What Pope Francis told a Spanish journalist Sunday ...

Pope Francis told a Spanish journalist Sunday that nature never forgives and the coronavirus pandemic is nature’s cry for humans to take better care of creation. - Source

"They" are taking him down for this.  No surprise.  

I'm not at all sure what the Holy Father said is so crazy.  Obviously he's speaking metaphorically when he says 'nature is unforgiving' - Fr. Z spends a little time spinning that.  How often has an artisan or cook said some thing, some medium is unforgiving?  How many times has a rock climber said a mountain is unforgiving if an athlete makes a mistake?  Yet when the Pope says something like that in a skype interview ...  I know.

Ten days ago I posted some thoughts related to Fr. Z's musings on a biological solution to take care of all the problems in the liturgy (here) - something Republicans seem to be musing on to help the economy get back on its feet BTW (here).  I also speculated on religious figures pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic as God's chastisement.  At the time I was reflecting on something an Italian Cardinal said about the virus, that it 'could' be seen as a chastisement - but not from God - he wasn't specifying particular evils or groups of 'evil-doers' (here).

"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?"

This past week, Cardinal Burke got a little more specific - some of his followers interpreted what he had to say, indicating the virus and incredible amount of deaths in Bergamo may have been punishment for the idolatry of Pachamama - and especially the prayer composed by the Archdiocese of the area, in honor of Pachamama. (here)  Likewise, the usual suspects have been held responsible for the chastisement.

It all sounds/reads crazy to those who are facing the unknown, as the virus spreads.  People can't be blamed for think what the Pope had to say, sounded strange - especially as it get's repeated on social media.  That said, a friend made a comment on the post I refer to, speculating on the notion of chastisement.  Perhaps anticipating the Pope, but more because she has read Laudato si, my friend had another view of the chastisement theory.  She wrote:

"This pandemic is the result of our destruction of the earth. All Coronavirus, e.g. SARS, comes from animals. Covid-19 originated from a live animal market in Wuhan. We are destroying the habitats of animals, displacing them and coming into contact with them in ways we never did before. Pope Francis has said it is sinful to destroy the earth. We are reaping the results of our sins, but it is not from God. We caused it ourselves." - Catholic in Brooklyn

"If we thought of this situation as a punishment from God, we would betray the very essence of the gospel." - Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti

I have to agree, which may account for my sense of understanding for what the Pope said metaphorically about 'nature taking her revenge on humanity.'  Personally, I do not see this as a particular chastisement, or divine punishment for the usual suspects, but rather a natural development, or effect. Catholics know there are natural consequences to sin.  Therefore, there are natural consequences for what human beings do to nature.  Habitat destruction, pollution, and other abuses against nature result in natural consequences.  I am surprised religious people consider such a notion to be steeped in idolatry or nature worship.  Our Lord himself told the Pharisees, who asked him to rebuke his disciples, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”  The Pharisees of today react in the same way to Pope francis, as they look for ways to 'catch' him in some error.

On the other hand, those who look to empty locutions or mundane messages from soap-opera style apparitions, might do well to keep in mind what Sr. Lucia, who saw Our Lady at Fatima, said about chastisement.  She pointed out that it is not God who is causing it, rather it is we ourselves doing it:

And let us not say that it is God who is punishing us in this way; on the contrary it is people themselves who are preparing their own punishment. In his kindness God warns us and calls us to the right path, while respecting the freedom he has given us; hence people are responsible”. - Message of Fatima

If it should happen one day - and it could be today - that I become a victim of ... - Bl. Christian de Chergé 


Tomorrow there is a hidden feast day, under Our Lady of the Annunciation's mantle, if you will.  It is the feast of St. Dismas crucified, the penitent who didn't judge, didn't condemn and did not claim anything from Christ crucified except to implore him to have mercy upon him - that he remember him.  Dismas, in his agony, looked at the other thief, who insulted Christ and made demands upon him.  What did Dismas say, to make him understand what was happening?

Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. - Luke 23

I see all of us - no matter who or what we are - pretty much in the same situation.  Rather than pointing fingers at one another, or deriding one another because we disagree, let's remember the sentiment St. Dismas expressed to the complaining thief:

We are all under the same sentence ...

COVID-19 is a global pandemic.  We are all under the same sentence.

The Holy See Grants 'Emergency' Conditions to Receive the Plenerary Indulgence Attached to the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

"This great news was announced in an official decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary on March 20, 2020.

"New Plenary Indulgence:  Because of the pandemic, anyone who, with “the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible,” recites the Divine Mercy Chaplet with the intention “to implore from Almighty God the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself,” can receive a plenary indulgence each day." - Read more here.

The Church has the right and the duty to appeal to the God of mercy 'with loud cries' " (Rich in Mercy, 15).

This is very good news. It seems to me if there is any 'bright side' to the pandemic and quarantine, it is the freedom from exacting rules and regulations attached to Catholic worship.


I'm serious. Think about parents with families who scramble to get everyone ready for Mass and just make it on time every Sunday. Or those families who have to drag unbelieving kids to Mass, only to put up with their disgruntled attitude. Think of those people who feel unwelcome at church for whatever reason - maybe they are like the woman at the well, who had been married 5 times? Think of fat people who are embarrassed to go to church, or the poorly dressed and so on. Or those, 'steeped in sin since birth' - now they can assist at Mass and devotions from home, make spiritual communions, without suffering 'ridicule' such as was served to the man born blind in today's Gospel.


Perhaps, since some churches are closed, and Mass is not offered publicly, it is ironically now finally opened to all? A sort of anticipation of Revelation 21 - 'I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. During the day its gates will never be shut, and there will be no night there.' This interior prayer of recollection unites us to Christ's silent loving action in the Eucharist, to his constant intercession before the Father.


Likewise, the extraordinary efficacy of the DM Chaplet is once again made available to all who simply have the 'intention' of fulfilling the protocol for gaining a plenary indulgence. The Mercy of God is everwhere present in a more profound way than we ever realized before this crisis. 'There is no pit so deep, that is love is deeper still.'

Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion (Diary, 1146). Beg for mercy for the whole world (570). No soul that has called upon My mercy has ever been disappointed (1541).

No one who comes to me will I ever reject.

The Divine Mercy in time of pandemic.

Especially if Mass is cancelled.

The prayers of the Divine Mercy chaplet as a means to unite to daily Mass when one can't attend in person or assist via television.

I've come to understand the chaplet as a liturgical prayer - that is, a prayer based upon the source and summit of the Liturgy, the Eucharist. I experience it as a prayer that is able to unite one deeply to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I believe the prayers of the Chaplet express what the priest does at Mass:

At Mass, the priest offers the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Father in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. Holy Mass is the memorial of His sorrowful passion, in season and out of season as it were - that is in Lent and Eastertide, Advent and Christmastide, after Pentecost and Ordinary time - anytime.


It seems to me that the Chaplet is a form of prayer deeply uniting the soul to the liturgy - a sort of spiritual, active participation in the prayer of the Church, outside the celebration of the Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours. The prayers of the chaplet is a means that unites us to every Mass offered throughout the world, to the silent, loving action of Our Lord in the Eucharist - in other words, to the unceasing prayer of Christ before the Eternal Father. I'm convinced it can unite us so deeply to Christ that it can become a form of 'unceasing' spiritual communion - a means to habitual recollection.

A Solemn Saturday.

I got a haircut yesterday and had a good long talk with the woman who cuts my hair.  She's available when her uncle is out of town.  They work together.  She goes to my parish, and let me in on the reasons why our pastor is being moved.  Progressives in the parish didn't like him and would like the school to be less 'Catholic' and more embracing of LGBTQism and transgender ideology.  

Then we talked about caring for older people who have dementia/Parkinson's, etc..  I talked with her for over an hour.  She went through the same thing with her mom and dad.  Like COVID-19, it seems the dementia is only going to get worse.  I'm a bit overwhelmed by the thought.  I guess I have to be more assertive in care-giving.  She said I was too easy going.  (I know people will want to give good advice and will offer help - but right now I need to chill and pray about everything.)  At a time of pandemic, I don't think going out to the doctors or seeking outside help is appropriate right now.  I also think I can handle bathing him and household chores.  

Everything is a grace, and sorrow is no exception.  I see everything as an opportunity to sanctify each moment, to offer everything as a sacrifice in gratitude, and to pray and exercise myself in charity.  (I know that sounds terribly pious, but it is the way I have coped throughout my life, from childhood abuse, depression and panic attacks, as well as every other crisis in life.)  Pray very much for my friend, and pray for me for patience and charity.

Thanks.

Writing a blog in the time of pandemic.

Today the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 is officially a pandemic.

As of this writing, it appears there is one critical case in the metropolitan area.  I know nothing about how many people have been exposed.  So far, I'm not especially concerned - except for my friend, whose health is not the best.  The early stages of dementia related to Parkinson's?  I'm not sure how to define the diagnosis.  We did his taxes yesterday, but I will bring them in to his tax guy to do the rest.  I don't want him going out, if it's not necessary.

I think the threat posed by the pandemic alleviates the Catholic controversies which have marred our days.  There is nothing like the 'plague' to prioritize one's spiritual life.

Confession.

I went to confession this past weekend, and I hope to do so more frequently.  It's amazing how personal opinions and the desire to express them, dwindled afterwards.  I'm not sure how to express that - but a certain freedom of spirit was restored. 

Go to confession - it casts out fear. 

So - writing the blog in the time of pandemic should be interesting.  Let's pray for one another.

I'll be back.

Jesus, I surrender myself to you,

take care of everything.

What is Theosophy?

A new importance of these teachings in modern thought is due to the school of Modern theosophy dating from the foundation of the Theosophical Society in New York City by Madame Blavatsky in 1875.

"In of a Christian ethical phraseology, theosophy in reality is a form of pantheism, and denies a personal God and personal immortality. Its appeal to the spiritual in man, and its striving after union with the Divine are based upon a contradictory metaphysic, an imaginary psychology, a system of ethics which recognizes no free-will, but only the absolute necessity of Karma. No evidence or proof is given for its teaching except the simple statements of its leaders. The denial of a personal God nullifies its claim to be a spiritualistic philosophy. Judging it as presented by its own exponents, it appears to be a strange mixture of mysticism, charlatanism, and thaumaturgic pretension combined with an eager effort to express its teaching in words which reflect the atmosphere of Christian ethics and modern scientific truths." - Catholic Encyclopedia

The Enchanted Mysticism of Jean Vanier.

So why is understanding Vanier so important for me?

It's because, as a layman, he modeled holiness for me.  He accompanied the outcasts and marginalized.  He prayed and seemed to exemplify a contemplative spirituality in the world.  He did great good, no doubt.  I stand by my opinion that he did not fall from grace in the same way a man struggling with living a chaste and celibate life can fail, sometimes seriously and for a length of time, only to repent and continue to strive for holiness and continence.

Vanier and P. Philippe on the other hand, developed a 'mystical theology of sexual consciousness', as it were.  Their acts were somehow justified in their holistic spiritual direction - it was sacramentalized - Vanier's action were sanctioned by the spiritual director, and his brother priest, Dominique.  Were they deluded?  Not necessarily, since they were deliberate in developing a system, a school of spirituality.  I keep repeating, this is not normal, this is not ordinary mysticism - it is not Catholic.  Likewise, they didn't just 'trip up', falling prey to their appetites, their lust.
.

Anyway, I discovered today Fr. Longenecker's article titled, Witchcraft, Sex Magic and Jean Vanier.  I thought to myself, 'at last he really gets it!'  I think rather than pointing out all the 'isms' (Communism, Marxism, 'homosexulism', etc.) for all the strange falls of cardinals, bishops and priests - along with their proteges, be they members of the order they founded, or co-workers, or spiritual children, we need to look for what allowed such misconduct.  We need to understand what allowed them to justify their behavior, to live without guilt.  How could they live a spiritual life, celebrate the sacraments, profess fidelity to the Church, unless they 'moved beyond the institutional forms, boundaries'?

Anyway, Fr. Longenecker is onto something, and I hope he pursues it and develops it without sensationalizing it.  This is not a crackpot theory by any means.  An excerpt from Fr. Longenecker:

WITCHCRAFT, SEX MAGIC AND JEAN VANIER

More information is now emerging about the manipulative sexual behaviors of John Vanier and his spiritual director Rev Thomas Philippe. The independent investigation on his actions reports:

“The relationships … are described as emotionally abusive and characterised by significant imbalances of power, whereby the alleged victims felt deprived of their free will and so the sexual activity was coerced or took place under coercive conditions,” the report stated.

One victim said Vanier told her: “This is not us, this is Mary and Jesus. You are chosen, you are special, this is secret.”

Vanier’s method of sexually grooming women he was spiritually advising and telling them that the sex was a religious action echoed what Philippe was accused of. One woman told the investigators she went to Philippe to complain about Vanier’s actions, and Philippe sexually assaulted her. “It started with him, the same as with Jean Vanier,” the woman said. “He was not tender like Jean Vanier. More brutal, no intercourse, same words to say that I am special and that all this is about Jesus and Mary.”

My friend Kevin O’Brien wrote a perceptive email about this sort of behavior on Sunday. Kevin was critical of some of Christopher West’s Theology of the Body teachings because there was a mystical aspect to sex integrated into the teaching–that somehow the sexual act could

“bring about esoteric enlightenment, and claiming that a man could indulge in behaviors others would consider sinful, once he was spiritually mature. That’s the game, you see.  Philippe and Vanier would claim,”that when one arrives at perfect love, everything is lawful, for there is no more sin.”  (That quote is from the L’Arche report.)  And so it’s OK to have sex and pretend to be uniting with God Himself in the process – because you’ve arrived at “perfect love”, see?”

Finish reading here.

From Pope Benedict on his way to Fatima 2010:  "In terms of what we today can discover in this Our Lady's message, attacks against the pope or the church don’t come just from outside the church. The suffering of the church also comes from within the church, because sin exists in the church. This too has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way. The greatest persecution of the church doesn’t come from enemies on the outside, but is born in sin within the church. The church thus has a deep need to re-learn penance, to accept purification, to learn on one hand forgiveness but also the necessity of justice. Forgiveness does not exclude justice. We have to re-learn the essentials: conversion, prayer, penance, and the theological virtues. That’s how we respond, and we can be realistic in expecting that evil will always launch attacks from within and from outside, but the forces of good are also always present, and finally the Lord is stronger than evil. The Madonna for us is the visible maternal guarantee that the will of God is always the last word in history." - NCR

Link:  Brief Formulations of New Age Ideas. 

Going beyond the institutional Church...

Going beyond the institutional forms.

I've been pondering a few things since first learning of the investigation into Pere Thomas Phillipe and Jean Vanier. There is a certain security Catholics believe they have from a spiritual director, whom they esteem and who may have a great reputation in the spiritual life. I have known 'mystics' convinced of their mystical experiences, affirmed by a spiritual director, who have been gravely misled. (Although not sexually abused.)

I know others who move 'beyond the teachings of the Church, as well as authentic Catholic tradition, seeking a greater freedom of spirit. Many people today follow the teaching or 'spirit' of Richard Rohr, for instance. Even Jesuits have been known to write glowingly of some of these spiritual directors... What?

Yet there are bad spiritual directors, as we all now know. Have you ever heard people boast, that this priest or that monk is my spiritual director? They seem to think they have a guarantee that whatever they say or write has an instant imprimatur/nihil obstat, if you will.

Discarding old religious forms and re-creating our spiritual and sacred world.

Being spiritual but not religious encompasses all of that, as well.  Institutional religion is sidestepped or outright rejected.  There is no religious order, no one spiritual direction, no set of doctrine, no dogma, no authority, no one set of rules - it is non-binary.  It is permissive of everything... relatively speaking.  One cannot harness the wind.  Sometime ago, I wrote about these things, and discovered what seems to be a source which shed light on the source of some of the 'new' forms of spiritual direction and mystical experience, adopted by spiritual directors and directees, who chose to go beyond 'institutional forms'.

The spiritual director, author, William Bloom who combines a long-standing interest in New Age approaches to spirituality with an identity focus in international relations, wrote:

"We are in changing times. Our culture and technology are continually transforming, and the intellectual certainties of the last few hundred years are no longer secure…It is our need to find a new authenticity in our spiritual lives — to bring back fully into our consciousness — the sacred dimension of life, but we want to do this in a way that honours personal freedom and personal growth. In essence, then, we are turning to the teachings and experiences of what is called the ageless wisdom, but we are doing so with completely new attitudes."

A key element of our changing culture is that we are discarding old religious forms and re-creating our spiritual and sacred world. - Theosophical Order of Services

I'll leave it at that for the moment, but I want to close with a quote from Fr. Geiger, OFM Conv., which may explain how the going beyond the institutional forms happens.

"The desire for union with God sometimes leads individuals to attach themselves to extraordinary manifestations of the “spirit,” but in such a way that weakens their attachment to the Church."

  

Let's get really realistic about Vanier.

May he find mercy in abundance through the blood of Christ, 

may the good he did be credited to him, by the merits of Christ crucified,

and by the power of His resurrection, may he rest in peace.

So what level of depravity were you looking for?

Many people online are starting to call out those of us who are disturbed by the Jean Vanier investigations revealing sexual abuse of adult women who worked along side him in l'Arche. Fr. Longenecker* says we need to be more realistic about those we put on pedestals and admire, noting they are human beings with weaknesses, just like us. Indeed.

A friend posted a quote on my site along the same lines as Fr. L's admonitions. He posted:

"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" - Solzhenitsyn

It is a quote that is very true, very philosophical, albeit a tad dismissive in this context. These discoveries of another's 'sin' reveal the mystery of our being, our fallen human nature. In fact, after the initial shock of the stories, I for my part, am able to examine my own conscience and find examples of duplicity and hypocrisy. It reminds me of my own need for continual conversion and the forgiveness of my many sins.

This post isn't a 'yes but' deflection, nevertheless the disturbing aspect of the Vanier story, viewed alongside the case of his spiritual father, P. Thomas Philippe, as well as his brother, P. Dominique Philippe, is there was a 'method' to their abuse. The grooming involved, their presentation of a 'new' form of spiritual direction and mystical experience, involving/using sexual touch and acts, presented to the victim as a means to find healing, and to grow spiritually and find union with Christ and Our Lady.

Delusion.

The abuse is so deliberate, so manipulative as to propose a sort of theology of abuse. This 'program' negates the idea that the sexual abuse perpetrated by the 'directors' was simply a fall from grace, or a weakness which trips up a 'wounded healer' otherwise trying to live chastely. This is exactly why such actions are seen as criminal, not just a moral failing. It is not simply human weakness or an act of desperation from a person 'addicted' to sex - it's intrinsically evil. It's not at all normal.

After one acknowledges that, as well as genuine concern for the victims, perhaps then, one can say - without being dismissive - 'there but for the grace of God, go I.'

*If we therefore, have this realistic understanding of human nature we will not be so disappointed, outraged and indignant when we hear that Jean Vanier was a sinner. We will not be so angry and dismayed by the scandal and heartbreak of abusive, corrupt and immoral pastors and priests. We will not be surprised because we were realistic about human nature from the beginning. - Longenecker

Beware of spiritual directors

and exorcists who are

a little bit too

realistic about human nature

and sexuality.

Jean Vanier's Star Has fallen

Befriending the stranger - indeed.

Today, news broke that Jean Vanier sexually abused women under his spiritual direction.  His conduct mirrored that of his spiritual director, Fr. Thomas Phillippe, O.P..  Stunning news for me.  But it's not about me, although almost everyone I have ever admired spiritually turns out to have a past.  It's kind of a consolation actually.  Confirming we are all sinners, in need of a Redeemer.  Thanks be to God.

Knowing that, how much more generous ought we to be towards the faults and failings of others, and never, ever look down on anyone, no matter their moral state.

I said in my alarm;
'no man can be trusted'
all have gone astray,
there is not a good man left -
there is no one who does good,
no, not even one.

Especially not me.

From America:

Internal report finds that L’Arche founder Jean Vanier engaged in decades of sexual misconduct.

In a report that will soon be released conducted by L’Arche, Mr. Vanier is accused of sexual misconduct with six adult, non-disabled women who sought spiritual direction from the late activist, author and philosopher. According to a press release from L’Arche USA, the investigation “reveals that Jean Vanier himself has been accused of manipulative sexual relationships and emotional abuse between 1970 and 2005, usually within a relational context where he exercised significant power and a psychological hold over the alleged victims.” - Finish reading here.

L'Arche: Internal investigation reveals abuses committed by Jean Vanier - VaticanNews

02-20-2020 Centenary of the Death of St. Jacinta Marto

Saint Francisco Marto

(June 11, 1908 – April 4, 1919)

Saint Jacinta Marto

(March 11, 1910 – February 20, 1920)

Feast Day: February 20

One hundred years ago.

So much about Fatima has now been confirmed. Growing up, I was very much attached to the Fatima apparitions, the call to holiness, the promises of Our Lady - especially that she would take Jacinta and Francisco to heaven - although I was sure it would probably not be fulfilled in my lifetime. Yet it is unfolding right now. The example of the three children, especially Francisco and his fidelity to prayer, very much influenced my childhood piety, and as I learned more about prayer as an adult, he has been a guide and model for me to some extent.  Our Lady promised to take them to heaven, and canonization is affirmation of that promise.  I expect Lucia will be canonized soon.

I pray the rosary every day and have done the First Saturdays several times.  I often think about the apparitions, the promises of Our Lady, the spiritual experiences each child had outside of the recorded apparitions and after the events, especially St. Jacinta's experiences.

It seems to me her particular experiences - especially her private visions, one or two specifically  involving the 'Third Secret' and the papacy, one might be able to get a deeper understanding of the totality of the secret.  I happen to believe we are most likely witnessing some of the calamity Jacinta saw.  I also think there is ample room to believe that not just one pope was represented in the visions, but subsequent popes are most likely included.  Of course the Holy See's interpretation suggested all the popes of the 20th century had much to suffer - hence, one might conclude, St. John Paul II was not the only pope connected with the vision.

I think it's silly how some speculate, or at least wonder as to why the Blessed Virgin didn't mention plagues - specifically the flu.  Spirit Daily just posted something like that with current discussion of the Coronavirus.  Or how some expected that Our Lady ought to have mentioned the idea of papal resignation and 2 popes.  After all, it these matters are included in  other private revelations, more or less.  I always like to point out that the Blessed Virgin never mentioned the Holocaust, for instance.  What did Pope Francis once say about such things?  Didn't he dismiss stuff like that saying that Our Lady is not a news person?  Daily reporting the news and weather?  Something like that.

I'm not an expert, much less a scholar on the subject of Fatima, simply a devotee.  Yet it seems to me, the message of Jacinta allows more room for conjecture and application to our contemporary situation than the general text of the Fatima Secret - one secret in 3 parts.  Perhaps Jacinta understood things about the secret which we may be experiencing today.  I don't know?

The essential Jacinta is for me, wrapped up in the following prophetic statements:

"I saw the Holy Father in a very big house, kneeling by a table, with his head buried in his hands, and he was weeping. Outside the house, there were many people. Some of them were throwing stones, others were cursing him and using bad language. Poor Holy Father, we must pray very much for him." - St. Jacinta

"Look! Don’t you see many roads, paths and fields full of people crying of hunger, not having anything to eat? And the Holy Father in a Church praying next to the Heart of Mary?" - St. Jacinta Marto

"Tell everybody that God grants us graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that people are to ask her for them; and that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated at his side. Tell them also to pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace, since God entrusted it to her." - Bl. Jacinta to Lucia

St. Jacinta devoted herself to prayer and suffering for the Pope, may she intercede for him in these times of crisis. St. Francisco was deeply contemplative and hidden, praying to console the 'Hidden Jesus' and making reparation for sins. Both Jacinta and Francisco prayed earnestly and constantly for the conversion of sinners. May these little saints, who have now reached full stature and maturity in Christ, intercede for all of us.

Weird Saints

St. Mark Ji Tianxiang 

And me.

A childhood friend of my family said I was weird on FB yesterday.  He was reacting to a piece of art I posted.  I laughed.  

I began thinking about a couple of weird saints I admire, whose stories I will share here.

St. Mark Ji Tianxiang 

Mark Ji Tianxiang was an opium addict. Not had been an opium addict. He was an opium addict at the time of his death.

For years, Ji was a respectable Christian, raised in a Christian family in 19th-century China. He was a leader in the Christian community, a well-off doctor who served the poor for free. But he became ill with a violent stomach ailment and treated himself with opium. It was a perfectly reasonable thing to do, but Ji soon became addicted to the drug, an addiction that was considered shameful and gravely scandalous. 

As his circumstances deteriorated, Ji continued to fight his addiction. He went frequently to confession, refusing to embrace this affliction that had taken control of him. 

Unfortunately, the priest to whom he confessed (along with nearly everybody in the 19th century) didn’t understand addiction as a disease. Since Ji kept confessing the same sin, the priest thought, that was evidence that he had no firm purpose of amendment, no desire to do better.  

Ji’s confessor told him to stop coming back until he could fulfill the requirements for confession.  He couldn’t stay sober, but he could keep showing up.  And show up he did, for 30 years. For 30 years, he was unable to receive the sacraments. And for 30 years he prayed that he would die a martyr. It seemed to Ji that the only way he could be saved was through a martyr’s crown. 

In 1900, when the Boxer Rebels began to turn against foreigners and Christians, Ji got his chance. He was rounded up with dozens of other Christians, including his son, six grand children, and two daughters-in-law. Many of those imprisoned with him were likely disgusted by his presence there among them, this man who couldn’t go a day without a hit. Surely he would be the first to deny the Lord.

But while Ji was never able to beat his addiction, he was, in the end, flooded with the grace of final perseverance. No threat could shake him, no torture make him waver. He was determined to follow the Lord who had never abandoned him. - Finish reading here.

St. Andreas Wouters, Martyr of Gorcum

The Gorkum Martyrs.

In 1572, the Netherlands had fallen culturally and politically into Protestant hands, and Catholics of the country became objects of persecution for Lutherans and Calvinists alike. As town after town fell to Protestant control, the Catholic clergy of the area were arrested and often tortured. The goal of this mistreatment was not death, but apostasy.

The pirates demanded that these nineteen priests and religious deny the Real Presence and the authority of the Pope. They refused, much to their captors’ distress. Despite a plea for leniency from William of Orange, the Dutch prince and leader of the Protestant Rebellion, the Calvinists of Gorcum transferred their prisoners to nearby Brielle, where they were martyred outside of town in a dilapidated shed. Their bodies were horrifically desecrated both before and after their deaths, out of mockery for their priesthood.

One of the secular priests, Andreas Wouters was notorious for his unchastity. When accused of this by his captors, he offered his famous reply, “Fornicator I always was, but heretic I never was.” - Source

To be continued... 

Blessed Charles de Foucauld might be included in the list of weird saints - he founded an order without disciples - yet he was faithful.  Likewise, Matt Talbot, Benedict Joseph Labre, and others - specifically the fools for Christ - whose names I can't recall at the moment, were faithful, a bit odd, and definitely not successful - just faithful. So remember, if you found an order of monks and you are the only member, remain faithful. If you blunder through life, yet remain faithful despite everything, you can stand erect - if you remain faithful.  No one can ever take the last place away from Christ.

So dumb.

I deleted a couple posts by accident.  Gosh darn.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

A Well Researched Reply to Fr. Z.

From an expert on Fatima.

Kevin Symonds is a man I believe is a reliable expert on Fatima and the writings of Sr. Lucia - I would call him a Fatima scholar.  I don't know him personally but I have read his work and what he writes on his blog.

Symonds responded politely to Fr. Z's post on the vision of the Third Secret, wherein he speculates that it may have foretold two popes in the scenario.  Kevin offered to explain another dimension of the vision which would better accord with the theological exegesis offered by Cardinal Ratzinger.  (More or less.)  He politely asked him to 'refer to the book he had written on the Secret.  Fr. Z seemed to rebuff the idea, and stuck to his theory.

Kevin Symonds wrote a reply.

Actually, posting a separate reply on his blog is a good idea, because if he tried to comment a second time on Fr. Z's site, he might find himself blocked.  That said - I'll post an excerpt from Kevins post.

Under my comment, Fr. Z. responded in his characteristic red comments in brackets: 

[Refer me? Send me the book. And the fact remains: that’s how she described it. Facts are stubborn.] 

In his post, Fr. Z. associates the text “‘something similar to how people appear in a mirror…” with the text after it (the Bishop dressed in white). Thus, Fr. Z. wonders if the phrase is about two popes as in a mirror image.

So, is his interpretation correct? I have some thoughts on this question and submit them to the reader for consideration. 

[...]

(As Cardinal Ratzinger noted) "In the “mirror” of this vision we see passing before us the witnesses of the faith decade by decade." 

It is, therefore, clear that the Church herself understands the “mirror” and “light” analogy to be referring to God. It is not a literal mirror that the Pope passed by and saw a reflection. 

Lastly, if the Pope passed by some mirror in the vision of the third part of the secret, what about the others in the vision? Did they do so as well? It would seem to follow logically. After all, everyone specified in the vision are all headed to the same place–the cross. Curiously, they are not mentioned as having passed by some mirror. 

Conclusion:
Sr. Lúcia lacked theological, spelling and grammatical finesse in her writings, as is generally acknowledged.[4] She was, however, gifted with prophecy and wisdom in her simplicity. As I have said elsewhere, you have to pay attention to mystics as they are subtle people; one can miss something very important if care is not taken. In the present case, it seems plausible that Sr. Lúcia employed the “mirror” analogy in order to explain the manner in which the three visionaries saw the vision that is the third part of the secret of Fátima.  - A Reply to Fr. Z

An Observation:

In his footnotes, Kevin mentioned his appreciation for Fr. Sotello's comment on the more accepted theory of what Sr. Lucia meant in describing the vision as 'seeing people  passing by as in a mirror'.  I was happy with his comment as well, however I believe he misquotes something Our Lady said:  "Rather, she reinforces the phrase made earlier by Our Lady at Fatima, that “the Holy Father will have much to suffer for.”"  I've never read it in that way.  I've always understood Our Lady's words to be, "the Holy Father will have much to suffer", not "suffer for".  To 'suffer for' makes it sound like the Holy Father is being punished.  That was never the sense I had from Our Lady's words.

A Lutheran Convert in Our Lady's Court.

Don't even go there Fr. Z ... please.

Fr. Z sees 2 popes in the Fatima Secret.  No.  No. No.  Gosh!

About that secret.  Cardinal Ratzinger pretty much summed it up.  However, those who do not know how to deal with the retirement of a reigning Pontiff need to see some sort of extraordinary judgment on that.  C'mon.

What bothers me?  Not the part about persecution.  That’s a given.

Speculating on the Third Secret, Fr. Z goes on to observe:

Note that reference to seeing an image like to that of an image in a mirror.
When you see someone pass in front of a mirror, you see two of them, the real one and the image. Two.
Hence, in this case, the vision involved seeing two figures dressed in white, one being the real one and the other being the image of the real one. And, according to the description, Lúcia says she saw whom she took to be the Pope and a figure that was not the Pope but an image like the Pope.
One figure the Pope and the other, close by, as in a mirror, not the Pope but looking like the Pope. - Fr. Z

He tries, I know.  I hope he prays his rosary.  Deeply, and consistently.  Devoutly.  Then Our Lady will never permit silly distortions like this to continue.  Our Lady did not put on a show or a morality tale.

On this day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, just remember, Our Lady at Fatima never mentioned by name her people who died in the camps.  Our Divine Mother encompasses all of humanity - she never enters into politics, much less the way the Petrine Office is conducted - EXCEPT to request prayers for the reigning Pontiff - at any time in history.

Stop playing with the secret.  Stop manipulating it for your agenda.  Our Lady is obedient to her Son, to the Church He established, and She is Mother of the Church.  Children and simple souls understand her message - they don't ever use it to condemn or judge, much worse, to play Pope against a retired Pope.  The secret is unfolding - no doubt - but not how those who should know better attempt to interpret it.

When repairs are needed.

"Jesus, repair what I have done badly!"

When we fail, when we are tempted to rebel against those who find out our faults and imperfections, we too can remain silent, asking our Lord to undo, to repair what we've done badly, that no one may be lost because of our bad example.  If others are scandalized by our failings, we can have confidence Jesus will repair and draw forth a greater good.  I think this is a secret of His Sacred Heart, as well as the key to the devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots.  When others condemn us, we can even rejoice to be found imperfect and in need of God's mercy!

"A notion which is not widespread and which, nevertheless, is very important is that Jesus, when we ask him with confidence, repairs not only the evil we have done in ourselves, but also the evil we have done around us.

Indeed, he has made all things right in me, but what about the evil I have done to others?  The bad example I have set, the scandal I have given, the good I would have been able to do and did not do, the injustice I committed?  I am set aright myself, but what about the others?

Say then, 'Jesus, from this evil also which I have wrought around me, draw forth good.  Even, I dare to ask you, draw a greater good from it than if I had not done the evil... Jesus, make reparation in me and around me.'" - I Believe In Love, Pere Jean du Coeur de Jesus D'Elbee

Spreading Devotion to the Extraordinary Form of Mass.

Nothing wrong with that.

Yet to make the claim one form of Holy Mass is better than another, or more efficacious, is a big mistake.  Yet that is what devotees frequently do, even Fr. Z and his followers.  Not always overtly, but it is implied - especially in his comment box.  Recently he posted: "A diocese smells the coffee: starts planning for decline of the Novus Ordo and growth of the TLM"

Just the language of the title seems to denigrate, declass the Ordinary Form of Mass, by referring to it as the Novus Ordo - which is understood by most to mean the 'new' Mass.  That is, the Ordinary Form of Mass celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout the world.  TLM stand for Traditional Latin Mass - known after Summorum Pontificum as the Extraordinary Form.  Summorum was not meant to be divisive but inclusive.  I have heard some Catholic claim that if one continues to attend the EF after experiencing the transcendent beauty of the EF, they offend God.  That is the notion I object most to.

Janet Smith posted a supportive link to Fr. Z's post and I responded.  In vain, I dare say.  This was the exchange:

Terry Nelson I hate it when you people promote this - Fr. Z's mentor and patron was not anti-VII, nor anti Novus Ordo. He celebrated the Novus Ordo - promoting Latin and ad orientem - seriously, there was no tangible difference to the ordinary Catholic in the manner Mass was celebrated. I went to talk to Monsignor, confessed to him - I think he would completely disapprove of how Fr. Z promotes this division. 

Janet E. Smith What is offensive or divisive about what was posted? People are gravitating to the TLM. Is that bad or divisive? Are those who stick with the NO divisive? Both are permitted. It not divisive to prefer one or the other. People who keep lamenting “division” are the ones causing it, IMHO.

Terry Nelson Janet E. Smith there is nothing wrong with an attachment to the EF - the OF is the ordinary form in the Church, when celebrated according to rubrics, esp. ad orientem, the OF is fine. To say one is holier than another is mistaken. To devoutly prefer one to another is not bad in itself, but it often degenerates into mockery of and condemnation of the OF. (In the extreme, calling into question the NO sacraments - including Holy Orders.) Fr. Z promotes the OF and encourages 'recruits' to it, if you will. Underlying all of this is the claim the OF is not as holy, that it's an abomination. Read the commentary Fr. Z gets. Holy Mass should not be politicized but that is how it gets treated, the 'liberals' don't like it, the 'conservatives' do, and so on. That's wrong. I grew up with the TLM, I was an altar boy - as Mons. Pope recently pointed out, the EF wasn't always well celebrated either. Wasn't the point of the Summorum Pontificum to help the Ordinary Form? It's been my observation it has been used to oppose the Pope and any authentic reform of VII.

My experience with Dr. Smith is that she is more or less dismissive of anyone who is neither an academic or cleric.  The conversation I began on her site developed further, with other commenters who supported her POV.  Nothing wrong with her opinion BTW, my point was made.  My experience of promoters of the TLM is that they are the divisive element when they think anyone devoted to the OF Mass is ignorant of tradition, and/or protestant.

I love both forms of Mass.  I also love the traditional celebration of the sacraments.  The Ordinary Form of things are just as sacred, just as holy, and no more or less eficacious than the EF.

As I have said before, I believe many people are drawn to deeper devotion in and through the traditional liturgical rites. Nothing wrong with that at all. It is their personal experience, but it cannot be stated that therefore the extraordinary Form is holier or more pleasing to God, when in fact the Church celebrates the Ordinary Form as the central form of the liturgy. (I'm not a liturgist so I'm not sure I expressed that well.) Playing the two forms against one another, or saying one is more efficacious than the other is an error. It seems to me that attitude is also a form of snobbery which is often observable in other areas of the lives of such people. (It's frequently fairly obvious on social media.)

As regards exterior things, he (Editor: one who is attached to the grandeur and pomp of the EF) will become unable to dispose himself for prayer in all places, but will be confined to places that are to his taste; and thus he will often fail in prayer, because, as the saying goes, he can understand no other book than his own village. - S. John, Ascent

Sayings

Many times I'm mistaken, presumptuous, and don't know what I'm talking about. So pay no attention to me - I'm a sounding keyboard.

I'm not finished.

I haven't posted much on the blog - but I'll be back.  Soon.

Praying for Cardinal Pell

Cardinal George Pell has reportedly been moved 

from his central prison in Melbourne 

to a high-security facility in regional Victoria 

after a drone had flown over the prison. - Source

This is sad.  I believe Pell is innocent.  He's being moved because they don't want him photographed.  The conditions in the new prison are supposed to be pretty bad. 

"Cardinal Pell knew from hard personal experience how virulent the anti-Catholic atmosphere in Australia had become. As a member of the College of Cardinals and a senior Vatican official, Pell enjoyed Vatican citizenship and held a Vatican diplomatic passport; he could have stayed put, untouchable by the Australian authorities. Yet he freely decided to submit himself to his country’s criminal justice system. He knew he was innocent; he was determined to defend his honor and that of the Church; and he believed in the rectitude of the Australian courts. So he went home." - George Weigel

The Epiphany of Hieronymus Bosch

I thought of the Bosch while meditating on today's Gospel.  The kings represent the Turks, ‘Ethiopians’, and Mongols - reminding me of all the powers interested in the Middle East today.  In the background is the figure of the Antichrist - at the time Herod, the precursor of the Antichrist.  He is depicted as a voluptuous sensualist - vain, narcissistic and corrupt.  He is Antichrist since he wants to destroy the child Jesus.

We read the Magi were warned to not return to Herod and they left by a different route.  We know the Holy Family fled, and that Herod massacred the Holy Innocents to ensure he killed his rival.  How like our times, I thought.  Children, babies, the unborn - are eliminated in our day, legally and illegally.  Others are driven away from their homeland, or exploited and given over to slavery. 

St. John tells us there are many Antichrists among us.  Herod is one prototype.  The Bosch figure is perhaps a warning, a projection of what will be in the end times.  An immoral, corrupt hedonist, rallying 'those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government: audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.'  (2 Peter 2:10; Douay-Rheims Haydock)

The Epiphany is much more than that, of course.  It is the manifestation of the divinity in Christ, and it is threefold:  To the gentiles in the adoration of the Magi, in the baptism by John in the Jordan, and in the wedding at Cana.  

Imagine - wanting to kill the Messiah, the Savior, the King of the Jews?  As the angel said to St. Joseph: 'Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.' (Matt 2:13)

Many today are out to destroy - in the end, they fail.  "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail. (Matt. 16:18)

Thoughts and prayers.

That time the Holy Father tripped.

People hate that saying.

I thought I'd use it for the title of this post - just for fun.  I post everything on Facebook and do not take time to write very much on the blog.  On FB you can post a link and quote, as well as a few thoughts, and it's done.  Now that I take care of my friend, I'm always in the same room with him when I'm online, he also watches TV, likes to talk, and needs attention.  That makes it difficult to compose a post.  I'm not complaining - just letting my friends know why I'm not posting so much.

Recent news on the Holy Father incited his critics to condemn him for slapping the hand of a woman who yanked his arm.  The poor woman appeared to have something urgent to say or ask, but the Holy Father nearly lost his balance and was obviously in great pain.  I don't know how he does it - he walks the entire length of the basilica, greets pilgrims, and travels so much - never even taking a vacation. He has one lung, obvious sciatica and most likely painful arthritis, and when he was yanked back, I think there was pain - from the look on his face. I'm certain he was sincerely sorry he offended the woman, I also think he is humble enough to accept being seen as imperfect and just like anyone else who loses their patience under stress.

I'm reminded of St. Therese, whose birthday it is today, when on her deathbed, sisters in her community found her 'imperfect' and not a saint.  Mother Agnes noted a couple of occasions when Therese lost her patience - although we would never have noticed it or thought it an imperfection or a fault.

"Four months before her death, Therese was running a high fever. One of the nuns came in and asked her help in a very delicate piece of painting.  Just for an instant a very slight blush betrayed her effort to keep her patience.  That evening she sent a little note to M. Agnes, humbly admitting her weakness.  'This evening I showed you my virtue, my treasures of patience.  I who am so good at preaching to others.  I am glad you noticed my imperfection.  It does me good ...'"

Later, a lay-sister brought Therese some broth, which she refused because she was so ill it would cause her to vomit.  The sister was offended, and Therese apologized, asking the sister's pardon.  The sister remained disedified and later told another sister, "Sr. Therese is no saint!  She is not even a good religious!"  Later, when Therese was told about it, she rejoiced.  She was happy that she was found to be imperfect, and especially a bad religious - on her deathbed.  Her joy was in knowing that  she too needed the Divine Mercy.

Little Therese told M. Agnes:  "The fact that people find me imperfect brings me real joy, and what brings me even more joy is to realize this myself and to feel the need for God's mercy at the moment of death."

I think Pope Francis is very much like St. Therese, may she obtain for him all that is necessary to lead the Church.

What?