Understanding Francis AFTER Pope Benedict XVI relinquished the seat of Peter, I sensed in prayer several times the words: You have entered into dangerous days. It was the sense that the Church is entering into a period of great confusion. Enter: Pope Francis. Not unlike Blessed John Paul II’s papacy, our new pope has also overturned the deeply rooted sod of the status quo. He has challenged everyone in the Church in one way or another. Several readers, however, have written me with concern that Pope Francis is departing from the Faith by his unorthodox actions, his blunt remarks, and seemingly contradictory statements. I have been listening for several months now, watching and praying, and feel compelled to respond to these questions regarding our Pope’s candid ways…. A “RADICAL SHIFT”? That’s what the media are calling it in the wake of Pope Francis’ interview with Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S. J. published in September 2013.1 The exchange was conducted over three meetings in the previous month. What caught the mass media’s attention were his comments on the “hot topics” that have drawn the Catholic Church into a cultural war: We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. —americamagazine.org, September 2013His words were interpreted as being a “radical shift” from his predecessors. Once again, Pope Benedict was framed by several media as the hard, cold, doctrinally rigid pontiff. And yet, Pope Francis’ words are unequivocal: “The teaching of the church… is clear and I am a son of the church…” That is, there is no loosening of the Church’s moral stand on these issues. Rather, the Holy Father, standing on the bow of the Barque of Peter, looking at the sea of change in the world, sees a fresh course and “tactic” for the Church. A HOME FOR THE HURTING He recognizes that we are living in a culture today where so many of us are tremendously wounded by the sin around us. We are crying out first and foremost to be loved… to know that we are loved in the midst of our weakness, dysfunction, and sinfulness. In this regard, the Holy Father sees the course of the Church today in a new light: I see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds…. And you have to start from the ground up. —Ibid.We are in the midst of a culture war. We can all see that. Overnight practically, the world has been painted in rainbow colors. “Abortion, gay marriage, and the use contraceptive methods,” have become so quickly and universally accepted, that those who oppose them in the near future likely do face the real prospect of persecution. The faithful are exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling betrayed on many fronts. But how we face this reality now, in 2013 and beyond, is something the vicar of Christ believes is in need of a fresh approach. The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all. —Ibid.This is really a beautiful insight that directly echoes Blessed John Paul’s “divine task” to make the message of mercy through St. Faustina known to the world, and Benedict XVI’s beautiful and simple way of placing an encounter with Jesus at the center of one’s life. As he said in meeting with the bishops of Ireland: So often the Church’s counter-cultural witness is misunderstood as something backward and negative in today’s society. That is why it is important to emphasize the Good News, the life-giving and life-enhancing message of the Gospel (cf. Jn 10:10). Even though it is necessary to speak out strongly against the evils that threaten us, we must correct the idea that Catholicism is merely “a collection of prohibitions”. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, Address to Irish Bishops; VATICAN CITY, OCT. 29, 2006The danger, said Francis, is losing sight of the big picture, the larger context. The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. —Homily, americamagazine.org, September 2013Perhaps that is why Pope Francis refused to be locked up in the “small things” at the beginning of his pontificate when he washed the feet of twelve prison inmates, of which two were woman. It broke a liturgical norm (at least one that is followed in a few places). The Vatican defended Francis’ actions as being ‘absolutely licit’ since it was not a sacrament. Furthermore, the pope’s spokesman underscored that it was a communal prison of both men and women, and leaving the latter out would have been ‘strange’. This community understands simple and essential things; they were not liturgy scholars. Washing feet was important to present the Lord’s spirit of service and love. —Rev. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, Religious News Service, March 29th, 2013The Pope acted according to the “spirit of the law” as opposed to the “letter of the law.” In doing so he ruffled some feathers to be certain—not unlike a certain Jewish man 2000 years ago who healed on the Sabbath, dined with sinners, and spoke with and touched unclean women. The law was made for man, not man for the law, He once said.2 The liturgical norms are their to bring order, meaningful symbolism, language and beauty to the liturgy. But if they do not serve love, St. Paul might say, they are “nothing.” In this case, it can be argued that the Pope demonstrated that the suspension of a liturgical norm was necessary in order to fulfill the “law of love.” continued
A NEW BALANCE By his actions, the Holy Father is trying to create a “new balance” as he puts it. Not by neglecting the truth, but re-ordering our priorities. The church’s ministers must be merciful, take responsibility for the people and accompany them like the good Samaritan, who washes, cleans and raises up his neighbor. This is pure Gospel. God is greater than sin. The structural and organizational reforms are secondary—that is, they come afterward. The first reform must be the attitude. The ministers of the Gospel must be people who can warm the hearts of the people, who walk through the dark night with them, who know how to dialogue and to descend themselves into their people’s night, into the darkness, but without getting lost. —americamagazine.org, September 2013Yes, this is precisely the “fresh breeze” I was referring to in August, a new outpouring of the love of Christ in and through us.3 But “without getting lost”, that is, falling, said Francis, into the “danger of being either too much of a rigorist or too lax.”4 Furthermore, our witness must take a bold, concrete form. Instead of being just a church that welcomes and receives by keeping the doors open, let us try also to be a church that finds new roads, that is able to step outside itself and go to those who do not attend Mass… We need to proclaim the Gospel on every street corner, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing, even with our preaching, every kind of disease and wound… —Ibid.Many of you know that several of my writings here speak of the “final confrontation” of our era, of the culture of life vs. the culture of death. The response to these writings has been overwhelmingly positive. But when I wrote The Desolate Garden recently, it struck a deep chord within many of you. We are all searching for hope and healing, grace and strength in these times. That is the bottom line. The rest of the world is no different; in fact, the darker it gets, the more urgent, the more opportune it is becoming to propose the Gospel again in a profoundly clear and straightforward way. Proclamation in a missionary style focuses on the essentials, on the necessary things: this is also what fascinates and attracts more, what makes the heart burn, as it did for the disciples at Emmaus. We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow. —Ibid.So Pope Francis is not neglecting the “moral consequences.” But to make them our main focus today risks sterilizing the Church and shutting people out. Had Jesus entered towns preaching Heaven and Hell rather than healing, souls would have walked away. The Good Shepherd knew that, first of all, He had to bind the wounds of the lost sheep and place them on His shoulders, and then they would listen. He entered towns healing the sick, casting out demons, opening the eyes of the blind. And then He would share with them the Gospel, including the moral consequences of not heeding it. In this way, Jesus became a refuge for sinners. So too, the Church must be recognized again as a home for the hurting. This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all, not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people. We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity. —Ibid. This is no significant departure from John Paul II or Benedict XVI, who both heroically defended the truth in our times. And so has Francis. So blared a headline today: “Pope Francis blasts abortion as part of a ‘throw away culture’”5 But the winds have changed; the times have changed; the Spirit is moving in a new way. Isn’t this in fact what Pope Benedict XVI prophetically said was needed, moving him to step aside? And thus, Francis has extended an olive branch, even to atheists, stirring up yet another non-controversy… EVEN THE ATHEISTS The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. —POPE FRANCIS, Homily, Vatican Radio, May 22nd, 2013Several commentators erroneously concluded that the Pope was suggesting that atheists can simply get to Heaven by good deeds6 or that everyone is saved, no matter what they believe. But a careful reading of the pope’s words suggest neither, and in fact, underscore that what he said is not only true, but also biblical. First, every single human being has indeed been redeemed by Christ’s blood shed for all on the Cross. This is precisely what St. Paul wrote: For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised… (2 Cor 5:14-15)This has been the constant teaching of the Catholic Church: The Church, following the apostles, teaches that Christ died for all men without exception: “There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer.” —Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 605continued
While everyone has been redeemed through Christ’s blood, not all are saved. Or putting it in St. Paul’s terms, all have died, but not all choose to rise to a new life in Christ to live “no longer… for themselves but for him…” Instead, they live a self-centered, selfish life, a wide and easy path that leads to perdition. So what is the pope saying? Listen to the context of his words in what he said earlier in his homily: The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can. He must. Not can: must! Because he has this commandment within him. Instead, this ‘closing off’ that imagines that those outside, everyone, cannot do good is a wall that leads to war and also to what some people throughout history have conceived of: killing in the name of God. —Homily, Vatican Radio, May 22nd, 2013Every human being is created in the image of God, in the image of love, therefore, we all have ‘this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil.’ If everyone follows this commandment of love—whether he is a Christian or an atheist and everyone in between—then we can find the path of peace, the path of ‘encounter’ where true dialogue can occur. This was precisely the witness of Blessed Mother Teresa. She did not discriminate between Hindu or Muslim, atheist or believer lying there in the gutters of Calcutta. She saw Jesus in everyone. She loved everyone as if it was Jesus. In that place of unconditional love, the seed of the Gospel was already being planted. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there. —POPE FRANCIS, Homily, Vatican Radio, May 22nd, 2013This is a far cry from saying we will all meet in Heaven—Pope Francis did not say that. But if we choose to love one another and form a moral consensus on the “good”, that is indeed the foundation for peace and authentic dialogue and the beginning of the “way” that leads to “life”. This is precisely what Pope Benedict preached when he warned that the very loss of a moral consensus spelled not peace, but disaster for the future. Only if there is such a consensus on the essentials can constitutions and law function. This fundamental consensus derived from the Christian heritage is at risk… In reality, this makes reason blind to what is essential. To resist this eclipse of reason and to preserve its capacity for seeing the essential, for seeing God and man, for seeing what is good and what is true, is the common interest that must unite all people of good will. The very future of the world is at stake. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, Address to the Roman Curia, December 20th, 2010 THE NEW WIND OF THE SPIRIT There is a new wind filling the sails of the Barque of Peter. Pope Francis is not Benedict XVI nor John Paul II. That is because Christ is directing us on a new course, built upon the foundation of Francis’ predecessors. And yet, it is not a new course at all. It is rather authentic Christian witness expressed in a new spirit of love and courage. The world has changed. It is hurting, immensely. The Church today has to adjust—not abandoning her doctrines, but clearing the tables to make way for the wounded. She must become a field hospital for all. We are being called, as Jesus did to Zacchaeus, to look our perceived enemy’s in the eye and say, “come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”7 This is the message of Pope Francis. And what do we see happening? Francis is attracting the fallen while shaking the establishment… just as Jesus shook the conservatives of His day while drawing the tax collectors and prostitutes to Himself. Pope Francis is not moving the Church away from the battle lines of the cultural war. Rather, he is now calling us to pick up different weapons: the weapons of modesty, poverty, simplicity, authenticity. By these means, presenting Jesus to the world with an authentic face of love, healing and reconciliation has a chance to begin. The world may or may not receive us. Likely, they will crucify us… but it was then, after Jesus breathed His last, that the centurion finally believed. Lastly, Catholics need to reaffirm their trust in the Admiral of this ship, Christ Himself. Jesus, not the pope, is the one who builds His Church,8 guides it, and directs it in every century. Listen to the pope; heed his words; pray for him. He is Christ’s vicar and shepherd, given to feed us and lead us in these times. That, after all, was Christ’s promise.9 You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18) This century thirsts for authenticity… The world expects from us simplicity of life, the spirit of prayer, obedience, humility, detachment and self-sacrifice. —POPE PAUL VI, Evangelization in the Modern World, 22, 76
I really have to say I so much admire the sheer work Mark puts into all this. Where he finds the time with a large , young family and a very,very busy life I do not know. I suspect it comes from a vey deep prayer life, a busy prayer life can multiply time so that one hour becomes ten in the Lord's work. We have only to look at Padre Pio who was an apostle to the entire world. Every Pope is different. This one I admit I do not understand, He is so very different to myself. For instance he says how much he loves being with people and this so much shines out from him, causing people to love him in return. I think he said he could not live without people. I on the other hand am very solitary in my spirituality. I sometimes go days without speaking or to anyone and do not mind or hardly notice. I do love peole and get on well with them, but to be honest if I was dropped on a Desert Island fpr ever I do not think I would mind. So long as I had the mass and the Blessed Sacrament. Even when I think of heaven I think of it as walking on the mountains , alone. He also has this huge sense of the need for Social Justice, whereas I kid of foucus on prayer and the Spiritual Life. He is very postive about the possibilities for positive change whereas I am very I suppose peol,e would say doom and gloomey about the prospects (at least in the short to medium term. I think if I was to express my Catholic world view folks would recoil in horror. But people would be attracted to Francis like moths to light. I can well see how the Holy spirit choose him for the Chair of St Peter. he is such a light. But I admit much of what he does is just a total and complete mystery to me. I just have to pray and trust. But this forum has been such a boon to me in accepting him. I have read so many wise and thoughful posts it has helped me to accept what I simply cannot understand.
Yea...you guys are right...my initial acessment was irratation....but after a little stewing...I too will just have to trust in Gods infinite wisdom. He is definitely different and I don't understand him completely but I believe he is the man for the hour. I'm just going to put my seat belt on try and enjoy the ride. Popcorn anyone?
Well at least he is not boring. I forecast he will be either one of the very greatest Popes in history or the biggest disaster. I admire him for taking this huge risk and pushing the boat out in this way. I think we will get a sense of how things may pan out fairly quickly. He must have sleeples nights or nerves of absolute steel.
The disciples often were confused by Jesus' teachings and on many occasions they were left scratching their heads. In time they came to understand everything. In many ways Francis himself is a 'sign of the times'.
”I was asked to give interviews and I always knew the questions in advance. They concerned the ordination of women, contraception, abortion and other such constantly recurring problems. If we let ourselves be drawn into these discussions, the Church is then identified with certain commandments or prohibitions; we give the impression that we are moralists with a few somewhat antiquated convictions, and not even a hint of the true greatness of the faith appears. I therefore consider it essential always to highlight the greatness of our faith – a commitment from which we must not allow such situations to divert us… …I think that this is the great task we have before us: on the one hand, not to make Christianity seem merely morality, but rather a gift in which we are given the love that sustains us and provides us with the strength we need to be able to “lose our own life”. On the other hand, in this context of freely given love, we need to move forward towards ways of putting it into practice, whose foundation is always offered to us by the Decalogue, which we must interpret today with Christ and with the Church in a progressive and new way.” —Pope Benedict, 2006 Are These words of our dear Pope Emeritus much different from what Pope Francis said?
Padraig, I agree with everything you have said here. I am also like you in many ways. I am a "black and white" person on how I think. I have always and will always pray for our Holy Father. Liberals have always been 'best buds' with everyone. They judge no ones actions as wrong or right, because they can not stand others not liking them. I on the other hand, do not care if others like me for my orthodoxy or not. I am friendly with all people and try to get along with all. However, I can not say that I have seen a liberal person bring people to the heart of the faith. Probably because, until Pope Francis, I have never seen a liberal who does not dissent on one or many Church doctrines. Good luck Pope Francis, I will be there praying for you as always....and may your way put egg on my face, because you will be the first liberal to bring people to orthodoxy in faith if you can pull it off.
I think those of us who have been praying for justice from Heaven in these end times want leaders who will put their foot down and draw the line. You're either with us or against us and if you don't agree don't let the door hit you on the way out. Obviously Pope Francis has a different approach which doesn't appeal to most of us who are ready for the purging of evil to begin because it appears worse with each new day. I know where my faith and heart are but I have always had sympathy for the son in the Prodigal son story and completely understand the son who's working hard and trying to be obedient while the slacker son gets celebrated. We wait patiently for Divine Justice. God Bless!
Well I am always a little hesitant about using terms like , 'Liberal', or Conservative' as I always thought them divisive. I like to think we are all Catholics. However having said that that there are some Catholics who keep the Faith and some (apostate) 'Catholics' who do not. I believe 'Catholics' who accept things like homosexuality and abortion and yes, social injustice will be going to hell unless they repent. If that is being a 'Conservative' then I have to hold my hand up and say yes I am probably an ultra orthodox to the point of being an out and out Fascist Catholic and am quite proud of the fact.
I think a good example of a Faith Community that has, 'Reached out to the world' in a ll kinds of ways is the Episcopalian /Anglicans. They have been doing this for decades. The question is how has this succeeded in terms of say Church going and membership? They opened themselves to the world and the world walked away. http://juicyecumenism.com/2012/10/12/latest-episcopal-church-stats-reveal-fewer-parishes-members/
I want to expand on what I have said. I will watch with interest whether and how Pope Farncis' methodology for sanctification will work. I remain very skeptical for this reason. For the past 25 years, all my pastors have been Father Nice. Earlier in my life I had a Father Orthodox. Now Father Nice is a very friendly smiley kind of priest. Giving 'high fives' as he walks down the isles after Mass. His homilies are never on sin, or the 4 Last Things (death, judgement, heaven, hell), or anything that would make you feel uncomfortable, except and unless he is speaking on social justice issues, which are the Corporal Works of Mercy (feed the hungry, cloth the naked, give shelter to the homeless etc...). Father Nice will not say a thing when Mass attendance on a Holy Day of Obligation has a mere 100 parishioners, where there is 800 families. Father Nice would not be found on an Abortion picking line. Father nice has not once even mentioned the grave sins of contraception, Sodomy or sterilization. He has no problem with going around Church teachings when it comes to marriage laws or inviting a leader of a gay community to speak at his Church. I could go on and on, but you get the message about Father Nice. Well he is nice and popular with those in the pew who are not the least bit concerned about following all the churches faith and moral teachings. His parishioners basically understand that Jesus is good and everyone is going to heaven. Now a few of my old priests, Father Orthodox, well they wanted to be loved by everyone too. However, they would not compromise teachings the fullness of the faith for a pat on the back. They ran a tight ship. They helped form young altar boys for the priesthood. When Father Nice, became Bishop Nice, they filled their seminaries. Devotions were a common practice. When their congregation genuflected before entering their pew, they understood whom they were kneeling to. They knew what sin was and tried to avoid sin. They participated in the 5 First Saturday of Reparations and other devotions. They prayed the rosary (not just hang in on their neck or on their rear view mirror). They practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy (When they see sin, they pray for the person, when they would admonish the sinner, they would instruct the ignorant etc..). Now many of his followers today would say to Father Orthodox "these are hard sayings, who could endure it" and many of his parishioners would leave and follow him no more. Now some would ask, yes Father Orthodox did all of the above, but did he show love? Here in lies the question. Father Nice did what he did out of love, but did not understand that adhering to the truths of the faith (doctrines) were necessary for salvation and thus kept his faithful in ignorance of their faith teachings, unconcerned about mortal sin, if there is even such a thing. Father Orthodox however, has one pitfall. He must love the person in spite of his sinfulness. Most people I know feel Father Orthodox did not love people, because they viewed his orthodoxy as judging a persons soul and not only his sinful action. Father Orthodox was not merciful in their mind. They could not understand how Father Orthodox could admonish the sin, but love the sinner. I conclude that this is what our Lord and Savior did!
I asked my Parish Priest one time why he never preached on hell. He said it was because people would laugh at him. I replied, '...and so?'
Well said Bernadette ! I love my Catholic faith that I have discovered anew over the past few years. A lot of what I know now did not come from my childhood but through Gods grace and trying to educate myself. I think the internet can be a geat tool. God has given us so much and I am greatful. Satan wants to cause division and like Padraig says,..he is very crafty This forum is dedicated to Our Lady and she is watching over us. These discussions are good. We are all growing through Gods grace if our hearts are open. Like Mark Mallett says,..we are exhausted, weary and feel betrayed on many fronts. I will hold onto tradition...God is good and we are never abandoned
AMEN to Mark's words! And how blessed we are to be able to discuss all of this with one another. Praise God for the faith-filled concern that all of you have shown. We are so blessed to have one another. I could not help but think of Pope Francis' words and actions (and our recent discussions here) at Mass today, the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle. How much different things might be if Jesus had not called St. Matthew, tax collector and sinner. If Jesus had never offered the invitation, "Follow me," there would have been no Gospel of Matthew. If Jesus had looked at Matthew only as a traitor to Judaism and one unworthy of His attention, then St. Matthew would not have had the chance to answer the call and evangelize. For me, it begs the question: Is what Pope Francis is doing any different than what Jesus did with St. Matthew? It seems to me that we must extend the invitation to today's sinners and "tax collectors"... we must! Without an invitation, we have no chance of getting them back in. Once they're in, they will have to make a choice to follow the narrow way, but we've got to get them back in first, right?
Bernadette said: ↑ I think those of us who have been praying for justice from Heaven in these end times want leaders who will put their foot down and draw the line. You're either with us or against us and if you don't agree don't let the door hit you on the way out. Obviously Pope Francis has a different approach which doesn't appeal to most of us who are ready for the purging of evil to begin because it appears worse with each new day. I know where my faith and heart are but I have always had sympathy for the son in the Prodigal son story and completely understand the son who's working hard and trying to be obedient while the slacker son gets celebrated. We wait patiently for Divine Justice. God Bless! I am always curious when people hear the prodigal son parable and see themselves as the older brother. We, the banished children of Eve, ARE the prodigal son. We who need to be redeemed. It is a parable about nothing less than the fall, and God rushing out to meet us IS the plan of salvation, and ultimately is Jesus Christ who became man to bring us back. All are wicked, none are righteous, and pride has no place. I think Pope Francis is manifesting Mercy, not Justice at this time. That is the call that Jesus made to the world before the time of Mercy ends. I know from personal experience that understanding His Mercy is exactly what brought me back to confession and the Eucharist. We need to make sure we then, filled with the Holy Spirit, become instruments of the Father's Love and Mercy. We cannot fail to forgive our debtors when we have been forgiven so much. That is the nature of the parable of the debtors: which is another parable that is about nothing less than the fall, and our need for redemption. In that parable we are the one forgiven our debt, who in turn must choose to forgive (not to exact justice on others, in turn).
I would not ask God to serve the World as it deserves, to treat us with Justice as I would be the first to be turned into a little pile of burnt toast. My cry is for mercy not justice. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51:1-2). I admire Pope Francis for taking these risks , for love and mercy involves great risks, the risks of being taken for granted, the risk of being rejected and so on. But there is no harm in pointing out the continuing need for balance. The balance between the requirements of Justice and the outpouring of love , the source of mercy. "Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this Sacrament of Love. But what I feel most keenly is that it is hearts which are consecrated to Me, that treat Me thus. Therefore, I ask of you that the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi be set apart for a special Feast to honor My Heart, by communicating on that day, and making reparation to It by a solemn act, in order to make amends for the indignities which It has received during the time It has been exposed on the altars. I promise you that My Heart shall expand Itself to shed in abundance the influence of Its Divine Love upon those who shall thus honor It, and cause It to be honored."
Fatima and Padraig, I tend to think like both of you. I also feel a bit confused. I loved the story about Fr. Nice and Fr. Orthodox. I myself would much prefer Fr. Orthodox. I have been worrying lately about whether I show enough love. I have a hard time understanding when people say it is all about love.....don't we still need to follow the rules? I know many Catholics who hear the word "love" an think it is all about feeling good and do what you want a long as you are nice and make others feel good. They forget about the rules.
