http://m.ncregister.com/blog/gstanton/the-synods-remarkably-strong-final-report#.VnDISI2YbIV also http://aleteia.org/2015/10/24/synod-final-document-english-translation-of-hot-topic-paragraphs/
Thanks Glenn! The final report demonstrates how easy it is for us to be caught up in the spin of the mainstream media or the spin of those who are looking under every rug for an anti-Pope. Why all the fuss? Apart from revealing the smokescreen of the devil, it appears we expended a lot of wasted energy by haggling. Mea culpa! Safe in the Barque of Peter!
I feel a great weight ( of worry ) has been lifted. I guess all our prayers to the Holy Spirit did infact guide him during this most important Synod.
Or maybe he wanted to start to separate the sheep and goats? In any event, after over a year of seeing on this forum many accusations against the Holy Father, I hope and pray we now go forward together. Peace
I agree with you all. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt do not come from God. How many words and worry were uselessly expended fretting and accusing about what our Pope might do? The confusion will get much worse. I prayerfully ask those experiencing fear and doubt about our Pope to try to stay calm and let go of that fear, uncertainty, and doubt that comes from the fallen one who is trying to get you out of the safety of the boat. We are experiencing just some mild chop in the seas now. The waves are going to get much much worse as the gale worsens. Steel yourselves now
It's too bad the forum lost so many members during this last year who actually weren't "worried" about the HolyFather and did their best to defend him. I hope they come back. Peace.
I dont have time to read right now, but judging by all the comments above all is good! Thank you holy spirit for guiding our loving father in the right direction!
But I thought they were going cover what happens if men that recently divorced from heterosexual marriages, became gay and got civilly married in a same-sex union, then both become priests, raising their kids from the first marriages in the rectory, then getting divorced again civilly, then stop being priests, get remarried to their original spouses, then get the 2nd heterosexual marriage anulled since they were always married, confess the sin of the 2nd marriage and whether they should get communion and was the whole thing caused by global warming? I read the hot topic paragraphs and seems well thought out and totally in line with our faith. The church is empowered by Christ to clarify the grey between the lines in the 10 commandments. Cheers to the pope, cardinals and bishops that reach these conclusions for the good of all, saint and sinner.
I must say, that before the synod even began and the debate about him caving into the gay life style and divorce and remarried receiving communion, I really thought he was playing the 'progressives' only to in the end chastise them for breaking doctrine. While sadly this did not happen, I'm happy that the conspiracy theories with the Holy Father came to nothing as well. Maybe the forum can get back to praying for him and trusting in God to lead his Vicar on earth. Now I am wondering if Pope Francis is not the pope seen in St. John Bosco's vision that is killed and another Pope takes his place almost as soon as it is heard that he dies. This next pope is the one to anchor the Church (which is being shot at from all sides, even within the Church) and anchors to the two pillars of the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. "All the enemy ships move to attack it, and they try in every way to stop it and to sink it: some with writings or books or inflammable materials, of which they are full; others with guns, with rifles and with rams. The battle rages ever more relentlessly. The enemy prows thrust violently, but their efforts and impact prove useless. They make attempts in vain and waste all their labor and ammunition; the big ship goes safely and smoothly on its way. Sometimes it happens that, struck by formidable blows, it gets large, deep gaps in its sides; but no sooner is he harm done than a gentle breeze blows from the two columns and the cracks close up and the gaps are stopped immediately. "Meanwhile, the guns of the assailants are blown up, the rifles and other arms and prows are broken; many ships are shattered and sink into the sea. Then, the frenzied enemies strive to fight hand to hand, with fists, with blows, with blasphemy and with curses. "All at once the Pope falls gravely wounded. Immediately, those who are with him run to help him and they lift him up. A second time the Pope is struck, he falls again and dies. A shout of victory and of joy rings out amongst the enemies; from their ships an unspeakable mockery arises. (Possibly refers to Pope John Paul I who was deeply devoted to Fatima and died under suspicious circumstances.) "But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another Pope takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adversaries begin to lose courage. "The new Pope, putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging form the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin. "Then a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope' s ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns. "Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the battle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the broken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and, having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and there they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea there reigns a great calm." St. John Bosco explains his dream: "The enemy ships are persecutions. The most serious trials for the Church are near at hand...Her enemies are represented by the ships that tried to sink the ship if they could. Only two means are left to save her amidst so much confusion: DEVOTION TO MARY MOST HOLY and FREQUENT COMMUNION, making use of every means and doing our best to practice them and having them practiced everywhere and by everybody." St John Bosco's dream
Still, I wonder, what was the purpose of the two Synod gatherings? Did it accomplish anything over the year that benefited the Church?
To me it seems that many people were questioning and challenging the authority of the church and at the same time as all this doubt and division was going on family values were under tremendous attack. The synod was needed to affirm once again all that is good about the Church and the Family, mum and dad families and the family of God. Now the faithful have been shown the safe course ahead and been reassured that only this Way leads to salvation. That is what good Church teaching has always done ----like lights on a landing strip. Just my thoughts. Jesus said that he prayed for our survival after the sifting of Satan and advise us to help each other when we had recovered our health and strength. (somewhere in the Gospel of Luke.)
Joe, but how many Catholics paid any attention to the information coming out of the Synod or more importantly will read the final report? Maybe 1%? I think in the end it was a victory from all view points, depending on what they wanted to hear. My point is that the Church goes on as usual and the synod seems to have had no real impact on anything. I could be wrong, but I for one have not seen any impact locally from it all.
To a large extent I tend to agree with you. Most good ordinary down to earth Catholics just get on with their good lives no matter what and the bad ones get on with theirs no matter what but in the end we all need an anchor, a reassuring and reassured point of reference, like a spiritual GPS so we know where we have been and where we are going. When things settle things become clear.
I have to agree with posters who have expressed that there was a lot of needless worry, anxiety, stress, and negative posts on this subject. It is a shame we lost so many members due to the situation. The synod final report upholds the Catholic faith. There were no rainbow colors outside St Peters Square as some predicted. When you find yourself wound up tighter than a drum and your mind running down only negative paths of what if scenarios...then you are more than likely being played like a fiddle by buckethead. I know as it has happened to me many times although not with Pope Francis. Stay in prayer, even-keeled, and close to our mother. And hopefully people will let go of the over criticism of the pope and move on with their daily duties.
I I think it was a trial run - gird your loins for heavier deceptions and disorientation soon. Jesus, I trust in you!
So Rorates translation was accurate then. A day after the Italian came out . 2 Months ago. http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-triumph-of-ambiguity-and-pharisaism.html
