Wars and rumors of wars on the TLM and Summorum Pontificum”?

That's a recipe for chaos...an appalling prospect. However, he doesn't like chaos and wishes to be in control. There would also be the possibility of some synods having more respectful Masses...that would not be what he'd want. A universal invalidation of the Mass seems more in line with his aims...time, for him, is running out.

 

Yes, I do believe things will get worse before they get better. Much, much worse.

I do believe God will fix things, we have Our Lady's promise (the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart).

No, I don't know exactly when.

I often have a strong feeling that it is better not to know too much about exact timelines as it might distract us on our Spiritual Journey. If God had wanted us to know these things He would have done so by now.

All this reminds me of the Parable of Jesus of the weeds in the wheat. The helpers (angels) wanted to wade right on in there and pick up off the weeds, But the farmer (God) said , 'No!' wait until the time for harvest and we'll sort things out.

It is a bit like a boil that a Doctor leaves to it's full growth before piercing.

Matthew 13:24-30

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

 

I’m not sure, Don. My cousin’s husband died a year ago and the Divine Liturgy was in English. I was unable to go because the funeral was in Indiana, but I remember being shocked to read that on the website. Sign of the times?

 

Very true, but are we going to end up with a field of tares, interspersed with a few bits of wheat?

 

I think we are already at that stage.

For instance in the Netherlands only 2% of Catholics go to Mass every week. In the USA I think it around 12%..

We could winnow those figures down further by asking questions like how many that do go to Church really believe that the Eucharist really is the Body of Christ and that the Mass is the Eternal Sacrifice?

Not to be too depressing but things are really, really bad out there.

Africa is the one bright spot.

We didn't get stuck with Pope Francis and cronies by accident.

 

I think 60 years of weak or confused bishops,watered down liturgy and catechesis, deliberate casual sacrilege with reception of Holy Communion and a laity with itching ears has all brought the tares to maturity. The wheat is there but hidden in the thicket. There are almost no heroes in this sad mess--neither priests or people with the exception of the faithful remnant who have toiled and suffered and prayed through it all. It is thanks to that remnant's faithfulness that so many of us found our way back by God's grace. I think the Lord is getting ready to pull up the tares and winnow the wheat. It will be a brutal process. "Everything will be shaken loose". One of the recent messages--maybe Fr Oliveira--said that Our Lord said that sheep and goats are separating themselves out already on their own. I just listened again to Fr Ripperget's latest interviews. It helps.

 

Yes Fr Ripperger is very good. So is Cardinal Muller. There are many, many Good Shepherds out there.

 

Yes. We have been blessed with two good popes and some courageous Cardinals and bishops. Jesus has not left us orphaned. There are many fine stalwart young priests. The green shoots are pushing through the winter dirt barely seen but they are there. Thanks be to God.

 

It seems that the best clergy, defenders of the Faith, have a true devotion to Our Lady. Would you say that this is accurate Padraig?

 

All the Saints and Father of the Church and the vast majority of the Popes had a huge devotion to Our Lady. I am always really, really puzzled how our Protestant and sisters and brothers appear to manage without her. But I suppose she aids even those of her children who turn their backs on her. Even Pope Francis appears to have a devotion to her. Which is a puzzle.

She is the General of the End Times. To whom God has entrusted his Last Battles against Satan's Defeated Forces.

Saint Louis Griginion De Montford Prophesied all this several centuries ago.

Souls that turn to her fly in the path of holiness. Those that turn from her falter and fade.

Oh Mary! Conceived without Sin ! Pray for us, now we enter the Final Battles, who have recourse to thee!

Virgin of the Apocalypse, save Our Most Holy Mother the Church!

 

Things are very, very hard at the moment with all that is going on.

But if this causes us to falter we need to ask ourselves the question, by what right did we ever expect all this to be easy?

 

Well said. You covered all the bases.

 

We are entering the Passion and apparent death of the Church, the three days of dark before what is to come.. our very own Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

But we are also about to see the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the The Churches Resurrection in Glory and Triumph.

What's not to like about any of this? This is the story of Christ. This also is the story of the Bride of Christ, Our Holy Mother the Church. As she dies with Christ, so shall she live with Christ.

We enter the Tomb together as a Church and so shall we emerge from that Tomb in Easter Glory.

Allleuia ! Alleulia! Alleluia!!

It is the same with our own inner spiritual journey; we must die with Christ in order to reemerge with Him in Glory.

Let us enter this tomb and darkness together with sorrow, but a great, great and most certain hope!

 

Amen. Ratzinger gave a prophecy that the Church would become small.

 

I appreciate that Our Lady's Immaculate Heart will triumph. It's the casualty list that breaks my heart. May the Lord God have mercy on our souls.

 

Yes. Exactly.

 

No one will or ever has gone to either Heaven or Hell by accident. We make choices; either for the good or the ill. Actions have consequences. Eternal consequences.

I love that piece in the film , 'Gladiator' were he is addressing his troops and says to them,

'What you do in life will echo in Eternity!'

So wonderfully true. Here in this life we walk a tight rope that hangs between heaven and hell. But the rope we walk along is the life line of prayer. If we choose to walk this rope we live, if we choose not to we fall into the Eternal Fires.

But it is our choice. It is always, always our choice. Bad Popes, Bad Cardinals, Bad Bishops, Bad Priests can make their own choices.

But we must make our very own personal choices. No one can make them for us.

TO love or not to love.

 

I think, too , if I spend too much time dwelling on Bad Popes and Bad Cardinals, I neglect my own soul, much to my detriment.

 

St Paul tells us to look to the positive. So true. Especially in dark times like these.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.