The Synod has started....

My sister-in-law is Russian Orthodox. She from time to time tries to get me to convert because she knows how traditional I am and she says the Orthodox are as traditional as they come. I never want to be rude and say the Catholic Church is the one true Church. I guess this is my failing. I have to admit sometimes I am ashamed when we are talking about this because it is obvious that the modern Catholic Church doesn't preach strongly as hers does. There is nothing I can show to prove that the modern Catholic Church is producing fruits Christ would be proud of. Mass has lost it's reverence. You never hear a meat and potatoes homily anymore, it is all watered down to the point it's just a talk saying "be nice". The Church doesn't mention Hell, Purgatory, her teachings on birth control, the Rosary, etc. Somewhere along the way we have lost our way.

 

You doubt, you doubt, you doubt...three times.

I often wonder myself where will I go to Church if the local pastors start preaching heresies. I went to a Mass this summer and for the first time I heard a priest list homosexuals among the "downtrodden". St. Hermenegild was martyred for not receiving the Eucharist from a heretical priest. Is this what we are called to do? I don't know, I am worried.

 

Praetorian

I am in full agreement with you. I remain Catholic but it can be painful with poor homilies and fluffy liturgies. It seems that we celebrate ourselves at Mass more than God sometimes. "We are the church . . . ." is the song instead of moving to greater worship of the Most Holy Trinity. A horizontal focus leads to worship of man.

Still, it is God's will that we are there as it is the one true Church. I personally believe that the desert spoke of in Revelations is what we are living now. Our Lady is with us in the desert and she gives us hope. Without her encouragement it would be very hard to stay with such heresies being proudly uttered calling evil things good and trying to baptize abominations like same sex marriage or homosexuality. We will see it come to an end in our days. If you look at an icon of our Lady you will notice that she is with you but is looking beyond you to God. I take each day the same way: aware of the present condition but looking to God with great hope with our Lady.

With regard to the Orthodox, we are already one Church and always have been. We are just separated in a sense. These are not my words. They are the words of the Church, the Catechism, of St Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict. Unity will come as a gift from God and the demons will flee in terror at the beauty of the renewed Church (which may be smaller).

 

I feel so bad for some of you. My church is so blessed to have two priest who are ALWAYS talking about hell, purgatory, abortion, homosexual sin, contraception as a sin and the meaning of marriage. Just last night at Wed night mass i think every one of those issues was mentioned. They also talk about love and being nice etc... but i have a hard time believing that the homilies are that bad out there because im very happy with ours. Only one time in the last 7-8 years can i remember being disappointed in one of them. Sure they are not always about these issues, but i bet at least 1-2 a month on sunday mass we hear these issues hit hard.

 

The Holy Spirit Is Moving In The Synod

This is by far the most important day of the synod yet. The bishops' groups are turning in their final reports. I have been watching the synod like a hawk and I am happy to report that there has been a major moving of the Holy Spirit at the synod. Almost all of the working groups have rejected all of the proposed changes that the "progressives" were pushing. Even groups which had been open to them have rejected them in their final group reports. One African Cardinal (I am sorry I forget which) stated that they could feel the powers of the prayers of everyone who has been praying at work today. He thanked us all. "Miraculously" bishops who were in the middle have jumped off the fence in defense of Church teaching. The overall tally was that only 25% or less of the synod fathers were open to any change of Church doctrine. Of course now it goes to a drafting committee of 10, 7 of which are of the progressive bent so we will have to see what they come up with, but it is looking good.

 

There was anothe Prophesy along these lines. One not studied much but true.. wait till I see if I can remember...

Yes this is the lady. Blessed Elizabeth Canori Mori. Her prophesies are truly terrifying and hence not for the faint hearted. But it was she who suggests Our Lady would get fed up with the outrages and go to God to seek Justice:

http://unveilingtheapocalypse.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/bl-elizabeth-canori-mora-on-martyr-pope.html

 

Our Blessed Mother will fight for us til the end. I think she will cry and plead for us...as long as she can. Mother of Mercy cannot get mad and tell God to let the world burn.

I hate using terms like cry, plead or your statement fed-up. These statements can lead to too many interpretations. I just think at a certain point Jesus will say it is time and she will humbly accept the judgement.

Just my thoughts... but i can see where everyone is fed-up. I hope Our Blessed Mother is not mad. Because i will personnally be in a lot of trouble. Lets pray for a forgiving and loving Mother of God.

 

That chastisement will come is clear enough...
Mercy Ceases for the World
On Christmas, 1816 Blessed Elizabeth saw Our Lady, who appeared extremely sad. Upon inquiring why, Our Lady answered, “Behold, my daughter, such great ungodliness.” Blessed Elizabeth then saw “apostates brazenly trying to rip her most holy Son from her arms. Confronted with such an outrage, the Mother of God ceased to ask mercy for the world, and instead requested justice from the Eternal Father. Clothed in His inexorable Justice and full of indignation, he turned to the world.

“At that moment all nature went into convulsions, the world lost its normal order and was filled with the most terrible calamity imaginable. This will be something so deplorable and atrocious that it will reduce the world to the ultimate depths of desolation.”

On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 1820, she saw Saint Peter descending from heaven, robed in papal vestments and surrounded by a legion of angels. With his crosier he drew a great cross over the face of the earth, separating it into four quadrants. In each of these quadrants, he then brought forth a tree, sprouting with new life. Each tree was in the shape of a cross and enveloped in magnificent light. All the good laity and religious fled for protection underneath these trees and were spared from the tremendous chastisement. “Woe! Woe to those unobservant religious who despise their Holy Rules. They will all perish in the terrible chastisement together with all who give themselves to debauchery and follow the false maxims of their deplorable contemporary philosophy!

“The sky took on a morbid blue color which terrified everyone who looked at it. A dark wind blew everywhere. An impassioned and mournful shrieking filled the air, like the terrible roar of a fierce lion, and resounded all over the earth in blood curdling echoes.

“All men and animals brimmed with terror. The entire world convulsed and everyone pitilessly slaughtered one another…

“When this bloody fight will arrive, the vengeful hand of God will weigh upon these fated ones and with His omnipotence He will chastise the proud for their rashness and shameless insolence. God will use the powers of darkness to exterminate these sectarian, iniquitous and criminal men, who plot to eradicate the Catholic Church, our Holy Mother, by tearing Her up by Her deepest roots, and casting Her on the ground.

 

I think it is a bit like when I knew my mother was dying of cancer. A certain part of me wanted to pray for her for healing. She very much wanted this herself. But such a strange deep certainty crept over me I knew it was her time and I just could not pray. She was like an apple falling of a tree in Autumn.

He too had cancer and begged me to pray to Our Lady for a cure. But when I asked her she shook her head gently and raised her eyes to heaven, signalling he would soon be going there. I remember his crestfallen face when I told him. He was in heaven a couple of months later.

The same thing with the Mother of God. When the time comes for Justice she will know to let her Mother's hands fall.

There is a time and season for all things.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time of Mercy and a time of Justice.

 

Charlie has given sound spiritual guidance and to some extend is like common sense with the mystical. He just posted the Pope's closing comments at the Synod which are very orthodox and excellent! I also like Charlie's comments and his quote of Walt Whitman so I'll simply provide the link

https://charliej373.wordpress.com

 

RM, you must be living in a utopian place. I assure you, what you are experiencing is not mainstream America. I live in a diocese where Father Softball and Father Nice are not ruffling any feathers. Doctrine, morals and hard sayings are not spoken. Anyone can go to communion. Aztec dancers often kick off liturgies with loud drums and clanging from their noise makers on their ankles for 10 minutes or more. But, we know inside and out the plight of the immigrates from the south, as we have homilies on this many times throughout the year. Count your blessings. You live in a special place.

 

Fatima, where do you live? I have a great priest here in Michigan also.

 

Why do you stay?

When I lived in NJ, we had 2 Parish Priests. one was liberation theology and the other Orthodox. Whenever I went to Mass and Liberation man was celebrating I walked out the back door and came back an hour later

Thank God I had options.

I do Church shop and will drive a many a miles for the Truth....that's just how I roll

 

Me too. This is the Church of the Miraculous Medal in Rue du Bac in Paris where the incorrupt bidy of Catherine Laboure is. It also happens to be Aviso's favourite church. Like us he does his best... just doesn't get it right.

 

I live in Maine which is about as liberal as you can get. Most parishes are pretty similar so there are no real options. At my parents parish they had a priest about 10 years ago who had sermons on sin, Hell, etc. Nothing scary, just old fashioned Church teaching. The parishioners complained to the bishop and had him removed. He was moved to a very remote small town in the most unpopulated portion of the state. He will probably be there until he dies.

 

Great prayers on the Shrines website.
http://www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/EN/c__The_Apparitions.asp

I gave a donation last year to the sister Shrine in Philadelphia. Upgrade to online cameras and lighting. Fr Pieber sent a card to me noting rememberance on the Alter in Rue... He goes every year to Rue, say a Prayer for Fr Pieber and the Vincention order

 

Side Alter in Philadelphia....Shrine of the Miracuolus Medal

 

I stay because it is my Church. I won't jump ship, as there will come a time when the few of us will be needed in our parish and community. I could easily drive 20 minutes to another town, but I think I am called to remain where I am and be a witness to orthodoxy. Our Lord is still there and I think he wants me to visit him at my noon breaks and bring my family to him for Mass.

 

Just around the corner from the church of the miraculous medal is St Vincent de Paul.

 

Joe I so kick myself, I so wanted to go to Lourdes last year and Rue...I had a couple extra bucks back than and delayed. then my back went out, and then my ankles...blah blah...oh well, Thank God for the internet links...I burned a few candles online at Lourdes