God made you that way.

Created in the image and likeness of God.

Of course the Holy Father knows and teaches that. 

“The Devil is behind every persecution, both of Christians and all human beings. The Devil tries to destroy the presence of Christ in Christians, and the image of God in men and women. He tried doing this from the very beginning, as we read in the Book of Genesis: he tried to destroy that harmony that the Lord created between man and woman, the harmony that comes from being made in the image and likeness of God. And he succeeded. He managed to do it by using deception, seduction…the weapons he uses. He always does this. But there is a powerful ruthlessness against men and women today: otherwise how to explain this growing wave of destruction towards men and women, and all that is human”.

We must not be ingenuous. In the world today, all humans, and not only Christians are being persecuted, because the Father of all persecutions cannot bare that they are the image and likeness of God. So he attacks and destroys that image. It isn’t easy to understand this. We have to pray a lot if we want to understand it”. - Vatican Radio

Pastoral care.

I was blessed to experience the pastoral care of patients in hospital, administered by priests and deacons this past week.  Of all the ministries in the Church, this is one which most clearly demonstrates the Holy Father's image of the Church as 'field hospital' and going out to the peripheries.  Every time a Eucharistic minister or EMC carries the Blessed Sacrament through the halls, in a very unique manner, Christ is passing by ... some are able to touch the hem of his garment, others can ask to be brought to him - in the most stealthy manner - like the paraplegic lowered through the roof tiles.  Sometimes loved ones ask him to visit those who may think they are not worthy to ask for him.   Others he blesses with his gaze, his touch, his presence - imperceptible to the senses.  There are so many ways God comes to us, oftentimes unexpectedly.

I intend to pray for priests, deacons, religious and laity who minister to the sick, the dying, the imprisoned and the fallen.  I also think we need to pray for the sick and dying and elderly daily - and those who care for them.  Hospital workers are extraordinary people - from care-givers, to housekeeping, to dietary staff.  Though they are close to God in their mission, I think they too very much need our prayers.  Every day must be a challenge, no matter how much they love their job.  A priest once told me the devil tries to disrupt hospitals and hospice especially, in order to destroy the good being done, and drag souls away from God.  It makes sense. 

That said, none of us know the day or the hour.  Even the good - not just 'sinners' - need prayer and the sacraments to accompany them in their last days and moments.  "God can do infinitly more than we can ask or imagine."

Prayers requested for a special intention ...

Death before mortal sin.

Center, Mother of Maria Goretti

Another interesting discussion on Facebook.

A friend posted a commentary on something a spiritual-director woman online posted about preferring that one's child die rather than commit a mortal sin.  (She did a poll.)  The comments were 'against it' or rather censorious, to put it mildly.  I love little exchanges like that.  There are so many examples of the saints, even in the Old Testament, who would rather die than sin against God.  The most classic example is from the Book of Maccabees about the mother and her seven sons she urged to die rather than eat pork. One by one they were tortured and killed, rather than offend God.

At first I responded with my idea of where people get these ideas from - the examples of the saints.  I wrote the following comment to be a bit tongue in cheek, making light of their 'piety':

Francis de Sales quotes Bl. Blanche of Castile, the mother of St. Louis King of France: "My son, I would sooner see you die than guilty of a mortal sin." Similarly, St. Rita prayed that her sons wouldn't take revenge upon her husband's murderers, and they died before they could do anything. These examples are meant to instill great fear of God - in a good way, that is, their devotion be so great, their greatest fear would be offending God. Traditional piety has always been full of drama of course. Consider that the modesty and chastity of St. Aloysius moved him to avoid looking at his mother. Pious folks seem to want to repeat these examples and are very good at trying to scare the hell out of apostates, heretics and libertines. Although it seems to me the notion of mortal sin is pretty much lost on us these days - this strategy doesn't work especially well.  

It's good to remember that the children of the saints weren't always well treated or coddled, as we do today.  We try to shield children from all sorts of evils and send them to counsellors whenever tragedy strikes. Just imagine Margaret of Cortona's son, what he had to go through with her penitence and poverty, only to be sent to a monastery when he was old enough? Then of course all of Angela of Foligno's kids died and she was free to pursue the penitential life. Jane de Chantal walked over the body of her (adult) son who laid on the threshold in his attempt to keep her from founding a convent. There are so many examples of saints doing crazy stuff. LOL! Religious people are rather queer, haven't you noticed? - My comment  

I took my comment down, pretty much because contemporary people seem to regard this sort of 'heroic detachment' as mere hyperbole, and one is more or less forbidden to even suggest such a horrific example to others.  I was also ashamed that I made light of another person's piety.  The original objection on Facebook was that it somehow contradicted pro-life ideology.  To be sure that's beyond my competence - so I thought I better back off.

In another reply I had also cited Dominic Savio who at seven years of age vowed: "Death before sin!"  I noted I made the same promise when I was about Savio's age, but it didn't work for me.  I tried to make light of the whole thing, but it was wrong for me to play games like that.  Gratefully I suddenly remembered something St. John Paul II wrote regarding this very same issue - which confirmed my reluctance to add more to the conversation.

The Church proposes the example of numerous Saints who bore witness to and defended moral truth even to the point of enduring martyrdom, or who preferred death to a single mortal sin. In raising them to the honor of the altars, the Church has canonized their witness and declared the truth of their judgment, according to which the love of God entails the obligation to respect his commandments, even in the most dire of circumstances, and the refusal to betray those commandments, even for the sake of saving one’s own life. - Veritatis Splendor, 91

Of course, this leads one to consider the 'virgin martyrs', especially in modern times, with Maria Goretti at the lead.  Parents are loathe to consider such an end for their kids.  I'm thinking this must be the pivot of the argument.  It seems to turn the tables and becomes a pro-choice argument against pro-lifers?  I'm not sure, but I think I need to stay away from these online battles.

St Shmouni and her seven sons.

Teach us to pray.

Rublev's 'Trinity'

It is not the Trinity represented here,

it is the 'mystery' of the Holy Trinity.

Something about the Trinity.

I want to share a comment I left on another website about 'the forgotten person of the Holy Trinity'. A sacred mystery words and images are inadequate to express. And we all keep trying to explain it - often leading us into many errors and bogus devotions based upon locutions and imperfect private revelations.  We keep writing, talking, reading - but we can only know these things by faith, in mystery, in silence. There is no forgotten person in the Holy Trinity, rather I think it is the Trinity who is forgotten.

Oddly enough, authentic Marian devotion leads one to a deeper understanding of the Holy Trinity - it is inseparable from it - just as devotion to the Sacred Humanity leads one into the very 'bosom of the Trinity'. (I like St. Elizabeth's terminology better - 'plunges us!') The rosary is a decidedly Trinitarian prayer, and the Fatima revelations clearly exemplify what I am trying say about that.

The initial prayer the angel taught the children is the epitome of Trinitarian prayer. "My God I believe, I adore, I hope in and I love you ... I pray for those who do not, etc. Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly, etc." (What follows demonstrates the Trinitarian dimension of the Mass and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament as well.)

All Catholic spiritual teaching on prayer and recollection is traditionally embedded in the mystery of the indwelling of the Holy Trinity, and it seems to me the epistles of St. Paul are a sort of gospel of the Holy Spirit. So this talk of forgotten persons in the Trinity strikes me as misleading. The Mass and Eucharistic devotion is incomprehensible without a correct Trinitarian devotion.  This may be the real reason for why fewer attend Mass or observe Sunday as a holy day.

Roman Catholic devotion has been corrupted by silly novelties and false revelations, which leads to major theological error - and apparently, apostasy.  As the Catechism says:  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".

Fatherhood icons of this type 

may be good, but they aren't a solution

or an adequate understanding of the mystery.

That's why I love this song, 'Living for the love of you':

Love to be
Ridin' the waves of your love, enchanted with your touch
And it seems to me
We could sail together in and out of mystery, well

I wanna be livin'
For the love of you, alright now
All that I'm givin'
Is for the love of you; you got me, 

I wanna be livin'
For the love of you, alright now
All that I'm givin', givin'
Is for the love of you, oh, yes, I am

Paradise I have within

Can't feel insecure again
You're the key, well
And this I see, for I see

Now and then I lose my way
Usin' words that try to say
What I feel, yeah
Love is real, oh, love is real, oh

I know that I'm livin'

For the love of you, oh, yes, I am
I know that I'm livin'
For the love, love of you

Every, every day I'm livin'
For love of you
I'm livin' for the love
Each and every day

I'm, oh, whoa, I'm, oh, yes, I am
I wanna say it one more time
Said I'm livin'
For the love of you .... - Ron Isley

Summer time.

I'm working in the yard.

I was looking through photos from last year and I think I was temporarily insane, I planted the wrong stuff and built really crazy stuff to protect it, and now I'm so embarrassed that I posted photos online.  So this year I'm doing very simple plantings and plan to kill rabbits.

The Pope on admitting gay men to the seminary ...

I saw it first on Fr. Z.

Apparently the Holy Father reaffirmed 'Catholic policy' on admitting gay men to seminary, in a private meeting with the Italian bishops.

“If there’s a doubt about homosexuality, it’s better not to have them enter the seminary.”

The words of the Pope in the closed door session with the Italian bishops: “Discernment is needed”. Reaffirmed what was in the Vatican documents of 2005 and 2016.

With the pastors of the CEI (Italian bishops conference) – Vatican insider learned – Francis, speaking about the downturn in vocations, one of his “three worries” for the Italian church, he was, instead, more straightforward and, inviting the bishops to oversee more the quality of future priests, then the quantity, explicitly mentioned cases of homosexual persons who desire, for various motives, to enter into the seminary. Then he invited the bishops to a “careful discernment”, adding: “if you have also the slightest doubt it’s better not to let them enter”. - Fr. Z

Evidently bishops in Chile appointed active homosexual priests to seminaries:

The Pontiff denounced verified problems in seminaries where – as he wrote – bishops and religious superiors have entrusted control to “priests suspected of practicing homosexuality”. - Fr. Z

Fr. Z knows as well as I do this has happened in the United States over recent decades.  It has been an open secret, if you will.  In my opinion, there's no 'gay mafia' to speak of orchestrating it, it was simply a fact of clerical life.  I'm convinced my archdiocese has fixed all that, but that it had been a problem here many years ago, is no secret.

I really only wanted to cite the recent statement by the Pope to demonstrate that the Holy Father definitely supports Catholic teaching on sexual morality as it concerns homosexuality.  I know others will disagree with me on that, but I have not lost my confidence in Pope Francis as a faithful son of the Church.  Some day, everyone will see that clearly.  I also think people would be surprised if the bishops who have entrusted such priests, or who have looked the other way, permitting them to stay on in their positions, were to be revealed or identified.  It's not just so-called 'liberal' prelates who have done that.  There are those who continue to encourage and support gay men to pursue seminary or monastic life.

It's a problem - a very serious problem, as the translation Fr. Z published explains:

One indication, from the Pope, that expresses his deep concern: these tendencies, which are “deeply rooted”, and the practice of “homosexual acts”, can compromise the life of the seminary beyond that of the young man himself and an eventual future priesthood. They can generate those “scandals” of which the Pope had spoken in his discourse at the opening of the assembly of the Italian bishops in the new hall of the Synod, that disfigure the face of the Church. - Fr. Z

And I will tell you why I agree.

I know many guys who have tried their vocations - over and over - convinced after each repentance, after each lengthy period of continence, that they are suited for religious life, and or priesthood.  After every attempt, many fall back into the old patterns of masturbation, porn, and anonymous sex.  It's not an addiction, but a 'deeply rooted' inclination.  Deep seated.  I'm not talking about a teen boy who is just 'horny' and wants to 'get off'.  Celibate priesthood and religious life - even in community - does not 'take care' of inordinate desires.  Homosexual acts are indeed gravely disordered and will compromise seminary and religious life.  What I'm saying is that men with deep seated homosexual tendencies should be discouraged from seminary and religious life. 

Membership in Courage or years of therapy to overcome homosexuality is no guarantee.  Nor is the rejection of identifiable terms such as 'gay' in favor of 'ssa'.

Fr. Z says "This bridge is closed!"  A probable reference to Fr. Martin's book - although I don't think the bridge is closed, and it never has been.  Priests, bishops - even cardinals - with great sympathy for homosexuals, have always admitted these men, or encouraged their vocations.  Because, at one time or another, they have been encouraged to consider a vocation  to priesthood or religious life, the candidates themselves will seek out and find persons willing to admit them and write letters of recommendation.  Not a few become priests within monastic or religious communities, only to leave for diocesan work.  Few question that sort of instability.

People may ask, 'what about gay men already ordained?'  I agree with the Pope when he responded to that question years ago, "Who am I to judge?"  Unless of course they break the law or have sex with underage young men, engage in public sin, create scandal, and so on.  That said, there are wonderful priests who are gay - or rather, experience same sex attraction.  They do just fine.  The Pope is talking about reforming a 'system' which admits men with deep seated homosexual tendencies.

I've gone back and forth on this issue, but after all these years of blogging and reading the literature, as well as seeing several priests fall from grace and leave the priesthood, I am convinced the Church should not ordain gay men.  I wanted always to be charitable and to believe that maybe the rules should be bent for this one or that one, but I can't say that now.  It's a delusion to overlook all the evidence against the practice today.

“If you have also the slightest doubt it’s better not to let them enter”.  The Holy Father is right.  And it is not homophobia to insist upon that.

What the Pope said ... I spoke too soon.

Mr. Cruz and Pope Francis.

“I saw a compassionate man, I saw someone who was caring for someone, 

not worrying about if we are gay, straight, brown, white. 

He was hearing from someone who has been hurt, abused,” Mr. Cruz 

The story and commentary is growing and getting dissected.

Not to worry.  Prayer obtains all.  I should have known better than to respond to the story so quickly, but it is a really good reminder of how deeply I need 'to allow myself to be taught', to paraphrase St. John of the Cross.

So anyway.  I think I get it now. What the Holy Father reportedly said is entirely consistent with his way of approaching those alienated from the Church. It is consistent with his style of evangelization and his concept of the Church as field hospital.

Having more background on the story helped me out - Juan Carlos Cruz was reportedly discredited by the Chilean bishops, whose spokesmen pointed out that he was gay and therefore unreliable, a blame and shame the victim strategy.  So it fits that the Holy Father would make such a comment privately and personally, without feeling the need to hold up the catechism and point out what actual teaching is.  I'm sure Mr. Cruz knew it already.  It was a private exchange and was a kindly affirmation of an individual person, and as I've said before, it was not 'for me' nor did it change Catholic teaching.  I'm not sure the Pope expected it to be made public, nor did he intend it as a correction of doctrinal teaching, and I highly doubt he will clarify it.  

My initial reaction had more to do with how media and social media especially erupted, and it reveals how deeply my own 'doctrinal adhesion' if you will, became a barrier to a basic sense of empathy. On one level, it reveals my own self-righteousness based upon my personal sense of 'dogmatic fidelity'.  (It kind of adds credence to what Pope Francis warns us all about regarding strains of 'Neo-Pelagianism and Neo-Gnosticism' infecting Catholics.)  

That said, it's amazing how many outside the Church, especially former practicing Catholic celebrities, seemed to have understood the gesture immediately.  I know conservative writers seem to think 'liberals' consider the Pope's gesture to be a sea change in Catholic doctrinal teaching, but I don't see it that way at all.  Of course Fr. Martin, S.J. might see it that way, yet so do traditionalists, who are already predicting the Youth Synod will be corrupted by the 'liberal' POV.  This sort of projection of what could happen or not happen is typical of those who have come through the culture wars, and it is outside my expertise and competence.  It's also very often completely devoid of charity.

Again, I love the Holy Father and I am grateful for his humble leadership.

I forgot I had written about the Chilean scandal in 2015 here.

Mary, Mother of the Church

Prayer to Mary at the conclusion of the Encyclical Lumen Fidei (29 June 2013)

Image of Mary – Our Lady of the Column in St Peter’s Basilica

-source-

Just like clockwork: And Paul VI wept.

So anyway.

Fr. Z is the 'second source' for the myth.  Archbishop Magee was the first.  So two sources still doesn't convince me.  How could Blessed Pope Paul not know the Octave of Pentecost was suppressed?

Then it all became very clear to me.  It had to be the impostor Pope Paul who wept.  (Because the real Pope was drugged and imprisoned.)

What the Pope says privately...

Juan Carlos Cruz

It is reported ...

In an interview with Juan Carlos Cruz, the spokesman for the victims of sex abuse in Chile, said the Pope told him that God made him gay.  I'm using Google translate for that portion of the interview:

Q. Did you talk about your homosexuality and how did you suffer more for that?

R. Yes, we speak. He had been told practically that I was a wicked person. There I explained that I am not the reincarnation of San Luis Gonzaga but I am not a bad person, I try not to hurt anyone. He told me "Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care. The Pope wants you like that, you have to be happy with who you are " - InfoVaticana

If the translation is accurate, and Juan Carlos heard the Holy Father correctly, many people will be upset by that.

Today's Gospel response of Jesus to Peter works very well for me in this case:

"What concern is it of yours? You follow me." - John 21:20-25

This is enough for me.

Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken ..

My love shall never leave you. - Is. 54:10

I read that regularly in the Little Office, when reciting Psalm 46:

God is for us a refuge and strength,
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
even though its waters rage and foam,
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.
The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Every time I worried, or wondered, or was confused, this psalm consoled me.  It consoles me today.

Mountains sliding into the sea in Hawaii.  Bishops resigning in Chile.  American students shooting and killing other students.  And that's only today's news. 

So anyway.

I love Pope Francis, and I love what he had to say today:

‘Don’t be a busybody’ 

In conclusion, Pope Francis focused on one final, pervasive temptation: the desire to meddle in the lives of others, without being content with minding one’s own business.

“Put yourself in your own shoes, and don’t stick your nose in other people’s business. The pastor loves, tends, and prepares himself for the cross… Don’t waste time being a busybody, even regarding ecclesiastical rumors. Love, tend my sheep, and prepare yourself not to fall into temptation.” - VR

This made me laugh.

I came across something on Facebook again ...

A friend posted a link to a locutionist from Australia who receives messages from Heaven.  I can't understand how or why people follow these 'seers'. 

Heavenly Visitation in my Home


In the morning, while I was in my kitchen, I was saying my prayers, when all of a sudden my house was filled with a Heavenly presence of many, many angels. There was a lot of loud chatter going on amongst these heavenly beings. They were all very happy and very joyous.


I thought to myself, ‘What a privilege that I received this Heavenly visitation’, when, suddenly, I could see God the Father among the angels. Our Blessed Mother was also present in this Heavenly group. I immediately said, “Glory to You, my Father.”


God the Father went and sat on one of my kitchen chairs, which was closest to the window. He was wearing a white tunic with a light brown mantle. I was made to understand from previous visions that the brown mantle represents the priesthood. God the Father was of a younger appearance, with blue eyes and the most beautiful skin. He had no beard. His hair was short and of a greyish colour.


He said to me, “Today, you are very blessed and privileged that we all came to see you and console you because we know that you still grieve after your son. Come close to Me, My daughter, so that we can talk.”


I moved closer to God the Father and said, “My Father, this is such a privilege and a great joy for me that you come to visit my house, but Father this is just an ordinary little house and You are God Almighty.”


He said, “My daughter, don’t think like that. We are very united. Your house belongs to us, so we come to visit you. I have many good friends on earth that I visit, and you are one of them. When you open your heart and you tell us you love us, and are obedient to My Will then we become connected.”


“Tell Me My daughter, what can I do for you today?” - From Valentina Papagna

These locutions are the craziest I have ever come across.  People who follow private revelations leave themselves wide open to be misled.

"Getting Ready" J. Michael Walker

Today is also the feast of St. Margaret of Cortona. Yes it is.

St Margaret of Cortona.

In the new calendar, as well as the Franciscan calendar, the feast day was moved to May 16.

Our Lord told the Saint about his presence during her sinful life. She was never out of his sight, as it were. I find that consoling, because no matter how far we fall - he is there already. That is how I understand the falls on his way of the cross ... he fell to the level of our gravest fall from grace - to meet us there.

But at the same time, the old serpent, seeing you driven forth by your father, to his shame and for your destruction, seized this opportunity to make you vain of your beauty and your youth. He suggested to you that, abandoned by fortune, you had every excuse for giving yourself up to sin: that, wherever you chose to go and live, you would find rich and voluptuous masters to love you for the sake of your exterior loveliness.

But I, the Maker of your inward beauty, which you had deformed and which I wished to renew, I bore Myself towards you with a true love. By My inspirations and My light I touched your conscience. I urged you to set out immediately for Cortona, and there to submit to the obedience of My Friars-Minors.

You were filled with strength, and you set out on your journey. In obedience to My commands, you presented and offered yourself to My Friars; and with great zeal and courage you brought your soul under subjection to their rules and instructions.

Think of how, at the very outset of this career of salvation, you found balm for your heart, in the respectful, filial fear with which I filled your soul towards the religious to whose care I confided you.

This fear vanquished the invisible enemy, who had the hardihood to present himself to you in the hour of your affliction. Did you not tremble from head to foot, were not your cheeks suffused with blushes, when a friar of the Order of our ever-blessed Father appeared in the Church, in the house, or in the street? You dared not sit down or speak in their presence.

Think of how I molded your soul; how, from that moment, I inspired you with a supreme contempt of worldly ornament, and drew you, little by little, for My love's sake, to a most lawful position in relation to your fellow-creatures. - Source

"You dared not sit down or speak in their presence."

I believe my sins are so much worse that those of St. Margaret. So how do I dare speak of the evils of others?

The Lord drew the Saint - 'little by little' to a most 'lawful position in relation to your fellow creatures.' See, that is what happens after a good confession - otherwise, living in sin is all disorder, placing us in an unlawful position in relation to our fellow creatures.

Margaret suffered all her life from gossips who never forgot her sinful past and accused her of continuing indiscretions even after so many years of penance.  That just happened to me again, and once again I forgot to thank God for such a special grace.  

So you keep trying to justify passing judgment on others?

Even after the Lord commanded, "Do not judge"?

People need to judge, they defend it, over and over.  I just saw a piece on Crisis about the 'need' to judge: Being our brother's keeper requires moral judgment.  One commenter noted in self-defense:

I am often accused of violating Matthew 7. But I have a different take on it: The best person to remove the splinter from his brother's eye, is the one who has already removed the log from his own eye. For who better to recognize the difference between wood and eye?

That's sweet, huh?  I never read these sites as a habit, only when someone I know links to such articles.  I never ever listen to talk radio, conservative or liberal, Catholic or secular.  I still think talk radio and the companion sites online are the reason people are such fanatics, but I digress.

I just think it's funny how people who incessantly complain about being judged and criticized and even claim persecution, constantly insist they have a right to judge others,  and even have a duty to do so.  Of course we are expected to judge between right and wrong, and need to point out what is harmful to ourselves and others - common sense dictates that.  Likewise, everything is based upon our responsibility in particular situations - according to our state in life.  Parents, teachers, employers and so on have a duty to make judgement calls.  Most adults do not need anyone to tell them that.

Many Evangelical Catholics seem to think that when the spiritual fathers, the saints, and even the Pope offer the precaution, "Do not judge" it means look the other way and ignore moral evil - the sins of others.  That's missing the point.  They especially misinterpret Pope Francis on the meaning of mercy.  They resist him, and given the chance, they would resist him to his face. 


A hermit said, "Do not judge an adulterer if you are chaste or you will break the law of God just as much as he does. For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery' also said 'Do not judge'"

Most of the problems online and offline, the fights, the contentious exchanges in judgment-based gossip which circulates, along with all the condemnations, they occur because people judge one another.  For example, instead of judging the recent Met Gala for what it was, the devout focused upon those in attendance - especially the Catholics there, and by extension, the Vatican authorities who cooperated in it.  Actually, there was nothing wrong with the exhibit itself - in a sense it was a neutral museum exhibit focused upon the art of costume.  I responded negatively at first, avoiding any criticism of persons, choosing instead to discuss the vanity of fashion.  That is a discussion worthy of a good exhibit.  Judging and condemning Cardinal Dolan and Fr. Martin, and guilting by association Vatican personalities such as Mons. Ganswein, is taking it a step beyond.   This sort of gossip and detraction feeds the judgmental attitudes already embedded in online Catholic minds.  It's indefensible.

The Lord asks us to be merciful. He asks us not to judge. Often, said Pope Francis, “It seems that we have been named judges of others: engaging in gossip, talking behind people’s backs, we judge everyone.” The Lord, however tells us not to judge, lest we be judged ourselves. “Do not condemn [others],” said Pope Francis, “and you will not be condemned.” The Lord asks us to forgive, that we might be forgiven. “We say it every day in the Our Father,” noted the Holy Father, “forgive us as we forgive others – and if I do not forgive, how can I ask the Father to forgive me?”

“This is the Christian life. ‘But Father, this is folly!’ one might say. ‘Yes’, one might answer, ‘it is’. We have heard in these days, though, St Paul, who said the same: the foolishness of the Cross of Christ, which has nothing to do with the wisdom of the world. ‘But Father, to be Christian is to become some sort of fool?’ [one might ask]. ‘Yes’, [I would say], ‘in a certain sense, yes. It means renouncing the cunning of the world in order to do everything that Jesus tells us to do and that, if we do the sums, if we balance the ledger, seems to be against us.” - Vatican Radio

"A dog is better than I am, for he has love and he does not judge." - Abba  Xanthios  


Catholics online search and research other Catholics online, very often to find something on them.  To confirm their private judgment that something is wrong with them.  They even create private groups on Facebook, attacking this or that apologist, a priest they dislike, or the pope they deem to be a heretic.  They are so embroiled in self-righteous anger, they can't stop judging and condemning.  They devote their websites and newspapers to the work of scandal and detraction - judging and condemning one another.  They even turn on each other.  It's really a sick and perverted religiosity which motivates them.  Even Christ refused to be considered a judge or arbitrator in mean-worldly affairs, asking “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”

What is it that religious people do not understand about the command, "Do not judge"?

Writing in 1 Corinthians, St. Paul went so far as to insist: "I do not even pass judgment upon myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord." [...] the Lord "will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts ..."

So how can we judge each other?

How can we best be our brother's keeper?  How can we love our neighbor and avoid judging one another?

Let love be sincere;hate what is evil,hold on to what is good;love one another with mutual affection;anticipate one another in showing honor.Do not grow slack in zeal,be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord.Rejoice in hope,endure in affliction,persevere in prayer.Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,exercise hospitality.Bless those who persecute you,bless and do not curse them.Rejoice with those who rejoice,weep with those who weep.Have the same regard for one another;do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;do not be wise in your own estimation.  - Romans 12: 9-16

Our Lady of Fatima

Commenting on Our Lady's request for penance, Sr. Lucia wrote: "The part of the last apparition which has remained most deeply imprinted on my heart is the prayer of our heavenly Mother begging us not to offend any more Almighty God, Who is already so much offended."

Our Lord explained to her: "The sacrifice required of every person is the fulfillment of his duties in life and the observance of My law. This is the penance that I now seek and require." - Sr. Lucia

As I said on Facebook:  I think the conspiracy theorists and Fatimists, along with those dubious mystics and seers who claim to offer the 'missing parts' of the Fatima Secret, have drained the devotion out of Fatima and turned it into a cult of suspicion and conspiracy. The continual search for secrets and all too worldly interpretations of what is reported to have been revealed (and or suppressed) has distorted and corrupted Our Lady's original message calling us to repentance, prayer, penance and amendment of life. 

The overly suspicious hermeneutic of a conspiracy theorist.

I came across that line on another blog.

It just fits many people online today so well.  It's an attitude spiritual masters warn about.  Teresa of Avila often expressed exasperation with such a morbid spirituality, says she feared those who saw the devil behind every undertaking than the devil himself. 

It's good to know there are still healthy Catholics online.  The problem with many tradsters, as well as locution and private revelation junkies, is they live in a little Catholic bubble of sorts.  In turn, they judge and relegate their opponents into other little bubbles of identity, heresy, or whatever disqualifies them from communion with their perfectionist version of Catholicism.

There has been a parallel Church in existence, since the Council, which, according to the newest generation of devotee is spreading - especially among younger people.  I'd say trending, as opposed to spreading.  There is nothing wrong with that, except the more vocal among their online spokesman view everything through the lens of an overly suspicious hermeneutic of a conspiracy theorist.  They feel persecuted and sidelined, while on another level they reject anything to do with the post-Conciliar Church.  Especially Pope Francis.

(Art: Andrew Hunt)

I know I always write about this stuff and I am tired of doing so.  Yet Catholics online keep feeding this monster of misinformation and lies.  I just ran across a friend speculating on details of the Third Secret again.  The fake messages continue to be promulgated.  Feeding morbid curiosity and suspicion, adding to the confusion so many complain about in the Church.

Even priests and bishops can fall into this trap.  Some are misled by these Catholic conspiracy theories which spread  online.  The worst deception may be perpetrated by the locutionists they so easily give credence to, based upon some respected monsignor's claims about this one or that one.  If reading a horoscope, or doing yoga can open one to the occult, just imagine how following the locutions or private revelations of a dubious mystic or apparition can open one to delusion.  Is there no stable cardinal, bishop or priest to make the faithful understand this?  Aren't the fallen priests over the past few decades warning enough about these dangers?

Morbid fascination with apparitions and visionaries can lead one into error and away from the Church, which is why the Church has rules governing discernment of private revelations, in order to guard the faithful from error. Naturally, I'm thinking of the 'consecrate Russia' and everything will be fine theories, as well as blame the apostasy on the bad council/bad liturgy groups who are engaged in a war against so-called Catholic 'leftists' who support the Pope.

"Since the devil apes divine works, diabolical phenomena are known to occur at times among the mystics." (All quotations from Tanquerey.) "A revelation may be true in the main and yet contain some incidental errors." Thus, in private revelations the errors of the times as regards physical or historical science may get included in the interpretation of the revelations. So too the prejudices and training of the spiritual directors of the seers can affect the message. Details involving historical errors may also be introduced, sometimes arising from the seer's meditation or intelligence, often contradicting historical documents or revelations of the saints.

Private revelations may not only be wrongly interpreted, they "may be unwittingly altered by the seer himself as he attempts to explain, transcribe, record, or dictate the experiences to another. St. Brigid realized herself that at times she retouched her revelations, the better to explain them; such added explanations are not always free from errors. It is acknowledged today that the scribes who wrote the revelations of Mary of Agreda and Catherine Emmerich modified them to an extent difficult to determine." (Spiritual Life, Tanquerey, Book III, Chapter III.)

Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. - 1 Timothy 

What?

Gesu pensaci tu.

“I as totally poor, a poor nothing. 

My strength is my prayer, 

my leader is the will of God 

which I let Him take me by the hand. 

My security over the uneven path

 is the heavenly mother Mary.”

- Don Dolindo Ruotolo

Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! 

Just some thoughts on the Met Gala ...

Rihanna

Why?  Because Anna Wintour and I are the same age.  What?

Seriously, I used to work in 'fashion' - or thought I did.  I worked in display at a well known department store which no longer exists.  Being involved with anything associated with fashion, ready-to-wear and or couture, carries with it an ambience of prestige.  From the very top of the industry down to the lowly mannequin dresser.  Fashion creates a mystique in every age.  It is frequently a sign of wealth and grandeur, as well as prominence and taste.  It is for the elite - or that is what those who 'work it' need to convince themselves and their clientele of.  No one is more deluded by that notion than the directors and promoters of the industry.  No one basks in the glamour more than those privileged to hob nob in that society.

Martin, Dolan, Clooney

The Devil really does wear Prada.

Carlo Caretto wrote about fashion in his book on the spiritual life, The God Who Comes.  I was especially struck by his writing at the beginning of my conversion, when I first left that little bubble of the fashion world which I considered myself an authority on.  (LOL!)  Caretto wrote: "To begin with, we must go against the ideas of the day, for these are always opposed to the Gospel. We must resist 'the latest fashions and the spirit of the times,' which are almost always influenced by the evil one."  Keep that in mind the next time you page through a fashion magazine or tune in to most any Red Carpet photo shoot.

It is also good to recall what St. Jacinta Marto had to say about fashion and the Church: "Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who serve God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord is always the same."  Elsewhere is another quote from the saint on the subject:  "Many fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much - do not follow fashion." That was in 1918.

Former Abbot Fioraso

Before the Met Gala - Friends of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme...

Several years ago, Pope Benedict shut down the playboy mansion style Abbey of Santa Croce in Rome.  The abbot of Santa Croce was "Simone Fioraso, a flamboyant former Milan fashion designer, who had bee already moved out of the basilica two years" before to abbey was suppressed.  I have no idea what happened to him or if he remains a priest today.  The fashionable Friends of Santa Croce were entertained in the cloister-refectory, a classic sign of decadence as depicted in the art and filmography of life in the great abbeys of history.  "The basilica had become a hub for the Friends of Santa Croce, an aristocratic group, and had been criticized for some unorthodox practises including dances in which nuns pranced around the altar."

Fundraising is easily corrupted when Cardinals, Bishops, Abbots, monks and priests adopt an entrepreneurial spirit to obtain donations and support for their lavish residences and lifestyles.  Know what I'm saying?  Religious people just do not want to acknowledge that, and whenever anyone, even a Pope points out the corrupting influence of worldliness, money and prestige, they turn on him and anyone else who dares to question their involvement.

Dance at Santa Croce

"How ought Catholics to receive the Met Gala and its supposed sacrilege."

So asks America magazine.  First - Catholics can and do receive, reject, and opine about the Met Gala any way they want to.  Some see it as decadent and sacrilegious, others see it as a sort of abomination and one comment I came across likened it to the scene in the Book of Daniel asking: "Did the Met guests happen to notice a hand writing on the wall?"  That was a wonderful comment.

The America magazine coverage of the event is trending and cool and superficial.  Justin Shaun Coyne's opinion piece was naive and condescending, with a ridiculous connection to the passion of Christ, expounding upon his hypothetical question, "What has Golgatha have to do with the Met?"  It's a smart article, but it misses.  

The Gala and the exhibit are two different things.  Society ladies and their escorts will attend an 'opening of a door' as Nan Kempner once famously stated, and so will society clergymen.  The exhibit is just okay, in my opinion - a wonderful opportunity to see examples of real couture and the very best in religious vestments.  The connection between fashion and sacred vestment is a great commercial idea, especially today when the rich and famous love to accessorize their own homes with religious artifacts and textiles, often deaccesioned and/or ransacked from Catholic monasteries and churches and their treasuries.  The Gala is what it is - kind of a joke played by the fashion world on the Church.  The exhibit is a marketing strategy.

Prelates and priests have always hob-nobbed with society types.  Prelates and priests and religious have always scandalized the faithful, especially the poor and the marginalized and humble.  That's what they did at the Met Gala.  Closing churches and selling off church goods is a lucrative market these days.

So yeah, as America Magazine's Justin Shaun Coyle observes: "Maybe it constitutes sacrilege after all. But it might remind Catholics that our aesthetic positively thrums with apocalyptic irony ..."  

"Apocalyptic irony" indeed.

What?

A House Is Not a Home

Missing Gabby.

Just a heads up.

Apparition of St. Michael

May 8

To whom it may concern.

My cat has been sick for a couple of weeks.  Today she is in the hospital.  I don't know what is wrong with her and I will spare you (and me) the list of symptoms.  I am waiting to hear from the hospital.  I was there all morning.  The only reason I'm stating this is to explain why my humor is a bit strained, and my patience wearing rather thin - especially when I encounter contentious comments I believe are stupid and obnoxious and bigoted.

When you get old, and you take care of sick friends and cats, and you don't do all that well yourself, a lot of stuff you all may think is important, is not important - for me at least.

Moralists, pearl-clutching-homo-tradsters cleric or lay, as well as self-appointed inquisitors of the holy office, are not well tolerated here these days.  I'm not going to keep looking back at your inflammatory statements or arguments.  Please feel free to unfriend me or stop following/linking if I don't fit into your particular brand of Catholicism.

Begone - with the Pope's advice:

Unlike Eve who thought herself a “great theologian” and fell, the Pope said we must never dialogue with the devil because he wins, he is more intelligent than us. On the contrary, Jesus in the desert responds to the devil with the Word of God, hunts down demons, sometimes asking his name but doesn't dialogue.

Pray, watch, fast. 

Recalling the advice of Jesus to watch, do penance and fast, Pope Francis said we too must do so but never enter into dialogue with the devil. And in moments of temptation we must approach the mother, like frightened children do. According to the Russian mystics, in times of spiritual upheavals, take refuge under the mantle of the great Mother of God, the Pope said. - Homily

I'm very sorry if I offended you.  I'm not a good man.

This never gets old for me...

I love Melvin's response to this woman. It's a response which works for so many religious people who are overly concerned about the personal lives of others.

Forgotten saints...

May 5

Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio

I forgot his feast day because of Matt Talbot's birthday I guess.  Anyway - Nunzio is the saint I hope to paint next.  A poor kid, orphaned and mistreated, he died when he was nineteen.  He's a special intercessor for abused children.    A brief biography here.