We used to keep Rottweilers at home. We had two, a dog and a bitch; when Protestant gunmen came to kill me. The bitch had pups and was very protective. Both dogs attacked the gunmen in the hallway and bit them. My brother threw a cup of hot coffee in one of their faces. When they ran away people going to mass through stones and bottle at their car. I slept through it all. Rottweiller is actually German for 'Red Roof', a town in Bavaria in Germany. The Rottweilers can be traced back to the Ancient Roman Army. In the middle ages merchants used to tie their dough to the dogs necks to protect it. All I can say is they saved my life. But I am trying the Akita's for a change. They don't take much nonsense and are far, far more to be respected than the Rottweiller. Fearsome but very loyal. Its a bit like going about the city with a heavy machine gun on a lead..
Of course it matters what you think Padraig. Everything depends on what you think. For you. Prayer is the raising up of the MIND and heart to God. Our talents need to be put to good use and you work hard at using yours well. This very work will be your saving. You will present at the end with full hands and you will be welcomed home with a welcome of such magnitude and magnificence and warmth. Of this I am as sure as I can be without being presumptuous. I have but some small idea of what your work has cost you. It is not for me to say but I use the words of One whose laces I am not fit to loosen. "Well done, good and faithful servant." And in the words of the troops out movement: Fight on.
I don't know if this brief video has already been posted on the forum but it seems appropriate to post it here in this thread. I think we, as English speakers, are at quite a disadvantage not being able to listen to Pope Francis in our own language. But in this little video with its clear subtitles, the passion of Francis shows itself well:
There's always been a path to communion for adulterers, this is not new Fallen Saint. Pope Francis isn't BLAZING a new trail here. Stop having sex (committing adultery) and go to confession. Seems pretty simple to me.
Yep. We have the word of God and 2000 years of Tradition to guide us. We're supposed to accept a new gospel now and count it as "wisdom."
You're with the majority. Most of the priests, bishops and cardinals, as well as the world at large, think this pope is great, and correct. Enjoy being with the majority - for now...
It is astonishing that one on here would seem to assert that a couple could be considered contrite and be forgiven while continuing their adulterous relationship and this is also apparently to imply a "better understanding of marriage". But what about the original spouse(s) and maybe the abandoned children? What about the reality that this is serial polygamy? As Little Me says, the only solution apart from ending the adultery altogether is to live as brother and sister, but that has always been the case, although there is still scandal involved. Comparing these adulterers to a murderer or a priest who perhaps fornicates without entering a relationship just won't do. These other situations are either singular or episodic. No matter how grave, a sin that is not ongoing can be confessed and forgiven if there's repentance and a firm intention to sin no more. If an adulterer does not sincerely intend to live like brother and sister and thinks he can 'confess' and receive communion, who does he think he's fooling? My humblest apologies if I've misinterpreted somebody on here.
And that is why I protest here against unwarranted attacks and false accusations against our Holy Father.
The majority of the world at large does not believe in the Real Presence, it supports abortion, divorce, contraception and rejects the Divinity of Christ, the Catholic Church as the one and only true church of Christ, it denies the truth of Scripture. The majority of the worlds population does not support the Catholic Church spiritually or financially nor does it obey her laws etc etc I am not part of that majority. The majority of good Catholics think the pope is great. I am proud to be part of that majority. The good opinion others may have of the pope is only skin deep and cosmetic and one would not have to scratch too deeply to find the age old resentments and hatred the Papacy has always endured by dissenters and detractors and dissemblers. The majority to which I belong is a small majority. And it will endure as the remnant and they will be led by Cardinals, Bishops and Priests who have stayed loyal to the holy Father. This is the Church and it will prevail. This is the majority to which I wish to belong: the majority of good Catholics.
I think I am going to avoid this thread, for a while at least. The brawl in this bar is leaving more than a few bloodied noses.
After reading many of the spins on the AL and what Our Holy Father has said, I still can’t see where our Holy Father has changed Doctrine. As far as I can tell We still have the word of God and still have 2000 years of Tradition to guide us. And there isn’t any new gospel yet. I think some of us are barking up the wrong tree. I believe that instead of using our time and efforts, questioning the Holy Father intentions, we could put our time and effort to better use, by opposing the heresy of Lusia Piccaretta’s teachings which threatens to dismantle the Doctrines and Tradition of the Holy Catholic Church, if approved. Maybe all the spin regarding our Holy Father is an orchestrated distraction by some in the Vatican, to keep us from what really has the potential to bring a catastrophic situation to the church!?
Personally I would love to switch of all doubts about this and just turn back to spiritual subjects, but I am afraid not. I see things that disturb and concern me and my mind just won't switch of thinking on them.I promised myself years ago after my conversion from being an Athiest that I would always seek to see and follow the truth. That coming back to the Faith of my Fathers would never be an excuse for mental indolence. I have prayed about this down the years and the Scriputre from Jesus, John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ..have always been the greatest comfort to me. Because in seeking the Truth we are seeking Jesus and following Him and ths walking to Our Heavenly Father. I would like nothing better than to throw some kind of switch in my head and turn of thinking and dwelling on these matters, but I just can't do it. To just swtich over and serverly limit myself to purely directly Spiritual matters. But I hjust hate the thought of the persoanl dishonesty and hypocrisy of it. It would kill me knowing that as Shakespeare says, 'Something is rotten in the State of Denmark', and I just closed my eyes to it. So I'll go on asking myself and others those difficult, difficult, questions. and listening to the difficult uestions of others and trying to work them out. You know in the Spiritual life , I have found, when we are faced with two paths, one easy and flat and covered with gold and one strewn with thorns and climbing steeply and muddy, you can bet your bottom dollar that its the idfficult arduous one that is the one to heaven. You know for me by far the easiest, the golden path would have been to simply shut up about the whole sorry buisness and turn away and try to blank the whole sorry mess out of my mind. But I have chosen the thorny path. Matthew 7:13 13"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. As to visionaries and purported visionaries who send out messages that we should (bottom line) put up and shut up. Well mmmm...no, I have to say in prayerful discernment, errr no, I won't put up and shut up. It's just not in me to do so. I am going to continue up that thorny path. My own Spiritual Life has taught me to never be afraid of seeking the Truth and that is where my feet will continue to take me. Of course I will constantly keep checking myself on this for signs of pride and disobedience , for disception and so, constantly praying trying to discern. But, no , I ahve to say having gone down this path a while now I do belive I am on the right one, the one God wants me to travel. So travel on I will. There is an old saying, 'When the going gets tough , the tough get going.' . Well it's time to get tough and get right on going. 'Christ said, "I am the Truth"; he did not say "I am the custom." ' St. Toribio
I hear your voice crying in the wilderness, Josephite, and yes I fully agree with you that his devotion has the potential for enormous harm to the Faith. As with others here we can only speak our truth and hope we can help others avoid harm. Keep crying.
It looks like those two paths will met again but like you Padraig neither will I shut up or put up in the defense of the Truth as I see it.
I am a bit concerned that Brian may cause himself excessive stress on this thread. I think I remember him saying he has been advised not to do this. What a shame he did not put his good mind to rebutting the negatives about Pope Francis. I hope he just backs off and that somehow soon we will be brought around to Truth in such a way as to make it acceptable to all. In consideration of Brian's health and well being I will not respond further to Brian's allegations and assertions. I hope he does not abuse this concession. I hope Mac does not collaborate with him to push his agenda.
During the child abuse ciriss in the Church Joe, there was an enduring theme which I noticed coming up again and again which reached to the very hihgest quarters of the Church. People, especially lay people (but also clergy) were told by those in authority to put up and shut up. The reaons for them staying wuite was in the first place for the , Bishops and others told them , 'For the good of Holy Mother Church'. In other words it would cause disunity, massive scandal, great hurt. So on the whole people did put up and shut up. They were also told if they caused a stir they would be disobedient, bad Catholics. So those in authroity were able to sit on this monstrostiy and cover it up for generations. This cover up when right up to the Popes of course. Popes and saints. For let's be clear about it, Popes kew about , how could they not have and how by their silence could they not have contributed to it? as US Presindet Harry Truman siad, 'The buck stops here'. No doubt the silence and cover up was doen for what they saw as the very best of reasons. Obedience. Loyalty. To protect from scandal. But it was obscene and wrong. The right path would have been to keep asking those questions and to keep on asking them as loudly and as stirdently as possible. The same thing of course contiues in the Church todays with the huge amount of priests and Bisopswho are not only homosexual but conducting a homosexual lifestyle while conducting their ministry.
