You are right in that Pádraig is looked up to by all of us members and I'd say countless non-members too. Just yesterday I heard some commentator (I can't remember who) saying that we are all being subject to diabolical disorientation at the present time and he did stress ALL. Even St. Teresa of Avila admits in her autobiography that she was led astray many times in her spiritual journey by the devil. She had several confessors and spiritual directors and at times they, or at least others whom they had drafted in to advise her, led her astray. It is difficult, nay almost impossible to plough this journey on one's own. I think St. Teresa displayed remarkable humility and obedience to her spiritual directors, to her own apparent detriment, as indeed did St. Faustina to mention just a few. But in the end God charted a path for her.
There are prophecies that are conditional (such as the destruction of Nineveh), and others that are a matter of predestination—they must happen, no matter what—and they involve the testing of the faithful so that the ministry of the saints may shine at the right moment. The conflict between Athanasius and Arianism is an example of this. I can more or less understand where Padraig got the conviction that the current pope would be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and I believe it has much to do with the prophetic abolition of the Eucharist, which did not occur during Francis's reign. However, since Prevost was someone who pleased Francis and even spoke of continuing his legacy, it’s natural that there would be at least some slight distrust toward him. I never expected this conclave to elect someone who would completely abolish Vatican II. Still, speaking of continuing the legacy of the synodal Church is indeed an attitude that raises justifiable concerns, especially in light of the tragic path the Anglican Church has shown us in retrospect. I don’t believe Padraig was deceived when he received a revelation many years ago about an evil pope who would abolish the Eucharist. What I do think is that he may have made an error of interpretation and judgment regarding the current pope—because Leo has carried out a Christocentric ministry, so thoroughly Christocentric that even a Protestant might feel uneasy not finding anything in him that tries to diminish or overshadow the Glory of Christ.
I was up in the middle of the night thinking about Padraig. He has such a great devotion to the Holy Mother, I wondered if his sudden change of heart could be a spiritual attack.
He said to ask St Michael and Our Lady to show us the truth in what he said. I find myself praying that they send him a reaffirmation or a contradiction. It seems like it would do more good than me knowing for sure myself.
Not casting aspersions on Pope Francis but there seems to be a feel of more authentic Catholicism with the current Papacy, such as was in previous times like when Pope Benedict was Pope among others.
My reading is that those laypeople who provide any input in a synodal context should be sufficiently educated in the faith (e.g. be familiar with the catechism and with the major encyclicals etc.) to be in a position to do so rather than the 'free for all' that seemed to be the case under Francis. Just my take.
If we are Christians here, people who care about our faith, who take extra time to dedicate ourselves to events in the Church, and yet we are so pessimistic, depressed, and lacking in faith, then it's no wonder the Church is in such a state today because we are all the Church. We all lack faith and gratitude. Thank God we have a pope unlike in many past times, each of us today can access every word not only from the pope, but also from bishops and Church documents, the Catechism, saint biographies, and ultimately the Bible with just one click. Are you aware that for most of Christian history, those 2000 years, almost 90% of Christians could not do this, and the few who had access could only do a fraction of what we can, and those were highly educated people of that time and church leaders. My grandmother in the middle of the last century had a house blessing so that the priest climbed a hill and blessed the entire place because it was difficult to access and surrounded by mountains. For them, it was a blessing and joy when they only saw the priest from a distance once a year.... We constantly complain, something is always wrong, we’re always blaming someone, and no one seems good enough for us. To be a Christian means to be joyful. We often comment on others, but each of us carries the burden of being a Christian, for no one is worthy of being Christ’s, and yet we have been given that gift. How do we justify it??? The pope carries a great burden, no matter what his name is. Whether it's Francis, Leon, or someone else he too will have to give an account to God for his actions, just like each of us. It is up to us to justify the gifts, talents, and time God has given us. We are all part of the Church, and each of us receives the Eucharist. Christ is the head, and we are His mystical body. The members cannot be in conflict and constantly reproach one another and expect the body to remain in harmony. If the Holy Spirit leads the Church—and we all know He does—then no storm will break it. Every human error has been redeemed in Christ’s resurrection, and the Church is the fruit of that Salvation.
Amen and thank you. I am misery itself, how can I judge anyone. I refuse to criticize the Holy Father or be suspicious looking around every corner. Mark Mallets latest video says it all. Humility, humility, humility.
I must admit I have not been too occupied with the Pope since he was elected, apart from including him in my prayers as I always do and did. Who suffers if I criticise him or read negative material about him? I do. I lose my peace. I cannot pray if I am not at peace.
This is where I am at as well. I am determined to pray every day for the pope and leave all in God's hands. As I was praying about all this a thought came to me. We have been begging God for a good pope. For the restoration of the Church. How hard all of us prayed. And I heard in my heart " if your child asks for bread would you give him a stone? If he asks for an egg would you give him a serpent?" And I realized our Heavenly Father was reminding me that he is our Father. And He hears our prayers.
You make a salient point. No matter our denials to the contrary, it is impossible to pray in sincerity for someone when there is rage and hatred in us.
For me, I think what has made me the most sad is when I find myself in doubt instead of joy and gratitude to God. We were all praying, begging God for a true Holy Father, and I believe God heard our prayers. He is so good! It feels like a miracle, and no....miracles aren't too good to be true! The collective joy and cries of "Thank you!" to our Father in Heaven who loves us and heard our prayers can be drowned out and eventually silenced by the skepticism and doubt of influential voices, and think of how sad that must make God! Isn't it better to err on the side of believing God heard our prayers, than to err on the side of believing that evil won? As far as being so afraid of being deceived....I don't think the deception the Church has warned about happening in the days of the Antichrist is about a pope. It doesn't say that in the catechism.
A lady I worked with used to say, “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” I utilize this Scripture often.
