The resurrection of the Church will come by the seed of the Blood of Martyrdom. I am not saying all is lost. But it is clear that the decline of the Church will continue at pace. But the light of faith grows all the more in the darkness. We will all be tested to the point of martyrdom whether white or red, it is all in God's hands.
Here is a quote from the newsletter of Robert Moynihan, editor of 'Inside the Vatican' April 8, 2016, Friday -- The Tenderness of a Papal Document Pope Francis has written a "love letter" to the world... Dear friends, I just came back from the 2-hour Vatican press conference presenting Pope Francis' new Apostolic Exhortation on the Family, entitled Amoris Laetitia (that is the Latin title of the text, meaning literally, "Of Love the Joy," so we translate it as "The Joy of Love"). I'm sitting in a cafe next to the Vatican where there is internet, watching the Romans walk by on the sidewalk, and reflecting on what Pope Francis has just published. I don't want to keep you waiting any longer, so I'll make a couple of brief comments, and send you what I think is the key chapter of the text. (Here is a link to the complete text. It takes you to a PDF file that you may print out if you wish.) I'll try to send a fuller commentary soon. I read the entire document last night. When I read it, I was deeply moved. Francis has given us a poetic, eloquent hymn to love. This text is really for families. Any of you who has a family, this text is for you. One part of this letter, the marvelous Chapter 4 on the true nature of love, should be printed out and read at the family dinner table — one little section at a time for the family to hear and discuss. In this text, Francis defines what love is, what the role of each person in family should be... how the family should be in the world, and in the Church… In a time -- our time -- when the family seems under attack in so many ways, when there are such temptations to break up families, this text is like a powerful medicine, a heart-felt appeal from Pope Francis, to each of us, to keep going, to keep together, to keep loving... Francis in this text is like a wise grandfather telling the entire Church family how to live with more and truer love in their families… It is in this sense an astonishing text, like no other I have aver seen from the Vatican, or from a Pope. =================== My preliminary comments: 1) No doctrinal change. Despite two years of considerable turmoil, with many reports suggesting that Pope Francis would "change Church doctrine" on marriage and divorce and remarriage and access to communion, and perhaps in other matters of sexual morality, like contraception, and so (these reports suggested) "modernize" the Church's teaching, there is not a single doctrinal change in the entire 9-chapter, 325 paragraph document. (Not that I would have expected one, as I wrote yesterday -- it isn't the Pope's job to change doctrine, but only to defend the deposit of the faith in all purity, while developing and deepening the understanding of that doctrine which has been received from our fathers in the faith.) So all of the reports that this would happen were sensationalized and wrong. 2) Pastoral recommendations. This is where the controversy is. With regard to the pastoral care of divorced and remarried Catholics -- and there are millions of these -- the document recommends changes in pastoral practice worldwide to be more "welcoming." However, the text offers no specifics on how to do this. The Pope says that priests and bishops around the world should meet with people in these situations and "walk with them," as they "discern" their spiritual condition in order to "integrate" them into the life of the Church. Therefore, this document does not settle the question of divorced and remarried Catholic receiving communion. Rather, the question is left open, to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Pope Francis explains his decision not to give clear guidelines on this point in this way: “Not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium.” He adds: “Each country or region… can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs. For ‘cultures are in fact quite diverse and every general principle… needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and applied’” (AL 3). And he writes: “I would also point out that the Eucharist ‘is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.’” This, of course, is a matter for theologians to discuss... Some are concerned that this will lead to different practices in different places, and they are already faulting the Pope for not being clearer and more decisive about exactly what to do in each case. Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register, who wrote the book The Rigging of the Synod, has just come out with a piece which publishes these concerns (link). Pentin writes: "But some are disconcerted and disturbed about what the long document leaves out, and about its theology and ambiguity, especially concerning some moral issues on which the Church has previously always had crystal-clear teaching... Catholic philosopher Antonio Livi described Amoris Laetitia as an “ambiguous text” and rejected the notion that fundamental pastoral practice can change, while Catholic doctrine on the sacraments cannot. “This really is the theological error of the document,” he said, “because pastoral practice cannot be anything other than a prudent but rigorous application of the doctrine.” However, Pope Francis clearly intended to write the document just as he has written it. He intends it to be the opening of a door for people in difficult situations to seek guidance from their local priests and bishops, and it is a clear request to local priests and bishops to open their doors for this purpose. I do not share the fear that this openness is problematic from a doctrinal standpoint. I find the call for pastoral flexibility in keeping with the mission and example of Christ and of the Church Fathers. It reflects the love and concern Pope Francis has for all, including those who have fallen into difficult moral situations -- perhaps especially for such people. 3) A poetic hymn to love. This is the main point I would like to make. What we have in Chapter 4 of this document is one of the most remarkable texts I have every seen in a papal, or Vatican, document. It is literally a poetic hymn to the beauty of love which I think is destined to become a classic. This is the most astonishing and memorable part of this document. I would risk saying that it is the most beautiful thing Francis has ever written. It is a must read. I would recommend that everyone read it, and share it with family and friends.
The Joy of Love, a new dawn: ground-breaking, breath-taking, wonderful, hopeful, liberating, encouraging, life-affirming. Deo gratias. Brendan Hoban (Association of Catholic Priests Leadership). http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2016/04/the-joy-of-love-pope-francis/
The enemies of Christ won't wait. It is a deeply flawed document. See esp the part here about sex Ed which does NOTt mention parents as 1* educators or even parental rights. http://voiceofthefamily.com/catholi...c-exhortation-that-threaten-faith-and-family/
For all his claims to the contrary in these many pages (of his exhortation), pope Francis seems more interested in bringing people comfort than full conversion to what Christ clearly taught on marriage. Newman had seen that too: “Those who make comfort the great subject of their preaching seem to mistake the end of their ministry. Holiness is the great end. There must be a struggle and a trial here. Comfort is a cordial, but no one drinks cordials from morning to night.” https://abyssum.org/2016/04/08/robert-royals-view-of-the-shoe/
Yes, the Church wins the battle but how many SOULS are lost in that battle? We also know from Fatima that souls were falling into hell like snowflakes (millions?)
You know I can only give the Word I got in prayer and that was to take time in prayer and Discernment and that is what I am doing and I am perfectly at peace over this, to do as I am bid. In my whole life I have regreted many times speaking or writing or acting to soon. I have seldom regretting doing these things too late. Certainly I have never ever had cause to regret taking time out for prayer and Discernment; no matter the urgency. If you feel the prayerful urge of the Holy Spirit to rush to write, then write. I feel the call to silence, to prayer and Discernment. I feel such joy and peace at the moment. Such gratitude to God for Great, Great graces. I am at Peace. I wait on the Lord as a Servant on the Hand of his Master. Who could ask for anything more? I store all these things in my heart, like Mary and wait on His Word. Peace and Joy are such precious things in our poor confused World and Church. Oh so precious. I had a dream this morning; a kind of waking dream as I lay praying very early in the morning about 3 O' Clock. I dreamt I was in a marble palace and there were several elders in very, very rich robes with long barbered beards swinging censors. It brought such peace and joy. Yes, I will do as I am bid. I will wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Well from what I have read, apologies padraig it's a belfast thing I couldn't hold my tongue, it us what Lewis would call another helping of soft soap Christianity. Confessionails being used as torture chambers Moral laws being used as bludgeon etc etc etc I mean where in the world is this happening? The confessional are empty the parishioners are growing greyer by the day and moral laws are never talked about. I could go on but will leave it at that...
Robert Moynihan's full comment can be read here: http://insidethevatican.com/news/newsflash/letter-25-2016-the-joy-of-love. I found it worth the read. I, too, plan to slowly and prayerfully read the entire Apostolic Exhortation, but I thought Robert did a nice job summarizing.
Sorry I cannot resist either. The Protestants of Ulster used that term about confessionals also in a derogatory manner! It is like something one would read out of a Chick publication. http://www.chick.com/catalog/tractByKeyword.asp?Subject=Catholicism
Begin to read the messages from Our Lady from the authentic sites from now on in, wait and pray, God is about to have His say on things..
Yes, understood. I just suffered severe strokes but I'm at peace about it. I needed to get my initial reaction to this document out of my system. Now I can forget about it for a while and just enjoy my recovery. God is good.
Be at peace; God knows, pray , hope and don't worry, God is just about to intervene quite direcctly and let His voice be heard in quite an unmistakable manner.
You know the only reason this forum exists is that Our Lady told me to start it. I am only doing what I am told . If I am told to stay quiet ; I stay quiet I am doing as I am bid
If I am advised, prayerfully, to stay quiet, my advise to others can only be to do likewise. I very prayerfullly, sense a pause in heaven in this deep matter , my earnest request, is that you honour this.
Thank God you are feeling better. He does answer our prayers after all. I just had a chat with someone who, like me, finds it hard to come to terms with the way Pope Francis is leading the Church. We have decided to practice the Faith as it was handed down to us and leave the rest to God. Fortunately, we have a number of options for attending Mass where we can be confident that the celebrant actually believes in transubstantiation. We can but thank God for them and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide them.
