I tend to find myself turning more and more just to Christ. To live more and more of a solitary life and I am quite happy with this. But for others with a family I understand things are a lot different. When I lived at home there were ten children and I remember the door always been knocked with people calling to visit. Now my door never knocks and I am fine with this. But I know for others it is different. I suppose for parents for instance being curious as to what their children are up to might be a very good thing. I think it is good if we can reach a point where CHirst is our only interest, but I know for many this is not easy.
Still, I think it important to be sufficiently-informed in order to know what one is up against. This may involve even digging out political affairs in greater detail, in order to know, in as much as it is possible, where the truth lies. It would be very remiss, in my opinion, to be so lacking in curiosity as to take the inescapable media propaganda about the 8th Amendment or the Trump presidency, to take two notable examples, at face value and not to inquire further into the deeper reality of these situations. One needs to know one's enemy. Of course, with the confidence that Christ will deal with him. Isn't it about being as innocent as a dove and as clever as a fox, or somesuch?
Yes, actually Pope Saint John xx111 said this during Vatican 2. I suppose the Christian is in the world but not off the world. The real problem arises when folks, as they are doing at the moment trying to marry the Church to the world. Which is false as the devil is Prince of the World. Nevertheless I think life is a spiritual journey or pilgrimage which stretches from this world to the next. That as we move along the years involves a certain letting go. An awareness we are setting of on an Eternal Journey. I notice for instance as I get older how many of my confreres have now died. There is a certain pulling up of the anchors of this life. I think this is natural. On the other hand those who are married to the world do not want to let go. I notice this when people , for instance talk of death. The one thing they will never do is use the actual word , 'Death' . Another instance is the word, 'Cancer', they would rather die than use the word , 'cancer' , even though they themselves have it. I think perhaps the Christian when he or she turns to prayer is letting go this world to some extent. It reminds me of what Mother St Teresa said one time about her nuns not being social workers. They are more sisters who open windows to the world to come.
You know for instance I was just thinking there it is over 48 hours since I talked to anyone. On the other hand I have spent the time non stop speaking to heaven. I know this kind of silence or turning from the world is not for everyone, but I think the person or prayer must do this to some extent or other. How can we be praying if we are in conversation with the world? I suspect one of the reasons why people are becoming so upset by what is going on the Church is that they are paying the wrong kind of attention to it. They become obsessive, very negative, depressed, always down. I don't think those kind of fruits are good. As Padre Pio said, 'Pray, hope and don't worry'. That doesn't mean we should not care or take an interest, but it must be the right kind of interest and the right kind of care. A good example of the wrong kind of interest is Michael Voris and 'Church Militant', which is in my opinion far too negative and obsessed. EWTN on the other hand strikes a very good balance on this.
This is exactly why we are in the pickle the world is in. Prayer is the essential ingredient of sanctity. Last night in talking with a friend who I believe is a prophet for our time and connected to the Divine will received confirmation in what was said through him in this prayer, "God I want you to walk with me as you walked with Adam and Eve". Seems to me this is a prayer all should be saying, as they were the only ones to have walked with God in paradise living in his Divine Will. It is a prayer that will assist us in preparing for the 7th day of rest in the Era of Peace living more fully in his presence. It is a prayer that we acknowledge all who are walking in the state of sanctifying grace already have the Holy Trinity in our souls and everywhere we go we bring this presence to others as God is walking beside us.
I hear ya, Byron! I'd love to see my Dad & sister join me there when I host a pilgrimage. Can't force anyone though, to do anything! Truth be told, only God knows, probably our Mother as well, if and when she'll be ready to go. I prayed to our Mother for a couple years to let me know if I should go. Then I happened to meet a women who is from there at my church after Mass one day. Within 15 minutes she told me her brother has led pilgrimages for the last 20 years and lives locally. OK, Mother Mary...I hear you, LOL!! If only I always received answers that clear!
I humbly thank you for your kind words. How have you been trying to sell her the idea? Maybe a lighter approach, one of curiosity no pressure. Somehow try to keep your own emotion out of it. It's still a touchy subject for many. If she's rather wayward, all the more reason to keep your own emotion out of your invitation. Keep it light and curious. Let the Holy Spirit and our Mother do the work. That's one of my personal draws to going, to better understand her role and how to communicate with her as Christ intends. Yes I can learn some of that by study but I feel a need to put my spirit almost physically in a place.
To follow up a bit on Pope Francis, Is it not possible they may have a choke-hold on him?? Could he be that blinded or restrained? I doubt we can really know. All we do know are evil is unscrupulous and dominions are masters at deceit. Why else would he be show in a photo standing during Adoration while all others are on their knees? You've seen that photo.
I used to hope this. But now I think he is less being led than leading the wolf pack. I so wish this were not true; but..well he was hand picked and placed there for good reason. He did not get where he is by accident. They chose him and chose him with good reason. The fix was in. I can only say I feel a sense of dread and utter horror when I look on him. I am afraid for him the jury came in a long, long time ago. But then again I have always loved history and prophecy and Mysticism all three good watchdogs. History warned me that there have many previous bad Popes. That was one bark. Prophesy warned me more bad Popes were on the way. Another bark. Catholic mystics described the False Church that was going to emerge. The last bark. ....and my feeling is he is just getting warmed up. Hamlet: O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! My tables—meet it is I set it down That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain— At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. Hamlet Act 1, scene 5, 105–109
No one can force us to do anything against our free will, but we can pray for the gift of perseverance In Matthew 10;28 Our Lord tells us,... And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. and, Revelation 2;10
I can only imagine how long my parents have bit their tongues seeing their other 2 daughters leave or ignore the Church and perhaps God. they raised us by example. I also have seen friends leave if I am perceived too zealous. My sister & I now finally have an amicable relationship, one where I ignore her antagonisms. (Based on agreed respect, it only took 40-45 years.) Yet, I still see her returning to Church even if for now it's "only" to do right by Mom. A friend recently told me about a book "The Hidden Place". So I mentioned it to both sisters, quoting the friend, myself staying out of it. It's far too easy to get in the way of the Holy Spirit, thinking we're doing the right thing.
I have met Father George Roth. He used to come to say Mass at the Padre Pio shop in London when it was open. He is a good and holy priest. He is very devoted to Our Lady.
I have never seen this pope express the Real Presence in such strong terms. Wonderful ! You should never feel obliged to pay for Mass, Pope Francis says by Junno Arocho Esteves posted Wednesday, 7 Mar 2018 Pope Francis delivers his blessing during a general audience (CNS photo/Paul Haring) Christians may offer donations but should never feel they have to pay for a Mass, Pope Francis said Mass is not a paid arrangement for salvation but rather the commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice of his life, given freely to all, Pope Francis said. Christians can make a silent prayer during Mass or donate money to offer a Mass for a loved one who is in need or passed away, but should never feel obliged to make a payment, the pope said at his weekly general audience at the Vatican on March 7. “Nothing! Understood? Nothing! You do not pay for the Mass! The Mass is Christ’s sacrifice, which is free. Redemption is free. If you want to make an offering, do it. But you do not pay for it! This is important to understand!” he said. Pope Francis held the audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall due to forecasts of rain for Rome. The Vatican also opened St Peter’s Basilica to accommodate the overflow, with giant screens set up in the basilica so the people could follow the audience. However, despite predictions of dreary weather, the sun brightly peered through the clouds above St Peter’s, which the Pope noted after the audience, when he went to the basilica to greet and bless those inside. “Today, we thought the rain was coming, but who can understand Rome? The weather in Rome is like that,” he said. In his main talk, the Pope continued his series on the Mass, focusing on the Eucharistic prayer, “the central moment” in which Christians relive “what Jesus himself did at the table with the apostles at the Last Supper.” “In this solemn prayer, the church expresses what it does when she celebrates the Eucharist and the reason why she celebrates it, that is, to make communion with Christ truly present in the consecrated bread and wine,” the Pope said. The Eucharistic prayer, he explained, is composed of several formulas, beginning with the preface, “an action of thanksgiving for God’s gifts” followed by the acclamation of “holy.” “It is beautiful to sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.’ It is beautiful to sing it so that the entire assembly unites their voice with those of the angels and saints to praise and glorify God,” he said. During the consecration, he added, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ; it is “the mystery of faith” that all Christians must believe in. “We should not have strange thoughts such as ‘How can this be?’ It is the body of Christ, and that’s it. Faith; faith helps us to believe, it is an act of faith. But it is the body and blood of Christ,” the Pope said. Pope Francis said that through the Eucharistic prayer, Christians “learn three attitudes that should never be missing from Jesus’s followers:” to give thanks always and everywhere, to make one’s life a gift of love and to build communion in the church and with everyone. “This central prayer of the Mass educates us, little by little, to make of our whole life a ‘Eucharist,'” the Pope said. http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...el-obliged-to-pay-for-mass-pope-francis-says/
Are there any videos of his sermons recorded after Amoris Laetitia? I couldn’t find any on YouTube - all from 2014 or earlier
This is all quite true. I wonder if he himself had anything at all to do with writing any of this? I grow very cynical. By this stage anything good that comes out of his mouth I wonder who wrote it. I am long past the point of no return with him. If he said it was a wet day when it raining I would check it out.
