They've come for Fr. Altman...

A very important post and timely reminder.

It's understandable that orthodox people are saying "ENOUGH!". When the shepherds become the wolves it's enough to drive anyone to despair and impotent rage.

It's also a temptation to regard silence, prayer, penance as a weak response.

Over 30 years ago I was living in the States and knew a very holy Marian woman. It was during the 80s when the Church was rife with Modernism and disrespect for the then Holy Father (who was Holy!). We used to say that it is God's church and only he can fix it. It's just beyond us to do anything but pray. It's so tempting to throw one's hands in the air and declare war and I do understand this, having felt disgust and impotence at so much that's going on. However, we really cannot fix this ourselves. It's gone too far. And we absolutely must not use the devil's tactics or he has won.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties." II Cor 12: 8-10

 

Clare and Padraig--such astute observations and wise words! Thank you.. Isn't it just like the devil to tempt us by using our zeal and love for the Church to start down a dangerous path. Prayers for everyone in this hot mess including Fr Altman's bishop.

 

Our poor priests.
No wonder so many are leaving the priesthood.
Let us double our prayers

 

Amen!

 

Our Lady and our Lord have asked for prayer and penance and to live our state in life, if you and I and all Catholics are doing this we are being obedient and are living their messages. Do not doubt this.

We are also asked to forgive those that trespass against us (no matter who they be) and this is such a hard teaching, for it means that even in unfair circumstances we are called to forgive, and it reiterates our Lords words that we are to take up our cross daily and follow Him, in ignominy and even death.

Such harsh realities of end results in this world, can cause disillusionment to the faithful, because it means the hard reality of life here on our pilgrimage on earth to heaven offers more pain than pleasure!

However with our eyes on Jesus we can see and live the ultimate reality of truth, which is our eternal reward that awaits us in heaven.

God Bless us all

 

I do see where pride is a danger for those in the public eye, especially priests. I do believe they are using the platform to encourage more unified prayer, to let us know we are not alone in our perspective. To help us remain courageous in the face of what can look like defeat. I do also think they are perhaps leaning more toward masculinity to combat the femininity of our times...and that can look prideful and aggressive even. It's a very difficult situation. They have my prayers for sure.

 

So much confusing information and all can look like pride and aggression. We need truth, we need Clarity.
We need Jesus!
Come Lord Jesus Come.
Maranatha!

 

Well said padraig... that says it all!!

 

YES ...yes...yes! Spot on PF.

 

I came across the most wonderful Prophecy of Pope Pius x11 this morning, made, I think, when he was just a Cardinal.




Cdl. Eugenio Pacelli — later Pope Pius XII —


shared with two friends in 1933 his foresight


on the coming communist apostasy that


will 'contaminate everything that is spiritual'



Let us suppose that communism is one of the most evident instruments of subversion used against the Church and the traditions of divine revelation. Then we will witness the contamination of everything that is spiritual: philosophy, science, law, education, the arts, media, literature, theater and religion.

I am worried about the confidences given by the Virgin to little Lucia of Fatima. This insistence by the Good Lady on the dangers that threaten the Church is a divine warning against the suicide that would be contained in the altering of the Faith in its liturgy, its theology and its soul.

I sense all around me that the innovators want to dismantle the Sacred Chapel, destroy the universal flame of the Church, throw out all of its ornaments and make it full of a sense of guilt for its historic past. Look, I am convinced that the Church of Peter must rediscover a sense of pride about its past, otherwise it will dig its own grave.

I will fight this battle with all my strength within the Church as well as outside Her, even if the forces of evil one day take advantage of my very person, my actions or my writings, just as today they attempt to distort the history of the Church. All the human heresies that alter the Word of God are made to seem like they are better than Her.

A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God, that God's Son is only a symbol, a philosophy just like any other. In the churches, Christians will seek in vain for the red lamp where Jesus waits for them. Like the sinful woman weeping before the empty tomb, they will cry out: "Where have they taken him?"

It will be then that there will arise priests from Africa, from Asia, from the Americas — who have been formed in the missionary seminaries — who will speak out and proclaim that the Bread of Life is not ordinary bread and the Mother of the God-Man is not a mother just like many others. And they will be torn to pieces for having testified that Christianity is not a religion just like others, because its Head is the Son of God and the [Catholic] Church is His Church.

 

These are such very,very difficult times. Our Lady is so right in her apparitions, our only refuge is indeed the Immaculate Heart of Mary in these terrible, terrible times.

 

Wow! Just.Wow.

 

You know if you open doors into the lives of recent Popes (apart of course from Pope Francis who I don't even want to think about) for say the last two centuries it is clear that firstly they were all saints. Alright they made mistakes, as do we all, but they really were saints. The second that jumps out at you are really startling Mystical Phenomena that occurred around them right there in the Vatican.

Maybe this should not surprise us, but personally it does because...well.. nobody ever talks about these things.

One thing, for instance struck me in the life of Pope St John Paul 2 , is how very often he was meeting with and talking to other saints. I mean he was a saint himself and he was sitting down with other saints. Now canonised saints. This is quite extraordinary. Its the same with other Popes. They too were saints and having constant dealings with other saints as a matter of course. When such events occur stand back and wait for Mystical fireworks!

 

Good post!
It makes me wonder about the people God puts in our lives that we have a special connection with and affinity for.
I am just now figuring out about the role St Anthony played in getting me down here to my current parish and its awesome pastor. St. Anthony’s! There are many good Catholics in that parish.

God worked behind the scenes on that.

 

Well his bishop did it. Just horrible, horrible events multiplying by the hour...meanwhile Father Martin is praised by our Pope and bishops:

 

I might change my mind but it is my personal opinion that maybe he was a bit to reckless, I have the deepest respect for him but we all need to be careful.

 

Agreed
The tone he used was provoking

 

Yes. He "jumped the shark" but it certainly was a terrible situation. I sympathize with his anger but I can't help but recall a scene in Windswept House where Fr Damian Slattery went before the corrupt Cardinal of Century City(aka Chicago) and his friend (another trad priest) warned him " remember do not lose your temper. Do not give them an excuse. They have all the leverage on their side."

I have always remembered that. What happened to Fr Altman is harsh. But so was his public denouncements of bishops. Public! Not good.
I don't think he will go quietly. This will not end well for any one I fear.

 

Well- thought -out post....