And The Greatest Of These Is Love
I am not a theologian or an apologist. I am just a stay- at- home wife/mother who loves her Catholic faith. Please bear with me as I express some of my thoughts on current events, and understand that this is only a modest "snapshot" of what can be said.
I am a cradle Catholic, brought up in the 70's and 80's by two college educated people with a deep faith. (Also, the BEST PARENTS anyone could ever hope for!)
Every day, we prayed the Holy Rosary as a family. We never missed Mass--in fact, my mother's words were (and still are), "You'd better be on your death bed if you must miss Mass." We went to Confession once a month, and made our First Fridays and Saturdays more than once. I was enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel, and attended Catholic School for eight years. My favorite subject was Religion Class.
I was named after Mary and her mother, St. Anne. At Confirmation, I chose the name Therese, because I had discovered the Little Flower, a saint that felt like a sister and kindred spirit. My entire being has always been steeped in my Catholic faith.
Imagine my repugnance this past week, when I read portions of the Grand Jury (on sexual abuse) report that was released in my own state. In my own diocese, there were over forty priests included, along with shocking details of their crimes. It is sickening.
Human beings are sinful, which means that bishops and priests are sinful. Just as I have the need to confess my sins, do penance, and strive to live out my faith, so do they.
I have always understood that, but never would have imagined that this kind of evil was taking place, and that there could ever be a network of "cover-ups". Even now, I wrestle with trying to find a way (in my own mind) to justify things.
I ask myself, "Did the bishops think it was best to stay silent, for fear that the allegations were false...to protect a priest from lies?"
"Did they not grasp the gravity of things...did they think the priest could be rehabilitated?"
"Did the priest confess under the seal of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, therefore the confessor was bound by the seal to stay silent?"
These are just some of the things I have pondered.
I realized, at some point, that transparency is the best place to start, which is what Lawrence Persico, the bishop of my diocese, has chosen. His determination to open the wounds of the Church, is the first step in healing. Just as a closed off flesh wound festers and becomes infected, so does the trauma within the Church putrefy.
The first exposure to air is one of torment, but we know that the remedy will follow if we are patient and allow healing to take place.
Many are calling for the resignation and/or firing of some of the shepherds. I don't know what to think about that, my mind is still processing this. Its not that I disagree with them, it is just that I am a person who takes her time in discerning things. Its more of a personality thing.
At the forefront, I want to remind myself to think of the victims. To have their innocence stolen, their bodies and minds violated, their faith shaken, it is disgusting. The depth of the depravity is like a chasm that never ends--those innocents have to deal with the injury throughout their entire lives. Who knows how much damage it has inflicted, and how far reaching it is? How many of them have failed in life, how many cannot love properly, or trust others? How many have felt abandoned, have left the faith, have wanted revenge? The questions are endless.
I am just a housewife, with no "clout" per se, but I express my sorrow to all those affected by the crisis within the Church.
Beneath this rot and stench, there is something we must all recognize. Although humans are responsible for this, there are roots under the surface.
There was once a rebellion that took place among the angels. Michael (Who is like God?) was charged to cast Satan out of Heaven, for he wanted to usurp God's throne. When he was cast down to the earth, do you think he was here, lying on a beach, listening to top 40? NO!!!
He spends every moment, prowling about, insidious and devious, wreaking havoc on God's creation. His goal is to destroy the Church, most effectively from within.
There are some excellent books on the subject of Satan, and his conspiracy to destroy the Church.
She Shall Crush Thy Head is one I highly recommend. The author uses a timeline to show the common thread, throughout history, of how Satan's first lie to mankind continues to manipulate us.
An older book, Pawns in the Game, is also an invaluable read for anyone interested in this subject.
Make no mistake, although the priests and bishops who committed these acts are responsible, there is evil at work here, and it goes way beyond our understanding.
Pope Francis has declared that we all must pray and fast in penance, for healing in the midst of the clergy abuse. I take that call very seriously, and I will step up and do as he has asked.
For those who are critical, and say that prayer and fasting does nothing, your opinion is not helpful. We pray and fast because that will be one step in the right direction. It won't automatically cure all our ills. It is one part of the equation, not the whole solution.
In 1917, a Polish priest named Maximilian Kolbe, founded a Catholic organization called "Militia Immaculata". Its goal was to convert the enemies of the Church, and to protect the Church from destruction. Kolbe was inspired to do this because of the open hatred of the Catholic Church all around him. He witnessed these men in St. Peter's Square, marching with banners that proclaimed, "Satan must reign in the Vatican, the pope will be his slave."
The Miliatia Immaculata does not promote war, although the name might seem to. It promotes praying the rosary and doing penance in order to change hearts.
My husband and I became members (knights) of the Immaculata in 1994. We toil in the trenches, praying our rosary, wearing our scapular, doing penance, to help bring about peace, counteracting the actions of evil. I would encourage others to consider following our lead, like many before us, in becoming faithful knights.
If you want more information, go to Militia Immaculata! I do not believe it is by coincidence that the report was made public on the same day that we memorialize St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14), who died at Auschwitz, giving his life up for another man.
Bella Dodd is an interesting woman, who can shed some light on today's scandal. Taken from Wikipedia,
Dodd testified before the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). She said: "In the 1930s we put eleven hundred men into the priesthood in order to destroy the Church from within. The idea was for these men to be ordained, and then climb the ladder of influence and authority as Monsignors and Bishops”
Click on her name, above, and you can read the entire article, and understand better, why we have fissures within the Church Hierarchy. These are not men with a genuine calling to the priesthood. These are men with evil motives, who have the sole purpose of bringing about the destruction of the Church. They are the classic "wolves in sheeps' clothing".
The short read, AA-1025, is a helpful resource to understanding about the "smoke of Satan" that has entered the Church. It's alarming to think that there are people who would devote their lives to destroying the Church, but these are facts.
When we understand what is happening, we realize we can't sit on the sidelines and ignore it. Nor should we throw up our hands and leave the Church.
How can faithful Catholics leave, when we need the Church? We need the Eucharist, the sacraments, the life giving community? We can't!
My thoughts are that the way to counter this evil is for each one of us to strive for greater holiness! As St. Maximilian calls us to become saints, let us BECOME SAINTS! We are Christ's body on this earth. If we see a brother or sister in need, we must help them. It is our job to pray for each other, to forgive, to love, to share, to encourage, to praise and thank God.
I end this little piece with thoughts of love, consolation, and hope. I urge Catholics to pray the prayer of St. Michael daily.
Let us pray.
God, our Father, help those who are hurting because of the horrible things we are now learning about. Help me (and us) to do whatever we can to repair the damage that was done. I also pray for our priests, bishops, and the Holy Father, so that they may be drawn closer to You. Help them to know that they are loved and supported by their flock, who needs them.
I ask this through Jesus' name. AMEN.
I am a cradle Catholic, brought up in the 70's and 80's by two college educated people with a deep faith. (Also, the BEST PARENTS anyone could ever hope for!)
Every day, we prayed the Holy Rosary as a family. We never missed Mass--in fact, my mother's words were (and still are), "You'd better be on your death bed if you must miss Mass." We went to Confession once a month, and made our First Fridays and Saturdays more than once. I was enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel, and attended Catholic School for eight years. My favorite subject was Religion Class.
I was named after Mary and her mother, St. Anne. At Confirmation, I chose the name Therese, because I had discovered the Little Flower, a saint that felt like a sister and kindred spirit. My entire being has always been steeped in my Catholic faith.
Imagine my repugnance this past week, when I read portions of the Grand Jury (on sexual abuse) report that was released in my own state. In my own diocese, there were over forty priests included, along with shocking details of their crimes. It is sickening.
Human beings are sinful, which means that bishops and priests are sinful. Just as I have the need to confess my sins, do penance, and strive to live out my faith, so do they.
I have always understood that, but never would have imagined that this kind of evil was taking place, and that there could ever be a network of "cover-ups". Even now, I wrestle with trying to find a way (in my own mind) to justify things.
I ask myself, "Did the bishops think it was best to stay silent, for fear that the allegations were false...to protect a priest from lies?"
"Did they not grasp the gravity of things...did they think the priest could be rehabilitated?"
"Did the priest confess under the seal of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, therefore the confessor was bound by the seal to stay silent?"
These are just some of the things I have pondered.
I realized, at some point, that transparency is the best place to start, which is what Lawrence Persico, the bishop of my diocese, has chosen. His determination to open the wounds of the Church, is the first step in healing. Just as a closed off flesh wound festers and becomes infected, so does the trauma within the Church putrefy.
The first exposure to air is one of torment, but we know that the remedy will follow if we are patient and allow healing to take place.
Many are calling for the resignation and/or firing of some of the shepherds. I don't know what to think about that, my mind is still processing this. Its not that I disagree with them, it is just that I am a person who takes her time in discerning things. Its more of a personality thing.
At the forefront, I want to remind myself to think of the victims. To have their innocence stolen, their bodies and minds violated, their faith shaken, it is disgusting. The depth of the depravity is like a chasm that never ends--those innocents have to deal with the injury throughout their entire lives. Who knows how much damage it has inflicted, and how far reaching it is? How many of them have failed in life, how many cannot love properly, or trust others? How many have felt abandoned, have left the faith, have wanted revenge? The questions are endless.
I am just a housewife, with no "clout" per se, but I express my sorrow to all those affected by the crisis within the Church.
Beneath this rot and stench, there is something we must all recognize. Although humans are responsible for this, there are roots under the surface.
There was once a rebellion that took place among the angels. Michael (Who is like God?) was charged to cast Satan out of Heaven, for he wanted to usurp God's throne. When he was cast down to the earth, do you think he was here, lying on a beach, listening to top 40? NO!!!
He spends every moment, prowling about, insidious and devious, wreaking havoc on God's creation. His goal is to destroy the Church, most effectively from within.
There are some excellent books on the subject of Satan, and his conspiracy to destroy the Church.
She Shall Crush Thy Head is one I highly recommend. The author uses a timeline to show the common thread, throughout history, of how Satan's first lie to mankind continues to manipulate us.
An older book, Pawns in the Game, is also an invaluable read for anyone interested in this subject.
Make no mistake, although the priests and bishops who committed these acts are responsible, there is evil at work here, and it goes way beyond our understanding.
Pope Francis has declared that we all must pray and fast in penance, for healing in the midst of the clergy abuse. I take that call very seriously, and I will step up and do as he has asked.
For those who are critical, and say that prayer and fasting does nothing, your opinion is not helpful. We pray and fast because that will be one step in the right direction. It won't automatically cure all our ills. It is one part of the equation, not the whole solution.
In 1917, a Polish priest named Maximilian Kolbe, founded a Catholic organization called "Militia Immaculata". Its goal was to convert the enemies of the Church, and to protect the Church from destruction. Kolbe was inspired to do this because of the open hatred of the Catholic Church all around him. He witnessed these men in St. Peter's Square, marching with banners that proclaimed, "Satan must reign in the Vatican, the pope will be his slave."
The Miliatia Immaculata does not promote war, although the name might seem to. It promotes praying the rosary and doing penance in order to change hearts.
My husband and I became members (knights) of the Immaculata in 1994. We toil in the trenches, praying our rosary, wearing our scapular, doing penance, to help bring about peace, counteracting the actions of evil. I would encourage others to consider following our lead, like many before us, in becoming faithful knights.
If you want more information, go to Militia Immaculata! I do not believe it is by coincidence that the report was made public on the same day that we memorialize St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14), who died at Auschwitz, giving his life up for another man.
Bella Dodd is an interesting woman, who can shed some light on today's scandal. Taken from Wikipedia,
Dodd testified before the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). She said: "In the 1930s we put eleven hundred men into the priesthood in order to destroy the Church from within. The idea was for these men to be ordained, and then climb the ladder of influence and authority as Monsignors and Bishops”
Click on her name, above, and you can read the entire article, and understand better, why we have fissures within the Church Hierarchy. These are not men with a genuine calling to the priesthood. These are men with evil motives, who have the sole purpose of bringing about the destruction of the Church. They are the classic "wolves in sheeps' clothing".
The short read, AA-1025, is a helpful resource to understanding about the "smoke of Satan" that has entered the Church. It's alarming to think that there are people who would devote their lives to destroying the Church, but these are facts.
When we understand what is happening, we realize we can't sit on the sidelines and ignore it. Nor should we throw up our hands and leave the Church.
How can faithful Catholics leave, when we need the Church? We need the Eucharist, the sacraments, the life giving community? We can't!
My thoughts are that the way to counter this evil is for each one of us to strive for greater holiness! As St. Maximilian calls us to become saints, let us BECOME SAINTS! We are Christ's body on this earth. If we see a brother or sister in need, we must help them. It is our job to pray for each other, to forgive, to love, to share, to encourage, to praise and thank God.
I end this little piece with thoughts of love, consolation, and hope. I urge Catholics to pray the prayer of St. Michael daily.
Let us pray.
God, our Father, help those who are hurting because of the horrible things we are now learning about. Help me (and us) to do whatever we can to repair the damage that was done. I also pray for our priests, bishops, and the Holy Father, so that they may be drawn closer to You. Help them to know that they are loved and supported by their flock, who needs them.
I ask this through Jesus' name. AMEN.
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