Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Sova statistical research center, one of the most authoritative in the country, has published data on church attendance region by region during the Orthodox Christmas liturgies of the past week. The figures range between 1 and 3%, for an overall average over Russia not exceeding 2%, in line with the last few years, even if slightly decreasing. This is the lowest frequency found in all Christian countries (France, one of the most secularized, is around 5-7%).
This poor propensity of Russians to participate in liturgical ceremonies illustrates the specific character of Russian orthodoxy, which is affirming itself through national-popular, rather than expressly religious identitification. Boris Yeltsyn, the first post-communist president in the 1990s, would often refer to his countrymen as "Orthodox atheists". The representatives of the patriarchate of Moscow have not commented the data, but they do not seem to be particularly worried about them, so much so that they continue to develop ecclesiastical building programs that increasingly contrast with the low attendence of faithful.
At the same time the mayor of Moscow, Putin's loyal Sergey Sobjanin, has lauded the great success of the "Journey into Christmas" festival, which took place in the capital from 13 December to 12 January, and which registered over 15 million visitors. Last year the event reached 18.6 million participants over a longer period; Sobjanin expressed his pride in the record for "the biggest Christmas party in Europe", where various cultural events, winter sports competitions, Christmas culinary proposals and a wide selection of souvenirs are held.
AMDG
This is, unfortunately the state of affairs in Poland too. They identify the Church as an expression of Polish or Ukrainian identity. Many go to Church, but as an expression of being Polish or Ukrainian. Asked what the priest is doing up in the altar the stereotypical answer is to shut up and don't ask "stupid" questions. The important thing is obedience, and national pride...a sin for which God strikes creatures down-angel and human alike. This is not just a joke. I was teaching a Catholic catechism class in which a Ukrainian mother and son were present. The mother was the daughter of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest in whose church I was doing the Catechism. I was teaching the young children that we fast and do abstinence on Fridays, especially on Good Friday, because Christ died on Friday, Good Friday in particular. The priest's daughter gasped and got up and ran to her mother-the priest's wife, and joyfully exclaimed "Mother do you what I learned? Do you know why we fast on Good Fridays?" The priest's wife responded yes of course I know why we have to fast." The daughter again said" but do you know why?". The priest's wife continued: now leave the Catechism to the children and the teacher, and you help me cook the meal." I was left amazed at the concern for custom, tradition and etiquette, yet the total nelect and/or indifference for the Theology and Doctrine.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe it. Russia was consecrated and
ReplyDeletehas converted. 🇷🇺
Tancred, this is a long post. Please approve. Thank you!
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Not so. On June 13, 1929, in the Presence of the Most Holy Trinity, Our Lady said to +Sister Lucia:
"The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father to order and make in union with all the bishops of the world the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means."
NO pope from Pius XI to now has done it exactly as Our Lady requested.
1929 - Pius XI - didn't do it.
1942 - Pius XII - consecrated the WORLD - NOT Russia! - to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
1950s - Our Lady tells +Sister Lucia that She is "awaiting the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart. Without the consecration, Russia will not be able to convert, nor will the world have peace."
1952 - Pius XII - consecrates Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary BUT WITHOUT ALL the bishops.
1950s - Our Lord tells +Sister Lucia that the consecration of Russia by Pius XII is "incomplete" (His word!).
1960 - John XXIII - does not reveal the Third Secret of Fatima
1964 - Paul VI - declares Mary "Mother of the Church".
1967 - Paul VI - visits Fatima and speaks briefly with +Sister Lucia.
1977 - Cardinal Luciani visits +Sister Lucia at her convent. She tells him the Third Secret, which he says is "terrible!"
1978 (Aug./Sept.) - Paul VI dies, Cardinal Luciani is elected as Pope John Paul I and dies after 33 days as Pope.
1978 (Oct.) - ++Wojtyla is elected as Pope John Paul II.
1981, 1982, 1984, 1990, 2000 - PJPII consecrated the WORLD - NOT Russia - to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In 1984, PJPII stated after making the consecration:
"Enlighten especially the peoples whom You are *awaiting* our consecration and confiding."
+Fr. Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome for many years, stated that he was behind PJPII when the consecration was made. +Fr. Amorth also stated that PJPII was dissuaded from mentioning Russia by name.
+Sister Lucia stated in Sol de Fatima that there was no participation of the bishops and no mention of Russia.
2010 - BXVI - didn't do it
2013 - Francis - entrusted the world to Mary. No mention of Russia nor did all the bishops participate
So from Pius XI to the present, NO pope has done it exactly as Our Lady requested.
5) Obviously, a bishop can make a consecration any time.
6) However, the Pope and all the bishops must make the *public* consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary together at the same time. It can't be done over "a cup of coffee" unless it's impossible to do it publicly (like the underground Catholic Church in China).
Example: If Pope Francis does it at 12 noon in Rome, +Perez and +Gudziak will do it at 7 a.m.
Margaret
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