to turn her curiosity into a deep dagger that has reached every human heart. 

Understood this way (as a sinful drive), curiosity is a desire to gain knowledge of things we have no right to know. A more mitigated form of sinful curiosity is the desire to know things that are in no way useful to us. In this sense, curiosity is a form of spiritual gluttony that exposes us to innumerable tricks of the evil one. 

Sinful curiosity causes us to meddle in the lives of others, to pry. This can then lead us to gossip, potentially defaming others and ruining reputations in the process. Nothing is a bigger invitation to sin and gossip than the phrase “Have you heard the latest news about so-and-so?” Heads turn, ears perk up, and meddlesome curiosity is immediately incited. 

Almost never is the news that follows such a question positive or even edifying. Sinful curiosity is at the root of almost all gossip, defamation, slander, and even calumny. 

Ninety percent of what we hear through gossip is none of our business. And yet, through sinful curiosity, somehow we feel that we have the right to this information. 

There is a whole branch of news, barely distinguishable from gossip columns and scandal sheets, that has emerged based on the people’s “right to know.” Too much secrecy can be unhealthy but that is hardly the problem in this day and age. Today, too many people know too many things about too many people. Even what is reported (most of it unnecessary) about so-called public figures is not really helpful for us to know. This is not to say we should have no concerns whatsoever about what is happening in the world or about the character of our leaders; rather, it is an invitation to distinguish between what is truly useful and necessary for us to know and that which is simply rooted in sinful curiosity. - Monsignor Pope

I'm convinced this is a huge part of the problem with social media users and the tendency to obsess over the lives and sayings of others, adding to the confusion generated by some lay Catholics online.

People who search and search other's blog archives to find something on them ... when they Google another blogger's name, search for photos, work experience, where they live, who they know, who they link to in an effort to discredit them or expose them.  Ever heard of people doing that?  The guy who wrote about me did that - and he wrote about me and discussed me with others in emails and on forums.  He did it with other bloggers as well.  A lot of social media users do the same thing.  How do I know this?  I've done it too.

Très curieux, eh?

Pope Francis on ... the vice of curiosity ... as it pertains to daily messages from Our Lady ... or ... some ... apparitions - maybe?

 

The Pope of the 'little way' ...

Curiosity impels us to want to feel that the Lord is here or rather there, or leads us to say: “But I know a visionary, who receives letters from Our Lady, messages from Our Lady”. And the Pope commented: “But, look, Our Lady is the Mother of everyone! And she loves all of us. She is not a postmaster, sending messages every day.”*

 

Such responses to these situations, he affirmed, “distance us from the Gospel, from the Holy Spirit, from peace and wisdom, from the glory of God, from the beauty of God.”

 

“Jesus says that the Kingdom of God does not come in a way that attracts attention: it comes by wisdom.”

 

“ ‘The Kingdom of God is among you,’ said Jesus, and it is this action of the Holy Spirit, which gives us wisdom and peace. The Kingdom of God does not come in (a state of) confusion, just as God did not speak to the prophet Elijah in the wind, in the storm (but) he spoke in the soft breeze, the breeze of wisdom.”

 

“Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus would say that she had always to stop herself before the spirit of curiosity," he said. "When she spoke with another sister and this sister was telling a story about the family, about people, sometimes the subject would change, and she would want to know the end of the story. But she felt that this was not the spirit of God, because it was a spirit of dispersion, of curiosity.

 

“The Kingdom of God is among us: do not seek strange things, do not seek novelties with this worldly curiosity. Let us allow the Spirit to lead us forward in that wisdom, which is like a soft breeze," he said. "This is the Spirit of the Kingdom of God, of which Jesus speaks. So be it.”

 

One more thing I have to repent of - how often I act out of curiosity each day, just to read what you know who posted about those people today. 

*Another analogy might be webmaster.

 

 

 

I was wondering when Anna Katherine Emmerich's writings would make the rounds again...

"I saw also the relationship between two popes ..."

The prophecies, that is.

Anna Katherine Emmerich is beatified - she is a beata.  Her writings were not beatified with her.  In fact, many are uncertain her revelations as recorded by Brentano are her words verbatim, or an interpretation by Brentano.  Rod Dreher points that out in a post of his on Emmerich, which caught my attention.

I know several people who refer to Bl. Emmerich's writings when pointing out the evils in the Church today.  I know the so-called prophecies which they claim point to the modern, post-Vatican II apostasy - and especially the NO-Mass.  When one reads these things as gospel, or hears them explained and 'promulgated' by uber-traditionalists, one cannot help become infected with a certain uneasiness, and if one gives them any credence at all, it easily taints one's view of the Catholic Church as it is today - since Vatican II.

The latest revival prophecy appears especially sensational as it mentions two popes ...

“I saw also the relationship between two popes … I saw how baleful would be the consequences of this false church. I saw it increase in size; heretics of every kind came into the city of Rome. The local clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness… 

“I had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among them, readily did what was demanded. It was as if people were splitting into two camps.”

“I see the Holy Father in great anguish. He lives in a palace other than before and he admits only a limited number of friends near him. I fear that the Holy Father will suffer many more trials before he dies. - Source

If the prophecy is true - if it pertains to a specific time, it is more than likely it pertains to the times wherein it was recorded, which may explain why someone like Bretano would elaborate in such detail.  If it pertains to the future, it becomes even more obscure, since the author is limited by his own interpretation within the scope of his experience and times.  Likewise, prophecy tends to be symbolic and  is subject to change.  It may also be interpreted to suit any number of circumstances in and through clever interpretation.  That said, it is up to the Church to interpret and approve or say that any private revelation is free from doctrinal error, etc. - Bl. Emmerich's works have no Vatican seal of approval.  She's beatified - not her writings or mystical phenomena associated with her.

Dreher wisely concludes his article with this:

I think this kind of paranormal prophecy thing can be real and true, but there’s so much potential for abuse, deception, and confirmation bias that one should keep it at arm’s length. - ibid

It also should be noted that Catholics are not obliged to believe or follow private revelations and prophecy:

67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.
Christian faith cannot accept "revelations" that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such "revelations." - CCC 

I don't usually read Rod Dreher, but I understand he was a convert to Catholicism and then left the Church to become an Orthodox Catholic.  He makes some interesting points whenever he writes on Catholic matters.  As an ex-Catholic, Dreher's comments, though insightful, can also be divisive, as in his Time article about not returning to the Catholic Church.  I come away with the impression that some of his commentary may not always be helpful in building up the Body of Christ.  It strikes me that Catholic Traditionalists have quite similar issues   A few converts seem to have church shopped and denomination jumped over the years.  If they came into the Catholic Church, and then left, I question who they are seeking.  Did these folks ever encounter Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic Church?  I pray for their return to the Church and I'm sympathetic to their pain and confusion over whatever scandal drove them away - but leaving the Catholic Church is a problem - especially the question of being led by the Holy Spirit.

Don't go to strangers. 

 

Locution, locution, locution.

Leading astray even the elect - if that were possible.
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The Bishop of Cleveland, Richard Lennon issued an official Decree ruling the alleged apparitions to Maureen Sweeny Kyle are not supernatural in origin, while forbidding clergy to celebrate the sacraments on the site of Holy Love Ministries, as well as declaring the associated confraternity not an approved association of the faithful and may not legitimately use the name Catholic or represent itself as a Catholic group. - Document
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These events have gone on since the 1980's.  I tend to think the apparitions at Medjugorje sparked a flood of spurious visions, locutions, signs and wonders elsewhere in the world, and especially in the U.S..  Medj attracted charismatics who up until then lacked a solid Marian dimension to their piety.  In other words, the charismatic movement was marked and influenced by a great deal of Protestant characteristics. 
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I've heard many a liturgist say some of the liturgical innovations (abuses) we see today developed with children and youth Masses.  I disagree, I think the Charismatic Renewal was the source of most of the novelties introduced into the liturgy - and they were accepted because of the obvious fervor and devotion of the charismatics.  The popularity of communal Masses with the people literally gathered around the altar gained favor within the Charismatic movement, along with a more casual approach to Communion and the sacraments; holding hands, the inclusion of Protestant hymns and contemporary-light-rock-folk songs, and of course the unintelligible gift of tongues.  In the early to mid 1970's prophetic utterances of persecution and dark times emerged, which dove-tailed nicely with the ecumenical Madonna of Medjugorje messages.
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This grass roots 'new Pentecost' influenced the Church in the United States profoundly - it is what you see.  Obviously, the inclusion of a proper Mariology gave the movement a sure sign of orthodoxy in a post-Fatima, post-Traditionalist Church.  Not only were sons and daughters prophesying in tongues no one could understand, they were having visions and hearing locutions from God the Father, Jesus, and most popularly, Our Lady.  Even in my Archdiocese, we have a locutionist,  'Little Mary'  - although I believe she has been formally dis-approved as well.  Curiously, she is a humble housewife much like the Cleveland lady.
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The worst thing about these parallel spiritualities, novel faith communities and cults, is that they give rise to doubt and confusion, especially regarding the competence of the ecclesial authorities: namely the local Bishop's authority to teach and rule on the authenticity of the supernatural character of the phenomena and messages.  This leads to a lack of confidence in the hierarchical structure of the Church as well as outright disobedience, a failure to think with the Church  - or disunity, and ultimately a lessening of authentic faith.  So much evil can result, leading believers and followers into vain presumption, self opinion and exaggerated self esteem.  Delusions can increase to the point one mistakes the natural for the supernatural, and the devil is able to deceive these subjects much more easily. 
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"Some spiritual persons convince themselves that their curiosity to know of certain things through supernatural means is good because God sometimes answers these petitions.  They think this conduct is good and pleasing to God because he responds to their urgent request.  Yet the truth is that, regardless of God's reply, such behavior is neither good nor pleasing to God.  Rather he is displeased; not only displeased but frequently angered and deeply offended." - Ascent Bk II, Chp 21: God's displeasure at the quest for revelations and locutions...
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Photo:  From the website Holy Love Ministry - the page with various ecclesial endorsements.  I know!