Is it okay for Catholic parishes to participate in Gay Pride events?

It hasn't been - until now - depending on which city you live in.

They call it outreach to the LGBTQ community.  Really?  Quoting Ru Paul, I say "What community?"

I wasn't aware of the fact the Franciscans of Holy Name Province at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston set up a booth at Boston Pride... with a banner "Who am I to judge?"

That's not what Pride is about.

Pride began as a political movement, latching onto the Civil Rights/Feminist movement.  Participation at these public events suggests - indeed, symbolizes - approval and support of the Gay movement and all that it entails.

Everyone who lives in Boston knows where St. Anthony's shrine is.  The friars are already in the heart of the city, they already minister on the existential peripheries.  Supporting Gay Pride is not what I would call compassionate pastoral ministry.

"The Church's ministers must ensure that homosexual persons in their care will not be misled..."

Nevertheless, increasing numbers of people today, even within the Church, are bringing enormous pressure to bear on the Church to accept the homosexual condition as though it were not disordered and to condone homosexual activity. Those within the Church who argue in this fashion often have close ties with those with similar views outside it. These latter groups are guided by a vision opposed to the truth about the human person, which is fully disclosed in the mystery of Christ. They reflect, even if not entirely consciously, a materialistic ideology which denies the transcendent nature of the human person as well as the supernatural vocation of every individual.

The Church's ministers must ensure that homosexual persons in their care will not be misled by this point of view, so profoundly opposed to the teaching of the Church. But the risk is great and there are many who seek to create confusion regarding the Church's position, and then to use that confusion to their own advantage.

9. The movement within the Church, which takes the form of pressure groups of various names and sizes, attempts to give the impression that it represents all homosexual persons who are Catholics. As a matter of fact, its membership is by and large restricted to those who either ignore the teaching of the Church or seek somehow to undermine it. It brings together under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behaviour. One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination.

There is an effort in some countries to manipulate the Church by gaining the often well-intentioned support of her pastors with a view to changing civil-statutes and laws. This is done in order to conform to these pressure groups' concept that homosexuality is at least a completely harmless, if not an entirely good, thing. Even when the practice of homosexuality may seriously threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people, its advocates remain undeterred and refuse to consider the magnitude of the risks involved. - Letter to Bishops, CDF

Yeah, but!  It's pastoral care, pastoral outreach.

The Catechism says gay people "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."  

That's right Poodle.  It doesn't say a thing about marching in parades and promoting gay as good and/or as equal to heterosexuality.  When you buy into LGBTQ you buy into the whole package.  It's heretical and immoral, and it's a millstone around your neck.

"Departure from the Church's teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral."

15. We encourage the Bishops, then, to provide pastoral care in full accord with the teaching of the Church for homosexual persons of their dioceses. No authentic pastoral programme will include organizations in which homosexual persons associate with each other without clearly stating that homosexual activity is immoral. A truly pastoral approach will appreciate the need for homosexual persons to avoid the near occasions of sin. We would heartily encourage programmes where these dangers are avoided. But we wish to make it clear that departure from the Church's teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral. Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral. The neglect of the Church's position prevents homosexual men and women from receiving the care they need and deserve. - Letter to Bishops*

* Incidentally, the CDF Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexuals was composed by the future Pope Benedict XVI, who never added or detracted from it during his papacy - nor has the current CDF or Pope Francis repudiated it.  Likewise, St. John Paul II authorized and signed off on it.  Though often overlooked and ignored - if not derided - it remains a definitive document on the pastoral care of homosexual persons.

Boston Pride mocking Catholic nuns.

source

My First Confessional - trashed.

I knelt on the left side, closest to the vestibule.

Fr. Francis Roach was my confessor.

I made my First Confession and First Communion in the Church of St. John on the east side of St. Paul, Minnesota.  That was when it was Catholic - today it is being transformed into a mosque.  The confessional is shown above.  The photo below is where the confessional ended up.

Confessional in a dumpster.

Photo credit.

Church decor and furnishings were added over the years, often funded by donors as memorials - in perpetuity - for the deceased.  Fund raisers were held, as were fund drives and second collections, to furnish and maintain the church.  Catholics have always been particularly generous to the Church and Her pastors.  After Vatican II, many pastors and priest-liturgical-consultants ripped out beautiful altars and communion rails, white-washed polychromed interiors, removed paintings and statues, virtually destroying Catholic sanctuaries.  The Protestant reformers did the exact same things.  Later the Soviets destroyed churches and icons.  Today Islamic radicals burn Catholic churches and slaughter Christians.

The Archdiocese dismantled St. John's and sold it to Muslims - to be used as a mosque.


Watch your donations.

This is interesting ... Fukushima ... fire in the atmosphere.

Nagasaki, June 1949

Fukushima Update:*

According to the Secretary of former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, the ground beneath Unit 4 has already sunk by about 31.5 inches since the disaster, and this sinking has taken place unevenly. If the ground continues to sink, which it is expected to, or if another earthquake of even as low as a magnitude six occurs in the region, the entire structure could collapse, which would fully drain the cooling pool and cause a catastrophic meltdown. 

“If Unit 4 collapses, the worse case scenario will be a meltdown, and a resultant fire in the atmosphere. That will be the most unprecedented crisis that man has ever experienced. Nobody will be able to approach the plants … as all will have melted down and caused a big fire,” said Murata during the interview. “Many scientists say if Unit 4 collapses, not only will Japan lie in ruin, but the entire world will also face serious damages.” - Source

I was reminded of the words of Our Lady at Akita: 

"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son." - October 13, 1973

Miracle of the Sun, Fatima, October 13, 1917

*The article is from 2012.  Newer updates here.

Prophecy alert! Something is going to happen this week.

Something big.

Praying with the Ethiopians again

This morning there were two young women in their white shämma over their regular clothes on the steps of the church across the street; one standing, her head bent against one of the doors, the other on a lower step, slightly bent with her one hand on the wall of the church.  I bowed, thinking the Eucharistic prayer was being said.  Another man came up and did three prostrations, removed his shoes, and entered.  In a short time, the two young women left.  I wondered if they were penitents, because they never went in.  Another young man came and knelt down on the steps, kissed the threshold, and prayed bowed over for awhile, and then left.

I thought of Mary of Egypt, praying outside the church in Jerusalem - it was outside the church, making her reverences to the icon of Our Lady, that her conversion was effected.  The people today - as on every weekend, make profound reverent bows, even before entering the church.  It reminds me of the psalm: "I rejoiced when I heard them say - let us go to God's house!  Even now our feet are standing withing your gates!"  And the other psalm, "even the sparrow herself finds a home... one day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather lie abject on the threshold of the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked ..."

My heart overflows with a goodly theme .

I began my morning prayer so deeply recollected ...  It is like having a tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament right across the street from me.

Later in the day I tried to find out more about them.  Sadly, from what I came across online, there seems to be division among Ethiopian Orthodox as well.  I decided not to look too closely, to simply pray with them and for them and allow myself to be edified by the good I see.

I will try to do that with our Church as well - hoping the Catholic Church restores greater reverence for the Eucharist.  One thing the Ethiopians have is great reverence for the House of God and the Mass.  Those who do not go in may not be able to - for some reason - they do not claim a right to enter, they do not claim a right to receive communion - yet they come and pray.  They seem to have great faith.

I continue my prayer - with them and for them - and for us.

Pride - I'm against it.

Not the place for evangelization.

I was looking for some photos to illustrate Pride festivities in Minneapolis and many were more than a bit salacious - the Pride photos in general - not just those from Minneapolis.  As a culture I know we are fairly accustomed to near nudity and provocative clothing or the lack there of - but the Pride festivals always bring out the slutty side of gay life.  This despite the efforts of gay activists and NGOs to clean up the gay image and Stepfordize the gay family-unit for export to nations around the world.  Part of the new U.S. Gay imperialism, so to speak. (See: President Barack Obama has taken the U.S. gay rights revolution global, using American embassies across the world to promote a cause that still divides his own country.)

People can disagree with me all they want, homosexual acts - flaunting it and promoting it - is sinful and scandalous.  Standing on a flatbed truck in a parade, pulling your Speedo down to just above your junk is flaunting it.  Kids are invited to attend pride events, including the parade with their straight or gay parents, are exposed to such simulated sexual acts - that is scandalous.  Scandal incites others to sin - that is why it is called scandal.

Gay Pride parades always kick the domestication of gay back about 20 years or more.  Every year, all the progress gay people claim to have made, insisting gay is good and wholesome and suitable for equality, gets set back - .  The facade cracks a little bit more.  By the time it collapses, it will be too late.

Evangelists sometimes hand out Gospel tracts at these events - I don't think it's the right time or place for that.  Before or after maybe - not during.

The Franciscan pre-Pride Masses.

I was aware of these events and last week checked the websites of the Franciscans who have what is called an LGBT Outreach.  Franciscans have always ministered among the marginalized.  I checked St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan, as well as St. Anthony's Shrine in Boston.  I didn't see support or participation in favor of the gay lifestyle.  I expected there must be more to that story.  Catholic in Brooklyn attended the Mass and checked it out for herself.  She went to St. Francis and saw no gay pride support whatsoever.  Please read her post - I just wanted to share this part however:

This "Pre Pride Mass" was not in any sense of the word a "pep rally for the Gay Pride orgy that will occur in NYC soon thereafter" as claimed by DC Restore or any of the other Trad websites and blogs. It was just as the Church of St. Francis of Assisi said it was: a call to salvation in Jesus Christ, or as they put it on their website as pictured above, "God loves all people and calls us all into His family!"


Our culture and almost the whole world have come to view homosexuality as a completely normal and acceptable way of life. It was not as necessary in past generations for large ministries to homosexuals because society did a lot of our work for us in that homosexuality was condemned. But now that this lifestyle is accepted in our culture, the Church must respond to this and do so with true Christian charity. Yelling at people and telling them they're all rotten sinners headed to hell will only turn them away and drive them deeper into their sin. The Church must be a warm embracing family, always rejecting the sin, but never the sinner, just as Our Lord showed us in the love He showed towards all people. - Catholic in Brooklyn

Thanks be to God.

As I said, I'm against Gay Pride.  The other day I wrote:  Religious groups and churches which support Pride, neither serve God nor the people they seek to minister to.  I stand by that.  When I wrote it I was writing about the local Episcopal Cathedral which not only supports the festival but participates.  I do not see that happening with the Franciscans of Boston or NYC.

Smelling like his sheep.

Recall Pope Francis said the priest should smell like his sheep?  Franciscans smell like their sheep.  The priest at St. Francis of Assisi reminded listeners of that notion in his 'Pre-Pride' Mass:

Sheep are docile, dimwitted and dirty. And my dear friends, so are we. This is why I love the sheep metaphor. It actually describes us well. Sheep stink! Sheep have all sorts of grubby little things clinging to them. And sheep routinely lose their way. On their own they wander off, they get lost, and eventually they fall victim to some predator. Outside of the sheepfold, their future is bleak. Alone, they will not survive long. Like them, in order for us to thrive, we need to be part of a community. If we're excluded from the community, we will not do well. And more importantly and sadly, if we are pushed away from the sheepfold, it would appear that the shepherds are not doing a very good job. - Catholic in Brooklyn

The Franciscans in Boston and NYC have confessions nearly all day long, every day I think.  At least they used to.  Frequent confession is important - it eradicates pride.

SS. Peter and Paul

Sloth. Hypocrisy. Lying.

"We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going, for praise, to Mount Zion."

I was going to post something today but decided not to...

Pride.

I was going to post something about Gay Pride.  It's Pride weekend in Minneapolis.  I deleted a post I was working on because it was coming off preachy.  I hate preachy - especially from me - I'm not a preacher or a teacher.

A few days ago I wrote about envy - how envy is such a gay sin.  It's related to pride.  Pride is a capital sin.  It's a big sin.  It's the devil's sin.  Envy is derived from pride.  Anger too.  Vainglory emanates from that base.  It's really about inordinate love of self.

So watch Gay Pride festivities and you will note that it's a huge display of these things ... as well unbridled concupiscence of the flesh.  Such as gluttony or intemperance - which gives birth to all sorts of vice and foolishness - or camp.  Not to overlook lust.  Gay people put examples of all of this on parade - in their parades.

As Garrigou-Lagrange notes, from lust proceeds:

Spiritual blindness, poor judgment, impetuosity, inconstancy, love of self even to hatred of God, attachment to the present life which destroy hope of eternal life.

Hence, many may not see or understand what is so bad about Pride.  There are a lot of sins which flow from inordinate love of self - or another way of saying it, disordered love of self.  Religious groups and churches which support Pride, neither serve God nor the people they seek to minister to.  Perhaps this Scripture could be applied to them: "You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves." - Matt. 23:15


Self knowledge.

When gay Catholics say it isn't important to figure out why they are gay, they are quite wrong.  It is very important to try to understand the roots of sin, and the inclination which can lead us to sin - or, the predominant faults which disposes us to sin.  (Homosexual inclination is not a sin in itself of course.)  Giving up, giving in can be another vice cloaked as virtue.  It can be linked to what spiritual writers call 'acedia' - spiritual sloth.

Again, Garrigou-Lagrange tells us:

Acedia (sloth) begets hatred of spiritual things, whence are born: malice, rancor, pusillanimity, discouragement, spiritual topor, forgetfulness of the precepts, seeking after forbidden things.

That's the stuff which underlies the principles of Gay Pride.



Art:  Vicious Circle* - Jacek Malczewski (1854-1929)

*Did you know the word 'vicious' is derived from 'vice'?

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

I place all my trust in you.

President Obama and the Francis Effect

Go out and make a mess, Poodle!

President Obama is right now, right here in Minneapolis!

He will be here for two days!  Two days!

He is just like Pope Francis - he comes down to the little people!  He's one of us!

Crowd control.

10:00 am ET || Receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
10:50 am ET || Departs White House
12:25 pm CT || Arrives Minneapolis, Minnesota
2:15 pm CT || Hosts a town hall meeting; Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis
7:30 pm CT || Delivers remarks and answers questions at a fundraiser for congressional Democrats; private residence, Minneapolis

While in Minneapolis, the president will also spend time with Rebekah – a woman who wrote him a letter – her family and community members and discuss issues they care about, according to the White House. - Source

Song for this post here.

What's he doing?

I'll be back.

I'm working on a project ...

I'll be back later.

A Christian does not announce himself ...

Christ is the important one.

"A Christian does not announce himself; he proclaims another, prepares the way for another: the Lord. A Christian must know how to discern, must know how to discern the truth from what seems to be the truth but is not there - a man of discernment. And a Christian must be a man who knows how to lower himself that the Lord may grow, in the heart and soul of others." - Pope Francis on the Nativity of John the Baptist

It seems to me this is the purpose of 'messages from Heaven' as well - to prepare the way of the Lord.


Art: Illumination, Nativity of John the Baptist. 

Something to think about: Envy - a very gay sin.

Thinking about the 9th and 10th Commandments.

Many people who struggle with chastity get themselves stuck on the 6th Commandment - but sins of the flesh are often rooted in sins of pride, envy, jealousy, unchecked concupiscence and covetousness.  A sin against chastity can be so shameful to the penitent, he doesn't always understand the dispositions surrounding the fall - sometimes that is why certain sins become habitual.  Maybe I can write a little more about it.  In the meantime, I'm pondering the sections of the Catechism regarding these two Commandments.

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT 

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. 

Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

2514 St. John distinguishes three kinds of covetousness or concupiscence: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life.  In the Catholic catechetical tradition, the ninth commandment forbids carnal concupiscence; the tenth forbids coveting another's goods.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT 

You shall not covet . . . anything that is your neighbor's. . . . You shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

2534 The tenth commandment unfolds and completes the ninth, which is concerned with concupiscence of the flesh. It forbids coveting the goods of another, as the root of theft, robbery, and fraud, which the seventh commandment forbids. "Lust of the eyes" leads to the violence and injustice forbidden by the fifth commandment.  Avarice, like fornication, originates in the idolatry prohibited by the first three prescriptions of the Law.  The tenth commandment concerns the intentions of the heart; with the ninth, it summarizes all the precepts of the Law.

It isn't just a gay sin, but it is one often overlooked by 'gay pride'.

You want the same rights as heterosexuals - that is to marry and adopt?  Though laws are changing, the desire is a form of covetousness - the married state is proper(ty) of male and females.

You want equal rights?  You already have the same equal rights afforded to anyone.  If you need 'special' rights, you can get a lawyer to draw up legal papers for power of attorney, inheritance and so on.

If we really examine ourselves we may discover that we want to obtain or be something that is not ours to have, or that belongs to another.

Sometimes we lust after someone because we want what they have...

Males sometimes want a guy to 'complete' them - they envy the masculinity of another, his good looks, his success.

Just think about it.  Sins against the 6th Commandment may not be the biggest ones in our lives - the type of sin which conflicts gay people isn't always limited to acting out sexually.

We can be very jealous of others who advance in virtue as well.

Like I said, think about it.  As St. James asks:  "Where does all this enmity amongst you originate?"


Tuesday update:

Coincidently, Fr. James Schall published an essay on Envy titled On Inequality just today.  It seems to be a more pervasive problem these days than we thought.

Pope says torture is a mortal sin.

Pope Francis is urging Christians to work together to abolish every form of torture, condemning the practice as a grave sin. 

Francis told the public in St. Peter's Square Sunday he wanted to reiterate his "firm condemnation of every kind of torture." He sought united efforts to work for torture's end and to support victims and their families. 

Francis said it was a "mortal sin, a very grave sin, to torture people" and noted that Thursday marks the United Nation's day for torture victims. 

Torture was a powerful tool of the military regime ruling his native Argentina from 1976 till 1983. The local church hierarchy then openly sided with the junta. 

Francis has been credited with saving lives of political dissidents while a Jesuit priest in Argentina. - Source

Mark Shea will be happy. 

Just a reminder about locutions and private revelations from St. John of the Cross.

The Church of martyrs.


Sunday evening, 60 Minutes Bob Simon did a story on the persecution of the Coptic Church in Egypt.  One of the Bishops interviewed said that Egyptian Christians have always been persecuted and the Church has always had martyrs.  He said that his flock have always expected suffering and persecution - in every age.*

We Catholics today seem to worry about chastisements and persecutions and martyrdom as something to fear and fight against.  Many search scriptures and accounts of private revelations and locutions for signs and warnings - attempting to read the signs of the times.  Some people have lived their entire lives in expectation of the warning and chastisement.  Some people prepare and stockpile food and ammunition to defend themselves when the Global economy collapses.  The worst is when we seek out every new mystic and locutionist who claims to have messages from God - sometimes it is difficult to see the difference between these people and nonbelievers when they consult mediums and psychics.

However, we can know chastisements and corrections are coming on our own, as John of the Cross makes clear:

"And likewise supernatural events and happenings may be known, in
their causes, in matters concerning Divine Providence, which deals most
justly and surely as is required by their good or evil causes as
regards the sons of men. For one may know by natural means that such or
such a person, or such or such a city, or some other place, is in such
or such necessity, or has reached such or such a point, so that God,
according to His providence and justice, must deal with such a person
or thing in the way required by its cause, and in the way that is
fitting for it, whether by means of punishment or of reward, as the
cause merits. And then one can say: At such a time God will give you
this, or will do this, or that will come to pass, of a surety.'" - Ascent of Mt. Carmel

Remember, persons claiming locutions can be deluded, even unconsciously articulating details they have read about or heard in the course of their lifetime. John of the Cross also points out that things foretold do not always happen as we expect.

God desires not that we should wish for such visions, since He makes it possible for us to be deceived by them in so many ways.

Some spiritual persons convince themselves that their curiosity to know of certain things through supernatural means is good because God sometimes answers these petitions. They think this conduct is good and pleasing to God because he responds to their urgent request. Yet the truth is that, regardless of God's reply, such behavior is neither good nor pleasing to God. Rather he is displeased; not only displeased but frequently angered and deeply offended."  - Ascent Bk II, - Chapter 21

Christ promised not to leave us orphans and to be with us - the Church - until the end of time.  Trust him. 

Let us pray for those suffering 

persecution

and the new martyrs.

*The early years of the Church’s existence in Egypt were marked by relative peace. Later, the Church experienced twenty-one waves of persecution, with the fiercest one under the reign of Emperor Diocletian.  During his reign, the Church offered countless martyrs – by some estimates between 500,000 and one million. For this reason, the Coptic Calendar begins in 284 A.D. , the first year of Diocletian’s rule, and is based on the year of the martyrs (Anno Martyri – A.M.). For example, the year 2010 – 2010 corresponds to 1727 A.M. - Source

Monsignor John Esseff tells the world...

photo credit

Heaven speaks.

Monsignor Esseff releases messages for the world, given to a locutionist under his spiritual direction.

The anonymous locutionist receives messages from Jesus and Our Lady.  They are somewhat detailed and pertain to what is happening in the Church and the world, especially as it concerns the Middle East and the importance of the papacy - even the upcoming Synod on the family.  The messages are curious and interesting to read.  I found them on what appears to be a new Catholic news portal, News and Faith, apparently connected to Relevant Radio?  It appears to be outside the EWTN orbit.

Heaven Speaks:

Mary: 

The Catholic Church has existed for 2000 years only because I have held her in my heart. This happened from the very beginning because I was with the disciples on Pentecost Day.
Now, I must place the Church even more deeply in my heart because of all the events that will take place. The Synod of Bishops looms on the horizon. This Synod does not result from great fervor or a pouring out of the Spirit. It results from the breakdown in morality, the walking away from Church teaching, the new pressures of modern life and the growing secularism even within the Church.
In many areas, the Church is crumbling. Even the foundations are weak. The Synod will be an attempt to patch the Church together, to stop the exodus of its many members, and to usher in a time of return, a welcome-back. This will be the spirit of the Synod just as “opening the windows” was the spirit of Vatican II.
But what will result from the discussions at the Synod? Such discussions, although animated by sincere desires, carry within themselves great dangers. They carry seeds that are not always seeds of new life but of darkness. Such seeds will be present and that is why I must protect the Church from now until the Synod is completed. - June 15, 2014

Mary: 

After Pentecost, as the apostles set out, I went with them. This was a gift given to me by the Holy Spirit. For all these centuries, I have been the Mother of the Church. Nothing has happened in the Church, the great moments and the sinful moments, that have not been recorded in my Immaculate Heart.
Right now, I want to reveal the Church’s present situation, the dangers that surround it, and the events that are coming. I want every Catholic to know this revelation. It is not to be secret and sealed for years, only to be revealed later. This time is short and the whole Church must have this revelation. The more Catholics who see and understand, the safer will be the Church and the world.
The Holy Father heads the Church but the papacy should not just be a teaching office. These events have a role to play in world history. This role has been removed from the papacy over the recent centuries. However, the events have already begun which will throw the world into the greatest confusion. These events will have a secondary result of making the papacy grow more and more important. This will be a surprising shift. Only as events bring the world to its knees, will the world look again to the papacy and the Catholic Church as the one source of light out of the darkness.

Jesus: 

I must also speak clearly about the Church which has so failed the gift of Fatima. Sister Lucy was a faithful messenger. As World War II began, she alone knew why. My Mother had told her that this war would break out during the reign of Pope Pius XI if the Church did not listen and heed Her messages.
The work of Fatima and the task of Sister Lucy were meant to be fulfilled during her lifetime, but the Church did not listen to her. She was a religious, who lived a hidden convent life. She could only send messages. When these were rejected, she just sent more messages.
I will no longer send messages to the popes. They have never listened and they still do not listen. Instead, I will send a pope who himself is the messenger. He will need to deliver the message to no one. He knows what he must do.
I say all of this because no one sees the magnitude of what is happening in the Middle East nor how close Satan is to gaining the power to turn the whole world into his hell. - Source

I find this statement rather curious:

"I will no longer send messages to the popes. They have never listened and they still do not listen."

2014 Catholic Press Association Awards

Conratulations Mr. Winters!

A08c: BEST ONLINE BLOG - Individual

First Place

National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, MO, “Distinctly Catholic” by Michael Sean Winters

I didn't know they did that.

Give out awards, I mean.  I went through the list of categories and publications and surprised myself how 'illiterate' I am about Catholic publications.  I don't really read much current Catholic stuff - which may explain why I've been able to keep the faith, and may also account for why no one reads me.  (That's a good thing, BTW.)

That said - I found it interesting to whom the awards went to - I didn't notice many representatives from the blogosphere - although congratulations are due to First Place winner, Elizabeth Scalia - I did not know she wrote for Our Sunday Visitor.  (See, I don't read up on people either.)  I also noticed a Catholic mom blogger from Hawaii won a blogging award as well.  I'd call these 'real' awards.

Joan Chittister won an Honorbale Mention I think.  I laughed because I didn't think people thought of her as Catholic.  (See - I don't get out much.)  What was most interesting is that National Catholic Reporter won Best something or other and received high praise in a couple of categories.  What does that say?  As did America magazine BTW.  I've read people say it's not even Catholic to link to them.  Other publications/writers not normally endorsed by most bloggers I link to, and definitely not endorsed by the Pewsitters/Pulpit/New Adventist/EWTN affiliates, received awards as well.  No Fr. Z awards though.  I know he won't mind of course - I think he is like me and disdains awards and honors.

I'm so far outside, I'm even outside the outsiders.

I like it like that.

Congratulations Mrs. Scalia!

M05a: BEST REGULAR COLUMN - Spiritual life

First Place

“Ora Pro Nobis” by Elizabeth  Scalia

It is a very diverse Church in the United States, isn't it.

I guess Team Patheos rocked a panel on digital media.

Praying with the Ethiopians

How I imagine myself, 

praying and watching from my kitchen window.

Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God. - Ps. 68:31


I am so edified with the Ethiopian Orthodox who use the church across the street from me on Sundays.  I really believe Our Lady sent them here.

As I mentioned before, the men and women wear white gauze shrouds over their street clothes when they are going to communion.  The women use the covering to veil - and many of them wear traditional dress-like robes.  Both men and women also remove their shoes.  But what strikes me the most is how they do half prostrations and make the sign of the cross even before entering the church.

Today many were outside the church on the steps during the 'consecration' - I'm not sure how they term it.  The words were recited by the priest in a low solemn chant - the people outside faced the door, bowing.  I united my prayer which I did at my kitchen table - a vantage point to watch them.

It seemed to me I followed the liturgy today.  I'm only guessing, but I think they have a sort of pre-liturgy, then the readings or liturgy of the Word - it seems to follow our Mass, or at least that is how I followed it.  Then the homily, litanies, and then the Eucharist.  As in every Orthodox church, it seems people come and go for various reasons.  After communion there is low, solemn chant with rhythmic claps and soft drum.  It builds to a crescendo and the women make that sound of 'tongues' we associate with Middle Eastern women.  It impresses me as the thanksgiving after communion, with the vocals elevating in praise - similar to a charismatic prayer session.

It is very impressive.  Their liturgy seems to encapsulate the classical forms of prayer as well as correlates to the Roman Rite.  They have simply retained the primitive purity and it is obviously well accepted, understood, and participated in by the people.  As I always say, I can see why the Orthodox resist union with Rome, fearing they may be obliged to change their liturgical rites.

Watching and listening to their Mass gives me a much deeper appreciation for the Extraordinary Form of Mass, and a deeper longing that the Ordinary Form will become more reverent and even return to Latin.  I hope our devotion to the Eucharist will become more manifest and the practice of outward devotion return.  I also respect the idea of woman veiling for Mass.  How I wish reverence will be restored in our churches - some people no longer genuflect in church, yet the Ethiopians bow, make prostrations and sign themselves on the church steps - even before entering the door - and when they enter - they remove their shoes.  They perform these devotions in a protestant church they are simply using/renting for Mass on Sunday, thus demonstrating they have a profound understanding of sacred space.  I doubt they would ever permit a profane concert to be held in one of their churches.

Some Sunday after Catholic Mass I will ask to attend their Mass.  For now I feel like an anchorite attached to their church... an anchorite praying with them.

In thanksgiving to Our Lady Holy Mary for 

sending the Ethiopian Orthodox here.

"Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should visit me?"