Please pray for Fr. Matt Tomeny, MIC, who is now called to active duty as a navy chaplain. Thanks to all prayer warriors and intercessors! God bless you all.
Lately, I have been deeply concerned about the possibility that scandals in the Church could shake the faith of believers, especially those who have recently converted. In a way, this has become an obsessive thought for me, leading me to understand even more deeply why we should pray for our priests. The scandals involving child sexual abuse have led many people to doubt whether holiness can truly exist in the Church, as seen in the historical examples we celebrate in the liturgical calendar. In the case of Brazil, where faith is so heavily sustained by televangelism, whenever a preacher stands out in preaching and revival, I always fear the attacks of the evil one against him. My thoughts may seem lacking in hope, but I cannot help expressing my concern publicly, because I feel that many people's faith can become attached to particular individuals and to specific examples of Christian lives. When the public image of these people is shaken, faith, resting on a fragile and breakable bond, can end up collapsing like an avalanche. May God help us through this!!!
A different world back then when only consecrated hands would touch a sacred Host. I speak concerning not only laity, but myself as a lowly Deacon.
The bright light for me is all the priests ordained in the last 20 years here in the US and across the world. They are so orthodox and so committed and courageous. I think the rescue and restoration of the Church is moving very slowly under the radar right now but gathering steam. You are so right that it is vital to pray for our priests--even the bad ones.
It seems to me that all our Faith boils down to having a deep, living personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As St Paul said nothing will separate us from Christ. Nothing that is but our own decision to cease loving him. It is not the fault of Jesus if bad people and bad clergy do bad things. We always had bad people and bad clergy doing bad things going right back to Judas. It is now the worst time in history for all this wickedness but all the same it is not a new thing that people and clergy should turn Apostate. I am not down playing all this but really they will do what they will do and the rest of us will do what we will do, which is staying Faithful to Christ.
I heard a priest refer to the "earliest Church as 10 cowards, one betrayer and one faithful priest." That about covers it. Nothing changes really--only in degree not in kind.
I think my own experience with priests down the years has been very positive, overall. Maybe the thing is when we do meet a bad priest it kinda sticks more in our mind and heart.
Am I learning anything spiritual from the visits? Well it reminds me how difficult it can be for most people to find time apart for God. My little spiritual schedule is all shot. But I can see God in this. God uses these little shake ups to force us on forward. It reminds me to have great sympathy for those who struggle to find time for prayer.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio Is the archbishop in charge of the whole US military. He is very good. He says Mass sometimes at the Naval Academy.
