Lois, There is a teaching of Jesus: "From those who have been given much, much will be expected." In our young 20s before we met, both of us were given singular graces. Geralyn, who grew up unscarred by the culture, was off to the races when Jesus entered in and uniquely spoke to her heart. I was deeply wounded and the Lord began a healing process which started when I was 23. So when we met and fell in love we had not just a familial foundation of Faith, but the gift also of personal encounter. Since all is gift from God, when the kids arrived, we wanted to gift them in a way that would supplement their catechetical and sacramental training. The Lord longs for each of us to encounter him. In the current culture, there are parents who were faithful Holy Mass attendees who believed that providing the basics of the Faith to their children and bringing them to Sunday Holy Mass would be sufficient to carry the Faith forward. They had not perceived how much Satan had incorporated the culture into his arena, how toxic things had become. And so too often Confirmation has become a graduation from the Faith rather than a preparation for battle. So to enter the fray, to win the battle, we must never be satisfied with where we are. Let our children witness in our own lives a move from rote prayers to meditative prayers (i.e. Our Lady's Rosary), to mental prayer, to contemplative prayer. The fruit of such prayer will be seen in our faithfulness, in our love, and the willingness to allow Jesus to pick us up after we have fallen, and so carry on. Such devotion will bear the fruity of deepening charity so that the Two Hearts will touch others through us. In the current world this is the best we can do. God will never fail us. If our children have been wounded by the world, the flesh, and the devil, God will honor our surrender and dedication. Our children will be given the opportunity by God with the gift of encounter. And if the Warning proves true, then know that because of our faithfulness, they will weep over their sins and return wholeheartedly to God.
Thank you for the reply, Logos. I can only go by what I've heard & read. I have forebears on both sides of that divide ~ it's the crew who "wouldn't take the soup" that left as far as I know. As for being "bitchy" etc, I apologize if that's how I come across. Having been bullied so much thru the years, it still bothers me greatly if I perceive that going on around me. But I'm no ones mother, so I'll do what I can to curb that response in the future. God bless you.
Thank you as well Mario. You've pretty much described my own family to a tee. I know my Redeemer lives, and I trust He will do what He can to bring them back, as He did for me. God love you, and your charity here on this forum is an inspiration ~
Mario is a real gift to the forum. And your reply is lovely. A good reminder for me. I know my Redeemer lives. I trust He will move heaven and earth to bring my husband and children back. And to keep me on the path through the narrow gate. Still praying your wonderful 54 day Rosary novena!!
There have been untold edifying posts on this forum from people I have grown to love and respect. I pray for the people on this forum and their families all the time. Thank you, Lois, for starting the 54-day Rosary novena. I have been hanging onto it, but I have missed a few days.
Appreciated, Lois. It was after a long period of reading, and benefitting, from this site but never commenting but noticing a certain dynamic repeating itself again and again that finally prompted me to say what I in conscience thought had to be called out when I saw it starting to happen once again. I appreciate people have developed friendships, but our loyalty should be to the Truth and to giving people a fair hearing rather than rushing to always back up a friend in every matter, or reflexly and emotively reacting to someone because they hold a different view on pope Francis, which seems to be a trigger for some. As for Mother Teresa, meeting her when young is something that will stay with me and I feel her help very strongly. In fact, although I chose St. Therese when very young, I have felt St. Therese is standing back now and pointing me to Mother Teresa as an intercessor instead. It's in the eyes.
Seriously, I understand what you are saying. Yes, I can be emotional. That's just a fact & part of who I am. Detachment is something I've been working very hard on, but there's still much work to be done. As for Pope Francis, he is an enigma. I pray for him as much as anyone. But, to paraphrase St. Thomas More, I am the Pope's good servant, but God's first. I try to follow the lead of Cardinal Sarah, Cardinal Muller, Cardinal Burke and some others in regard to the Holy Father. That's all I will say in regard to that discussion. God bless.
IMO yes the topic of Pope Francis has been a trigger for many here. We all have had it tough and it will continue for awhile, I believe, unfortunately. The other triggers that have been huge and understandably so, is when someone has suggested to leave the Church, this has taken many forms throughout the past few years. Now, we have admired clergymen worried about the future of the Church and some are suggesting something similar. It has been a process for all of us. Things that we once were sure about and felt the necessity to defend are now changing for many of us. I admit that I am fearful of what the near future may bring and I suppose that when PNF states the he believes that Pope Francis is the Final Antichrist or will be soon, that adds to my fears and it also doesn’t fit with other prophecies that I have looked at. I then feel the necessity to explain why I think that this idea is a little out there but I haven’t felt the need to follow PNF around the forum and combat with him on every topic that he posts about. I hope that you were not referring to me when you stated that Logos. PNF and I have been discussing end times related topics for quite some time and although I don’t agree with him often the discussion has usually been harmonious more or less. I truly wish that I could just put it all in God’s hands. We are not in control of the things that God is in control of, obviously.
Exactly, Carol. None of us know FOR SURE, but each should be allowed to explain how they are seeing things at any one time without some telling them they have left the Church or whatever. A point I think is misunderstood by some is that when some people are talking about 'the real Church' or the 'remnant Church' or the 'false Church' they are not talking about a separate Church and leaving to go there, but that like the wheat and tares the two are in the same field at the same time. They mean there is a Church within a Church and God Himself knows who the members are. People are on edge and are trying to warn others that there is a doubt over who presently holds the Petrine Office and so to remember to stick with the 'Truths' if any forking of paths forces a choice. It is out of concern for others that people stress this, I think. It is not that they are know-alls or Church deserters. God knows I'm nowhere near perfect, but it is unbecoming and cruel to not allow for different personalities and viewpoints, especially before they are allowed to show themselves more fully, we are all multi-faceted and what a loss if someone is stifled or chased away when they maybe would have brought so much to the table. I have seen some leave who I thought were rich in thought and knowledge, and it was a pity. BTW, I am not directing this at you personally at all.
Thank you, Henri. Navigating the rough seas of this world is a battle in itself! My goal is always to try and align myself with the mind of Christ. Using American football as an analogy, a Catholic might be able to kick a football a long way, but the key is placing the ball through the uprights. What are the uprights? One is the perennial teachings of the Church which shouldn't be tampered with. The other is the Love of Jesus which we receive primarily through the sacraments and prayer. Fasting also keeps our flesh, the great usurper, at bay, so we can persevere in loving others. Philippians 3:8 Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Everything is in imitation of Christ.
Gracias, though having Geralyn as my wife is a great plus because she knows the whole me and loves me anyway.
Great, Mario. I am glad you posted that Scripture wherein St Paul mentions “not having a righteousness of my own.” Yes, we are called to imitate Christ, as we are walking with Him to Golgotha. That’s why He left us with Confession and Holy Communion, that we might have His life within us.
Hey HH, maybe I'll nickname you Simon of Cyrene, though I don't know what the female equivalent is for Simon.
Simone, that’s French my maternal grandfather was named Simeon (As in the Presentation, and I wonder if that name is a derivative of Simon)
Not having had any contact with "rad trads", the idea of "cheap grace" is astonishing to me. Just gazing at a Crucifix wipes out that notion. Combine that with the parable of the labourers in the vineyard & well.... Sometimes "the old guard, long in the trenches" gets understandably tired. The ones just discovering the true joy of the gospel get beat up when they're joyful, (cheap grace) and after getting kicked about, are criticized when they're not so joyful anymore. God will sort it all out in His time and His way.
I see the Vatican have just dismissed Fr Frank Pavone from the priesthood. Astonishing news. BREAKING: Vatican dismisses Father Frank Pavone from priesthood | Catholic News Agency BREAKING: Vatican dismisses Father Frank Pavone from priesthood Father Frank Pavone, a well-known pro-life activist and national director of the organization Priests for Life, has been dismissed from the clerical state for “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop,” CNA has learned. In a Dec. 13 letter to U.S. bishops obtained by CNA and confirmed by multiple sources as authentic, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, wrote that the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy issued the decision on Nov. 9, adding that there was “no possibility of appeal.” “Father Pavone was given ample opportunity to defend himself in the canonical proceedings, and he was also given multiple opportunities to submit himself to the authority of his diocesan bishop,” explains a separate statement attached to Pierre’s letter. “It was determined that Father Pavone had no reasonable justification for his actions.” Pavone, however, told CNA Saturday that he had not been notified about the Vatican's judgment.
