Marginal remarks by Gerd Varga
In the Vatican, the Lenten Exercises for the Roman Curia are taking place. Even Pope Francis takes part. As in previous years, the Pope and the Curia have retreated on Sunday to the Casa Divin Maestro Retreat House in Ariccia, just outside the gates of Rome. The Retreat House and the Holy See have published photos on their pages, which have not gone unnoticed. Two marginal remarks:
Marginal Remark 1
During the eucharistic adoration in the church of the retreat house, all the cardinals and archbishops who lead the curia offices were kneeling before the exposed Sacrament. Pope Francis stood in the middle of the church.
The picture recalls an unexplained question, which is somewhat polemical, as follows: Why did Pope Francis kneel at the annual foot-washing on Holy Thursday, but not before the Most Blessed Sacrament?
To be fair, it should be added that Pope Francis was kneeling on a photo taken on Tuesday for a Eucharistic blessing. A rarity in view of his practice on Corpus Christi. This is precisely why it is to be pointed out.
Marginal Remark 2
The Church of Jesus Magister, Via Veritas et Vita Retreat House, next to which there are still several smaller chapels, has an extraordinary seating arrangement: no church benches but cushioned single armchairs. The seating has, however, has kneelers, which is not necessarily self-evident in new buildings or after conversions of churches. The "mature Christian" is familiar with God, he drones in the head, with which we would again refer to observation 1.
The first comment may sound presumptuous, but the Holy See would not let a stone fall out of the never used tiara, if it declared the papal weakness of knee briefly and concisely but officially. Who would not understand if there was a physical affliction for it? The physical presence before the Blessed Sacrament is, in any case, is no triviality, and can therefore not be dismissed as the private affair of a pope.
The latter remark may seem irrelevant. Is it, though? I admit: I'm also irritated by Swiss churches, which are heated up to room temperature in the winter. The visit to the church should not be too pleasant and comfortable.
Image: Casadivinmaestro / Vatican.va
It is common enough knowledge that Pope Francis suffers from severe Sciatica. It makes it extremely painful to genuflect and to kneel for extended periods. Maybe it has flared up on him again.
ReplyDeleteCharitas Christi ......
Why don't they make an official statement to that effect. Hmmmmm??
DeleteAnthony Wake up! Are you a vatican disinformation agent or are you really in denial?
DeleteHere is Francis kneeling to wash muslim and female feet
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/pope-francis-washes-feet-refugees-different-religions-and-countries
http://voxcantor.blogspot.com/2016/01/to-all-catholic-priests-and-faithful.html
Pope Francis kneeling before protestants
https://propheciesbookoftruth.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/pope-francis-never-genuflects-before-the-holy-sacrament/
http://www.cfnews.org/page88/files/a66a02dd472db2aa376bfd82c0b22724-109.html
Pope Francis kneeling before the cameras for a showy confession
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/31/pope-kneel-confession/7113109/
I call BS on the sciatica or at least it being so debilitating bit prevents him from kneeling. He has no problem kneeling to wash the feet of Mohammedans.
DeleteAnthony
I have multiple physical problems with back, hips etc, already having one operation and needing another. I am able to KNEEL before the Blessed Sacrament and KNEEL at Mass as long as there is something in front of me to hang on to. Ha!! Bergoglio's walking is much better than mine and he CANNOT KNEEL before the Blessed Sacrament? If I am able to do it with my disabilities.......HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!! If he has problems, they can't find him a kneeler that is more accommodating to him?........B.S.
DeleteAnonymous, Thanks for the links. Bergoglio has no problem kneeling! Its so obvious with watching those links. The person who said he had severe sciatica, I suspect is a Modernist as they have no conscience when it comes to being untruthful.
DeleteHe crawls all over the floor to wash Muslims' feet.
DeleteBergoglio knelt at a rock concert, but he will not kneel before God himself in the Blessed Sacrament. Could he be the actual Anti-Christ? satan will not kneel before God, Bergoglio will not kneel before God. Something is obviously wrong with Bergoglio.
ReplyDeletePut a few Muslim refugees up there on the altar next to the Blessed Sacrament, tell him that there is a photographer present to take pictures of his humility, and that will get him kneeling.
ReplyDeleteactual true story
DeleteI've had severe sciatica. Reading up on it and experiencing it, I find it hard to believe that kneeling is a problem. Standing for a long time, certain sitting positions - yes. A brief genuflection (maybe not even to the ground) NO ! at least that's my experience and research
ReplyDeleteLaurelMaryCecelia, Thanks for debunking the Modernist invention about Bergoglio having "severe sciatica". Strange! for the excuse of having "severe sciatica", Bergoglio was well able with great theatrical public humility, double genuflect to pray at a DJ music concert.
DeleteI know LaurelMary, I have a problem genuflecting so I have learned to just bow deeply in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I know God understands as he knows my broken body, BUT.......I can kneel if I have a solid pew in front of me for support getting down and I can get up again, no problem. I kneel at Mass and going up for Communion I kneel at the Communion Rail! If I can do it......HE CAN!!!!
DeleteAlso remember that Bergoglio does not participate in the annual Corpus Christi procession in Rome, but merely arrives by car at the end to impart the Eurhcaristic Benediciton....during which I don't think he kneels.
ReplyDeleteHe could, if he had the proper Catholic devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, sit on the throne on top of the car that carries the Blessed Sacrament along the Corpus Christi route, like John Paul II did when he was too elderly to kneel the whole distance.
Paul VI (1963-1978) had severe chronic osteoarthritis in his hips and knees, which at the end of his life made walking almost impossible. Flare ups of it also cause high fevers, and can have complications such as UTI's (urinary tract infections) etc. Yet, during Holy Year 1975 when Paul was 79, he still knelt at all the occasions and points of the Mass or ceremonies that called for it.
Up until the last two weeks of his life, when he visited a Carmelite cloister near Castel Gandolfo, despite obviously being ill, he knelt in the chapel.
Sciatica is painful. But Osteoarthritis is crippling. Yet Paul VI still knelt.
Damian Malliapalli
Let's add this very important detail to the list of 1,324 things this man does that indicate he is hostile to God and the faith. It is NOT insignificant for the pope to refuse to kneel. He is the head of the church, and as such, he sets the tone. His tone is, he appears an unbeliever. How much more fundamental can we get, the matter of whether God deserves that we acknowledge him in word, gesture, and action? He has steadfastly avoided kneeling, and yet, he kneels when it suits him, in his "mercy and humility" shows. He will likely be kneeling at the feet of active transgender prostitutes, shortly, at the washing of the feet.
ReplyDeleteThen we will see those tricky knees can in fact, bend.
Here in St. Louis, there was a recent attempt to burn down a Catholic Church. On Dec. 27, the podium, chair, and other material were piled on top of the crib at the base of the altar. The sanctuary was destroyed and the stone altar melted. While repairs are being done, Mass is being said in the gymnasium. I attended Mass and it was announced and also written in the bulletin that no one was to kneel during the Consecration. I knelt and received stares of contempt from the ushers both male and female. I do not understand the mentality but this is orchestrated and organized. In this particular parish, St. Monica, the priest is being marginalized and phased out. The athletic director for the grade school was brought up to give the sermon on stewardship which was duly tape recorded with bright lights up in the rafters.
ReplyDeleteLeave that "church" asap and find a traditional chapel with valid priests so you can receive sanctifying grace and honor the Lord with worship that is pleasing to him.
DeleteCause he's a horse's @ss?
ReplyDeleteSorry, stream of conciousness, first thing that came to my mind when Ii read your title.
The Blessed Sacrament. One of the two insurmountable obstacles that prevented the pope of Saint John Bosco's dream to steer his ship beyond the two pillars. The two fundamentals of the Faith that are most despised by our enemies. Maybe Francis tries to deny the reality of the Blessed Sacrament. He doesn't bother much with the Blessed Mother either.
ReplyDeleteIt was always (understandably) assumed that the pope of the dream was a Catholic pope and defender of the Faith. So why would such a pope have difficulty navigating between the pillars? But a phony pope with an antichrist agenda would have much difficulty! For him it would be impossible. He would never be able to steer a false ship between those two pillars of Catholic truth. There are other items in the dream that parallel the situation today and even the Fatima prophecies.
Just my personal musings.
CJ, Well said.
Delete"He doesn't bother much with the Blessed Mother either.".......I just read not long ago that he claimed to pray three Rosaries a day......LOL....and this is from the main who despises 'Rosary Counters'???!!!....Right.
DeleteYou can find some photos of Francis kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament here:
ReplyDeletehttp://dallaragioneallafede.blogspot.com/2016/05/il-papa-non-si-inginocchia-la-menzogna.html
Pardonez moi but if it smells like a turd... Dont tell me it's candy.
ReplyDeletePope Frankie can kneel to be prayed over by evangelical ministers. They have no Christ given power to bless anyone.
Certain Catholics need to wake up.
A bad or questionable or unCatholic Pope shouldn't shake your faith in Christ or the Church He founded.
The Church has survived bad popes all
throughout history. Read a history book, pray a Holy Hour for the Church and Pope Frankie.
CJ,
ReplyDeleteVery insightful observation. One I have never considered. Tell more parallels from the dream.
Also regarding sciatica, back and knee problems. We had an old war veteran with false leg who had difficulty kneeling at Euchariatic Adoration.
ReplyDeleteThe ushers and myself would help him lay prostrate on floor of the small chapel. He wouldnt even sit in the back pew as our pastor advised.
That old Italian knew his Lord very well.
Beautiful.
DeleteSpread the word to your Catholic families and friends: No money for Novus Ordo church. Plenty of Traditional Catholic outfits to donate to.
ReplyDeletePapa Benedicto XVI: «la incapacidad de arrodillarse (ante Dios) aparece, como la esencia de lo que es diabólico»
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US5vu6xw7JY
ReplyDeleteMaybe he thinks NO sacraments are not valid like some sedevacantists believe.
ReplyDeleteIts possible his idea of Catholicism is radically different from the catholic church pre-1951.
DeleteHe was ordained in the rite not to offer sacrifice but to preside for the assembly.
At his age he could be been ordained before April 4, 1969.
Its his choice,we have free will,and that's between him and the Lord Jesus.
My beliefs are pre-1951 so this is not an endorsement.
Bergoglio doesn't even TALK about Jesus. As far as I have heard him speak, his talks are never about Jesus.
ReplyDeleteNot only is this "Pope" have a hatred for devout Catholics and Church doctrine, there seems to be no love lost toward our Blessed Lord Himself. Yes, there is something deeply disturbing about this man.
Pope Francis homily at Mass 20/10/2016, speaking of Jesus....
Delete"Noting that Paul spoke of plunging into the immense sea that is the person of Christ, Pope Francis asked “how can we know Christ, How can we understand His love that is beyond all knowledge?”
“Christ is present in the Gospel and we know Christ by reading the Gospel. And all of us do this, at least we hear the Gospel when we go to Mass. And studying the catechism teaches us who Christ is. But this is not enough. In order to understand the breadth and length and height and depth of Jesus Christ we need to enter into the habit, firstly of praying, as Paul did on his knees: “Father send me the Holy Spirit to know Jesus.”
But in order to truly know Christ, the Pope stressed that prayer on its own is not enough and as Paul said, in addition to praying he “worships this mystery” that is beyond our knowledge and in this spirit of worship or adoration he asks for this grace from the Lord.
“We cannot know the Lord without this habit of worship, to worship in silence, adoration. If I am not mistaken, I believe that this prayer of adoration is the least known by us, it’s the one that we do least. Allow me to say this, waste time in front of the Lord, in front of the mystery of Jesus Christ. Worship him. There in silence, the silence of adoration. He is the Saviour and I worship Him.”
He must not believe that it is Jesus in the Tabernacle.
ReplyDeleteWhen are you going to cover the story about Obama pressuring Pope Benedict to resign? It is on lifesite news- an interview with an Archbishop who tells all
ReplyDeleteTo me anyway, this new info from the Archbishop in Italy that is Benedict's friend is THE smoking gun.
DeleteOh you self righteous hypocrites true devotion to God is from the inside not an external show off like the Pharisees an scribes of Jesus's time. Also Jesus Cleary instructed us 'do not judge and you will not be judged' and also 'let the one who has not sinned be the 1st to throw a stone'(The women caught in adultery) are you too sinless and spotless white that you judge and condemn everyone. 'Remove the log from your eyes so that you may see clearly to take out the splinter from the eyes of your brother.'
ReplyDeleteWhen are these worthless Cardinals going to rise up and force Beergoglio and his people to resign. Some say there's only a handful against him....but I;ve read there are many more than we have been lead to believe. Even some of his own cardinals he appointed.
ReplyDeleteDamian Malliapalli
To Joe above:
ReplyDeleteTry to get a firmer grasp of human nature which is, ostensibly, your own nature. Our Blessed Lord,our model and guide, used the external elements of nature (spittle, clay, bread, wine, touch, and many others) to convey and effect the supernatural. Catholicism, not divorced from reality like the fetid liberalism you spout, has since its inception valued the external---if sincerely and consciously rather than mechanically done---as a means of both expressing and experiencing the internal: the physical/material, in a world created physically by the Good Creator, has an innate sacrality to be used in the praise and worship of Almighty God. That is why in the Old Testament the Lord God was most specific about the materials and decorations of the Temple and why Our Lord in the New Testament threw physically the money changers from the Temple---a recognition of the sacrality of places set aside for God. The same can be said about prayer and liturgical actions. Such is the Aristotelian realism that undergirds the True Faith. Liberal Modernists, on the other hand, affect an angelism and "higher" spirituality when in fact they usually are soft on or promote abortion, contraception, divorce and remarriage (the whole falsely dubbed "progressive" agenda) and the rest of the anti-civilizational agenda---often thinking themselves the better, merciful Christians. Who, then, are the real hyprocrites and pharisees? The answer is clear---as is the answer as to why Francis refuses to kneel before the Blessed Sacrament: because he wants to send the signal (one of his specialties) to the poor sheep he is in the process of slaughtering spiritually (the Catholic Faithful, or what is left of them) that adoration of a symbolic presence, Lutheran style, is improper; one does not kneel before symbols, but one does before God and His representatives and sacred actions that pertain to His worship. Francis evidently does not believe in the Real Presence, so, Joe, stop defending heretics and heresy for the good of your immortal soul.
Anonymous, Excellent response to Joe! It's great that Modernists come in to this site to try to correct us. Because they then get corrected for their modernist errors. They then either flee or they are correctly catechized.
DeleteYou self declared, self righteous, full of arrogance and false peity I am not a supporter or prescriber of any school of thought or group, I am a practical Catholic and I confess I am a sinner like everyone else even the Pope and Saints are sinners too('Everyone have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God' Romans 2:23) No man can claim to be Holy and righteous except the Holy Trinity, the Holy of Holies. Because we are all sinners we need Jesus as our personal savior to redeem, save and forgive us from our sins. If it was for our good deeds to help us reach Heaven, then we don't need Jesus to save us. Remember even though a Pope is supposedly a very important person who represents the Catholic Church, the Living God Jesus Himself established yet we must remember that the Pope too is just a human being with weaknesses and is very much a sinner who also needs Jesus to save him and redeem him from his sins, let the Pope be held accountable to God for his sins and offenses and failures not you, and you will be held accoubtable to God for your sins and not the Pope, but remember the teachings of Jesus, according to Him if the Pope judges you for your faults he will be judged too, and if you judge the Pope you will be judged too, so don't sit in the seat of judgement which is reserved for only the rightful and righteous judge Jesus. Who made you the judges of men, don't play God and bring upon yourself judgement. Stop focusing your attention or following sinful men, rather start focusing your attention and follow Jesus who is the perfector of faith.
ReplyDeleteJoe, You do not understand the mind of a Traditionalist. Through your own view you judge our externals but fail to see what it is we are doing spiritually. Jesus Founded His Church and She is the safe haven for all sinners. The Modernists have destroyed this Truth. St. John Paul ll made it abundantly clear, "The faithful have the right and sometimes the obligation to speak out against their pastors when they fall into error and cause damage to the Church", Scripture says, "Judge the Spirits", also Christ speaks of when our neighbor errs, He tells us to let them know privately, then if he does not listen... Christ ends with treat him as you would a tax collector. That means condemn him. Are Traditionalists wrong to battle in defense for the purity of Christs teachings?
DeleteHebrews 12:2
ReplyDeleteLook unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith*
And please introspect about the outcome of your criticism if it going to contribute positively to the growth of the Church of Christ or rather diminish it by bringing division and disorder. If you come up with constructive criticism people will be benefitted by it and they will surely be able to realise their mistake and will have the scope to change. Remember negatively comes from the evil one and our living God is the source of all that is good and positive.
Joe, The division and disorder has been caused by Modernist heretics especially after V2. The Modernist have the audacity to claim that we Traditionalists have caused all the damage, Hypocrites!! We have brought their errors to light so that they know and for all to see. The heretics have grown worse. God himself has spoken in scripture many times in a negative voice against his people. It is negative what Modernist heretics have done! What we do pleases God, and being hated for it, our reward will be great in heaven. Jesus Christ promised this to us.
DeleteRather than condemning others have you ever considered praying for sinners and those who do not have a true reverence to the blessed sacrament and all those priests and Nuns who have lost meaning in Christian vocation and are misusing the resources and opportunities available to them... Have you ever experienced the power of prayer and seen miracles happen through the Grace of God initiated by a small but sincere prayer, I did, so that is why i ask of you to pray for the sinner rather than judge him. May God bless us all and may the True Peace of Christ be with us all.
ReplyDeleteJoe: All the arrogance and condemnation I see here is on your part. You accuse the traditional Catholics who write here of being Pharisees who pay attention only to externals while not knowing them personally. When someone calmly corrects your very Protestant view of spiritual things you resort to name-calling again and judge by saying that the writer who has corrected you has not likely prayed for sinners. You exhibit the typical liberal dishonesty of resorting to ad hominem attacks when they have no argument---which is usually the case. You have no idea of who prays for whom and how often from those who post in this site; but we do have a very clear idea of your judgment of those who do not share your puritanical, anti-ceremonial bias and ignorance. It is you who needs to engage in some self-analysis; although secondary, a concerted attention to coherent, logical writing style and mechanics will also do you a lot of good.
DeleteThe language of Joe above says it all: it is typical Protestant verbiage against the Catholic (and Biblical) teaching of the need for good works as well as Faith for salvation, and the Protestant presumption of "personally being saved." Here we have one more evidence of the confusion the Modernist heretics have sown in the Church since the nefarious last council: to quote Scripture, "an enemy hath done this." Yes, we are indeed called to judge, Joe, for it is in part for that purpose that God Almighty has given us an intellect and the report of the senses and common sense. The Scripture tells us to avoid heretics (which requires the judgment that there are such) and Christ gives us Himself the example by calling His pharisaical enemies "whitened sepulchers and brood of vipers" (among many other choice and fully deserved epithets). Or is it, Joe, that we, the followers of Christ, are called to do as He says and not as He does? That would be rank blasphemy. The biblical text about not judging refers---if you read the doctors of the Church and solid spiritual writers rather than Modernist sentimentalists, usually with an agenda---to not judging the internal forum of someone or the fate of his eternal soul: actions, gestures and words we have a solemn obligation to judge justly in the service of Truth---that is the ultimate act of charity. What we see and hear Francis doing and saying is very alarming from any Catholic, but especially so from a Pope---and even the least important Catholic in the household of the Faith has both a duty and a right to call it for what reason and the testimony of the senses (what we see and hear) show it to be. To remain silent or whitewash in the name of a false charity is not fidelity but ultimately treason to Christ and His Church, whether intended or not.
DeleteI can see no one more judgemental or uncharitable or self-righteous that holy Joe above. He started this whole thing by calling responders on this blog self-righteous and other insults. Then turns around and accuses others of what he is doing. Wow! Talk about blindness and lack of self awareness! Hilda S.
DeleteJoe, What you ask is ludicrous. Asking whether we pray for sinners? Praying for sinners and for their conversion is a Traditionalists main priority. We don't want them to go to hell. If we did we would not bother with them. It is love of God and neighbor that impels us to do battle, offer sacrifices, pray and do penance. We most times are outcasts because we are Traditional, we are not in a popularity contest, it is all for Christ. And we are not backing down. This is called being inspired by the Holy Ghost. Instead of misjudging us, why don't you seek to found out who and what a Traditionalist is. If you do, I believe you will join this powerful movement of Traditionalists with great joy.
DeleteI am sorry for calling you names. I know that you are passionate and zealous about the Catholic faith, but please remember that Catholic faith stands on this one important foundation and is summarized into this one beautiful chapter of the Bible
ReplyDeleteI Corinthians 13
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
It emphasizes on Love for God and Love for our neighbor, without which we cannot be true followers of Christ if we become very critical about the faults of our brothers in Christ.
And again in Matthew 9:13
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
And Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Heavenly Father is merciful.
Joe, You have a mistaken idea about love when it comes to Traditional Catholics. Love of God and neighbor are the hallmark of all Traditionalists. We speak out, out of love for Christ and the salvation of unrepentant sinners in the Church. No Bergoglian false mercy here! You have shown that you have zero understanding of a Traditionalist who is faithful to Christ and His Church. You need to change, renew, and update in the Spirit of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith. You condemn a lot, you should be condemning the Church's official condemnation of the heresy of Modernism.
DeleteAfter reading all your comments I regret for wasting my time and one thing is so clear and evident to me, you are a twisted lot and full of fasle pride of being very knowledgeable and 10$ words that you use to justify your condemnation of others and also justifying your own faults. Firstly you are not Christians at all let alone being a Catholic. What good has your foolish judgment and condemnation done but only will lead you to judgment too. You all talk big but are not following the basic teachings of Christ. Your madness and craze and obsession about Hersey and heretics will someday drive you insane. It is evident from your words that you don't have any faith in the very God who came down on Earth and established the Catholic Church and even after it had fallen several times in the course if history, through the power of the Holy Spirit helped it to revive time and again. Even though we are experiencing a fall once again we who have trust in God that He will revive and ressuruct the fallen Church once again through the power of the Holy Spirit and will remove all falsehood and false people and restore the Catholic Church to its former glory. As for you who don't even trust God and His ways I can see where is your trust and hope is on.
ReplyDeleteJoe, Its too bad your leaving as we have much more to say to a Modernist. Jesus told a group, "The very sins you accuse others of, are the very sins you yourselves are committing". You are a judger and a condemner in a manner that displeases God. That's what you accuse us of. Are you not being hypocritical? Well, all Modernists are full of hypocrisy. And you are no different. Take it for what its worth.
DeleteOnce again, one of the self-appointed "Apostles of Love" from the Left---whether in the Church or in society, as we see daily---show their true colors. These are the colors of intolerance and hatred masked as love and benevolence. So, poor Joe entered this blog with insults to traditional Catholics he does not know and who merely exercise their baptismal right to defend the Faith even against a faithless pope and exits the blog with a poorly written diatribe dripping with the rich judgements that those who have disagreed with him are "not Christians," "full of false pride" [whatever that absurd phrase may mean], "a twisted lot." Ah, for the non-judgemental "love" and tolerance of the liberals! What would the world do without their cogent thinking and largesse of soul?!
DeleteVery often in this vale of tears true love requires correction and even denunciation. The lovely scriptural passages above do not for one instant moment contradict the need to defend the truth, the Faith and the Church, justly and vigorously. The Church until only a few decades ago has done so consistently: St. James tells us in his epistle that we are not to even greet heretics; those judged, yes judged, public sinners had to do protracted and public penance before being admitted into the fellowship of Catholics; the Church fought, like real men and women, the infidel Muslims (now we invite them and even bring them in the papal private plane to come and conquer Europe through demographics since they were defeated in Spain and at Lepanto in honest battle); the Crusaders did the same to defend the holy places and the pilgrims journeying to them; the Church consistently for almost 2000 years excommunicated unrepentant heretics as they put the faith and eternal salvation of the Faithful in danger; the Church at times placed under interdict entire populations as the greater good of souls required the extraordinary measure; the Church has consistently denied communion and penance to those divorced and re-married and not living in chastity (a doctrine that in great perfidy Francis is now trying to change surreptitiously); and, finally but certainly not least, Christ the Lord told us quite clearly that He came " to bring not peace but the sword" and that His teachings would pit father against son and brother against brother. So, you see, Joe, the Truth both saves and divides---and that is exactly as it should be as both Scripture and Sacred History prove it is the way God ordained it, He who is the Author of both truth and charity. I counsel you, Joe, I hope in a spirit of charity, to ponder what true love is rather than reciting a string of biblical verses, Protestant style. The Protestants abuse the Bible to their own purposes; the false impression is that they know it well, but they normally do not. Yes, love is essential to the Christian life---in our dealings with others, in works of charity that certainly please God and are needed for salvation (a fact that, contrary to Protestant heresy, does not diminish the Atonement of Christ by one iota), in caring for orphans and widows, AND in fighting the enemies of Christ's truth and His Church---even if such enemy should be the Pope. Fraternal admonition is to be welcome, and we all need it; but the preaching of charity, Joe, you should leave to the orthodox pastors of souls in the proper context of the confessional and the pulpit. You seem confused as to the nature of charity itself---a great and necessary virtue that has nothing to do with whitewashing the truth or excusing the inexcusable. Moreover, the expression of our faith and charity takes different forms and various degrees of intensity according to individual personality---which is also a gift from God. To demand uniformity of reaction and response is both unrealistic and in itself unkind. This is a time of war in the Church and in society (only the culpably blind or the wicked will deny this, the latter for their tactical purposes), and a warped sense of charity is exactly what the enemies of the Catholic Faith, who today are legion, need for their victory. They aim to neuter us with our own teaching of a charity they themselves, not having the Faith, are unconcerned with---and, sadly with the cooperation of traitorous clergy at all levels, they have succeeded to an alarming degree. Let us fight them together and quit bickering with each other. Pax et bonum.
ReplyDeleteFatima, May 13th 2017:
ReplyDeletehttps://odogmadafe.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/papa-em-adorac3a7c3a3o-fc3a1tima-depois1.jpg?w=700