Lumena said..."Through them" (in which he is referring to the young people of the whole world)" ...Christ is preparing a new springtime all over the earth. I have seen its first fruits and I know that others will joyfully reap the full harvest." I wonder what 'First Fruits' the Holy Father has seen.They certainly have been a long time coming. I hope its not those young people camping on the beach who wouldnt even know a sin from a virtue if it hit them over the head.[ I know im judging harshly , but the youth of today, and im speaking of catholics, simply do no know their faith.] AND ITS NOT THEIR FAULT.
We have to remember that although the media has salivated over being able to create headlines about bikini clad young women attending the WYD ceremonies at Copacabana, Pope Francis had no control over what the young people would wear to the ceremonies. The venue for the event was changed almost at the last moment, from Barra de Guaratiba to Copacabana beach - and with three million young people converging on the beach, some instances of improper attire were bound to happen. It is the age that we live in and the culture that is entrenched in Brazil, a tropical country, where the good people are no longer any good at covering themselves at the best of times. And I'm not meaning to single out Brazil, we have gross immodesty here in New Zealand too - but Brazil being a hot place, it makes it more difficult to convince people of the need to be modest. On the world scene, we have had decades of a lack of teaching about appropriate dress in the Mass (and in fact in our day to day life, whether at home or abroad). I have seen some terrible things inside Catholic churches in this regard, let alone the beach. Although it is not an easy subject to deal with from the pulpit, a discreet sermon or small notice about dress code can be written in parish bulletins, to remind people.
Brazil has been Catholic for centuries,unlike New Zealand . In 20 years less than half the population will call themselves catholic. The speed in the loss of faith there is unprecedented,I still wonder what fruits are being seen.
Mac, Brazil has been a Masonic Republic since the 15th of November, 1889. They've had 123 years of Masonic control of their nation and naturally, as a result, the Catholic Faith has been all but destroyed.
Destroyed by the lack of action of what was once a vast majority of catholics. What I mean Lumena is the decline in faith in Brazil coincides with Vatican II just like the rest of the world, regardless of the type of government.
Keep in mind that Holy Father knows that there was a small percentage of the 3 million present at the beach that are the "first fruits". Maybe it was 10% of those there. I know that from my home town 2 young people went that are serious about their faith. In last Sunday's readings, Abraham begged the Lord to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, which or Lord said he would do if there were only 10 just souls there. Well let's hope that there was enough 'first fruits' at the beach Mass that the Lord will spare our countries.
So the pendulum has swung . Looking on this conversation from a couple of years ago . View attachment 2966 Those expecting a new springtime did not mention the now expected chastisement. Where is the Springtime?
Keep in mind what the new springtime meant . It was the Church not condemning anyone , It was a Church of Mercy. Welcoming all religions . ... View attachment 2967
For anyone who is looking for God's Springtime, read His Words in True Life in God. The text in red is my own highlighting: I will adorn this earth in Spring; My Spring; what is the Spring of Yahweh? My Spring, My beloved ones, will be when the whole of My creation will be shining with a brilliant light; in the baptism of the Purification you will be reformed into your first image; in this Purification everyone will aspire for a closer union of love with Me, and in ardour your hearts will search for the Truth, the Way and the Life; and in the Truth, where intoxicating savours will be tasted, your soul, endowed with My Spirit of Grace will be perfected; your image of the dark would be no more, for I, your Bridegroom and the kindest of fathers, will be shining on you; Love is on the way of return to restore His Kingdom; this will be the reign of My Kingdom on earth and My Will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven; so now is the time of repentance; this is a wicked age but your lives should redeem it; renounce your will and find favour with Me by recognising what is My Will (TLIG, February 25, 1998) http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/1021/
I don't agree with your interpretation of springtime, Mac. Springtime comes after the harshness of winter. We are still in the depths and darkness of winter and things are going to get much worse before the spring time of renewal. The springtime of renewal is seeded by the blood of martyrdom. So many of our brothers and sisters around the world are dying for Christ now as we post. I am now wrestling with God for He is asking me whether I might lay down my life for Him. http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/04/03/on-good-friday-christians-ponder-modern-day-martyrdom/
In his own words… Many question in their hearts: why a Jubilee of Mercy today? Simply because the Church, in this time of great historical change, is called to offer more evident signs of God’s presence and closeness. This is not the time to be distracted; on the contrary, we need to be vigilant and to reawaken in ourselves the capacity to see what is essential. This is a time for the Church to rediscover the meaning of the mission entrusted to her by the Lord on the day of Easter: to be a sign and an instrument of the Father’s mercy (cf. Jn 20:21-23). From his homily at First Vespers of Divine Mercy Sunday
God is extending His Mercy before the time of judgement. God is asking us politely to come back to Him. When the people reject this offer of kindness and fail to reform their lives then God will commence the purification by His Divine Justice.
Some people are so stubborn that it will take atrocities never before seen on the earth before they repent.
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-te...techism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm# 843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.” 332 (28, 856) 39 In defending the ability of human reason to know God, the Church is expressing her confidence in the possibility of speaking about him to all men and with all men, and therefore of dialogue with other religions, with philosophy and science, as well as with unbelievers and atheists. (851) 845 To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is “the world reconciled.” She is that bark which “in the full sail of the Lord’s cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world.” According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah’s ark, which alone saves from the flood.334 (30, 953, 1219)
PATIENCE... 2 Peter 3:8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. We are in the Third day of the Church. Easter Sunday is around the corner ...hold fast !
I believe the new Springtime is on its way but not yet- it is the new Pentacost- the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. I believe that the Flame of Love devotion which is an extension of Fatima is a great way being given to us by Our Lord and Our Lady via locutions to Elizabeth Kindleman (Church approved) is a way to start lighting the sparks in our hearts which will become a Flame of Love which will spread little by little to save souls. This all coincides I believe with the Divine Mercy devotion and even the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Lord is waiting for our response- will we do what Our Lady is asking of us such as the First Saturday devotions? Are we living out our Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary? Right now we need to stay in faith and to pray and make sacrifices as we are able or if we are not to offer up our sufferings for others because it always gets darkest before the dawn and that time appears to be now. Where sin abounds, grace abound all the more! If you would like more information about the Flame of Love visit the movement page at www.flameoflove.us
I personally belief that while we live, it is Springtime. There has always been challenges and difficulties in this world. Perhaps there are more now than ever, but each person who ever lived has there share of personal challenges, difficulties and tragedy. It is part if life. But so is the joy, happiness and the love of this world. Christ calls us to his love no matter what the world or personal circumstances are. So, I see today as a new springtime; a tine of renewal - perhaps it's personal or within family. But isn't that where it has to start anyhow. Let's renew ourselves and our families. Then with this grace of the Holy Spirit which we celebrate on this Pentecost Sunday, we can renew the face of the Earth. Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful! R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! How manifold are your works, O LORD! the earth is full of your creatures; R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD be glad in his works! Pleasing to him be my theme; I will be glad in the LORD. R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
As usual, Mark Mallett nailed what I was trying to say! http://www.markmallett.com/blog/a-prayer-for-courage/#more-19340
I think this entire thread is an example of disillusionment that resulted from unclear pronouncement of the New Springtime, the Third Millennium of the Church, and the Triumph (and the connection between the three, but not their connection with the year 2000). As a matter of fact, I think it produced a general misunderstanding about the year 2000 itself: Thinking it was special or significant, when it wasn't. And then it was exacerbated by conclusions drawn that "the century that belonged to Satan" following Pope Leo XIII's vision was either 1884-1984 or 1900-2000, when it was neither (because it is most likely 1917-2017). I was inspired to post on this a few weeks ago in another thread. I will past that post here: http://motheofgod.com/threads/the-holy-year-of-mercy.7332/#post-83999 I have thought about St. JPII and the third millennium quite a bit recently: When Mark Mallet, in his latest post, quoted then JPII at World Youth Day calling the youth to be prophets of the new millennium When recalling the many references made by JPII in his writings on Crossing the Threshold of Hope In other references made of JPII referring to the 3rd millennium of the Church In what you have said above regarding the timing if the canonization of St. Faustina It reinforces something that I have been feeling since 2000. On the positive side, it reinforces: That JPII was actively preparing us to help bring about the new "era" of the Church That, to many who were listening, we were given a grace to understand it as the announcement of the coming fulfillment of the significant era prophesied in: 3rd secret of Fatima Garabandal Divine Mercy in My Soul etc. That JPII's call to turn to the rosary in 1980 (or 1982) was the beginning of these indications: Because the chastisement described in the 3rd secret could no longer be avoided, but could be mitigated/lessened by this devotion to prayer) And that the Blessed Mother indicated this in Garabandal when she said: 1961 - "The cup is filling up" 1965 - "The cup is flowing over" But, I think there was an unfortunate negative that was unintended, but served to confuse people, and lull them into sleep: People assumed that the new millennium, or 3rd millennium, started in 2000 Terms like "new Springtime" in the church were interpreted softly, ambiguously When 2000 passed, almost all of the general emphasis on the significance of this was lost, and assumed to be part of history. I see now, that the new millennium is still to come, and JPII was right. It just didn't begin in 2000. (That numerical year was not the key, or the significant thing to focus on.)
